THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
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NEWS DRAMATIC ESCAPE OF XMAS DAY BOMBING SUSPECT Ringim, Biu, others must not go unpunished
Attacks under Ringim
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OLLOWING is a timeline of religious and ethnic violence in Nigeria under the outgoing IGP: January 2010: Hundreds are reported killed after clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs in Jos, most by gunfire. Police estimate death toll at 326, although some community leaders put the figure at more than 400. March 2010 : Hundreds of people are killed in clashes between Islamic pastoralists and Christian villagers in the mostly Christian villages of Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Ratsat just south of Jos. Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Gregory Yenlong, said more than 300 people had died. December 2010: At least 80 people are killed in Dec. 24 bombings as well as in clashes two days later between Muslim
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and Christian youths in Jos. January 2011: Human Rights Watch says more than 200 people killed in violence over preceding month, with many hacked to death or burned alive in attacks on villages, and reprisal killings in Plateau state. August -September 2011: At least 70 people killed in clashes in central Plateau state since beginning of August. Cycle of violence started when Christian youths attacked Muslims as they gathered to celebrate end of Ramadan in Jos. Nov. 2011: At least 90 people killed in northeast city of Damaturu when Islamist insurgents bomb churches, mosques and police stations. Boko Haram militant sect claims responsibility. December 2011: Scores were killed on Christmas day in Madalla when Boko Haram bombed a Catholic church.
OLUBOLADE ON THE ESCAPE
•Abubakar Dangiwa
It was an unfortunate incident but measures will be put in place now to address the escape. From the ministry, I have directed the IG to carry out full investigation and even at higher level above that one, there will be another investigation to ascertain what led to the suspect’s escape. .. All steps must be taken to re-arrest the suspect. While that is pending, the officers involved, who conducted the search must be detained so that the outcome of the investigation will lead to whatever punishment will be given
•Mr. Femi Falana
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LL those responsible for the alleged escape of the suspected sponsor of the Christmas day bombing at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla must be brought to justice. It is unfortunate that after making such a breakthrough in their investigation into the killing of innocent Nigerians at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church in a bomb attack, armed policemen detailed to take custody of the suspect allowed him to escape. My reactions is that not only shock that the escape of the Madalla bombing suspect which claimed 40 lives, but that Zakari Biu, the renown torturer of Abacha regime was retained in the Police Force, and reached the rank of Police Commissioner. Biu, under the Abacha regime was the torture master of those allegedly linked to coup plotting under Abacha. He was involved in human rights abuses.
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AST Saturday, the police arrested the serial murderer who bombed St Theresa’s Catholic Church, in Madalla, Niger State. He was reported to have made useful statements to the police on the masterminds of the sect. In a bid to prevent him from exposing the sponsors of terrorism, he was allowed to escape yesterday in questionable circumstances. Whereas he was arrested by two lorry loads of mobile policemen on Saturday, only three policemen were detailed to accompany him yesterday to his house for a belated search. After the escape of the suspect, Mr Ringim attempted to divert the attention of the government and Nigerians by threatening to charge unarmed protesters with treason! I am compelled to call on President Goodluck Jonathan to remove IGP Ringim without any further delay. The country needs a new IGP who will be ready to partner with the management of the state security service to combat the menace of terrorism. A fortnight ago, President Goodluck Jonathan disclosed that the Federal Government had been inflitrated by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
‘ Save Nigeria Group to Jonathan: sack IGP, others now
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HE Save Nigeria Group (SNG) yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to dismiss the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Hafiz Ringim over the escape of the Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto. Its National Coordinator, Benedict Ezeagu spoke with reporters in Abuja. Ezeagu said it is clear that the police can no longer secure the country. He said: “It is unfortunate that the security agencies are becoming so weak and compromised that they play with delicate issues like a case involving a suspect that has been alleged to be a mastermind of the Xmas Day killing at Madalla. This is not the first time a prime suspect will escape from the police custody but this borders on a new crime that has to do with the lives of Nigerians. “Except they probe otherwise, we would think that it is a conspiracy to enable the suspect
Tragedies in figure
70
Casualties of another Jos crisis in January 2010
80 People killed on December 24, 2010 violence in Jos
Estimated number of people fell btw Aug and Sept 2011 in Jos
300
700
150
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The number of deaths recorded in a Jos violence in March 2010
The number of deaths recorded in Jos in November 2008
The death toll in the attack in Damaturu as at last night
How many will die next?
34 Estimated number of people who died in Madalla
326
From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
escape. It is just like the killing of the founder of Boko Haram itself which was like a cove up. Apart from the IGP those officers that are also involved in the escape should be sacked.” He added: “What we (SNG) did was to make contact with the authorities concern on the escape of the Boko
Haram suspect if that was what happened and when it was confirmed that it is true we threatened the authority that we are going to lead a protest to demand that those who where involved in the escape of the suspect be brought to book. “Before now, we have been calling for the overhaul of the leadership of the security agencies
in the country. And we are repeating the same call that the security agencies we have today in the country do not represent what will guaranty the security of Nigeria and it is a very bad development at this critical time when insecurity has become the order of the day. “So, we join Nigerians and men of goodwill cross the globe to
demand that President Goodluck Jonathan should immediately overhaul the leadership of the security agencies in Nigeria, starting with the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim. They have manifested a lot of incompetence in the way they go about carrying out their duties. Ringim and other officers involved in the escape of the Boko Haram suspect should be sacked and face the music. “And as it is guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the security of life and property of the citizenry is the paramount responsibility of the government. Without security, nothing will work in any society.” On the need for peace in the country, he said: “We call on all people of good conscience to rise now and join hands to find a just and peaceful way of resolving our many serious national challenges to save Nigerian from this path of destruction and carnage it is being prodded.”