Following incessant killings, rape, and other violent crimes in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has called on the Federal Government to "quickly rejig" the security apparatus in the country as "the current system is not working." 

In a press statement titled 'Stop the Rivers of Blood', the NLC said it is horrified at the escalating insecurity across the country, including the gruesome murder of five aid workers by Boko Haram in Borno State. 

The statement released by the NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba pointed out that terror activities of the Boko Haram sect and other violent groups have escalated in the last seven months, especially in the northeast. 

READ ALSO: BREAKING: SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS ATTACK BORNO STATE GOVERNOR'S CONVOY

"Owing to renewed attacks in northern Borno State, the following local Government Areas (LGAs) and towns have been displaced and now live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps: Monguno LGA, Marte LGA, Kukawa LGA, Abbadam LGA, Guzarualla LGA, parts of Gubio LGA, parts of Magumeri LGA, parts of Nganzai LGA, parts of Benishek LGA, 75% of Konduga LGA in camps, Jalabalge LGA, Dikwa LGA," the Union said. 

While consoling the families of victims who have lost their lives through violent crimes across the country, the NLC called on the Federal Government to do "whatever it takes under the powers bestowed on it to break once and for all the spine of terrorism and violent crimes" in the country. 

Excerpts from the statement read: 

"We cannot afford to slide into a state of anarchy which is the wish of those who have picked up arms against the state and innocent civilians, including workers."

We must remind the Federal Government that the security of lives and property remains the Numero Uno responsibility of every government."

"The government certainly needs to do more to convince Nigerians that it is capable of living up to its promises to safeguard the lives of Nigerians and their property." 

Recently the Nigeria Senate called on the service chiefs to step aside following the continuous rise in insecurity in the country. 

However, the Presidency reiterated that the appointment or sack of Service Chiefs remains an exclusive right of the President.

READ ALSO: SERVICE CHIEFS APPOINTMENT OR SACK IS A PRESIDENTIAL PREROGATIVE- PRESIDENCY

Below is the full statement released by the NIGERIA Labour Congress:

STOP THE RIVERS OF BLOOD

THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS CONDEMNS THE CRUEL AND INCESSANT KILLINGS CUM VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

PRESS STATEMENT

The Nigeria Labour Congress is horrified at the escalating insecurity in different parts of the country. The current sad state of affairs took another calamitous turn with the public execution of five humanitarian workers by Boko Haram in Borno State. The Presidency has already identified these workers as staff of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, and International Rescue Committee. The only crime of the affected workers was their selfless devotion to alleviating the lot of the hapless civilian population in the different crisis torn parts of North-East Nigeria. For the past seven months, the insurgency and terrorism of the Boko Haram sect and other violent groups across the country have widened in scope. Since January 2020, Boko Haram has increased the wave of terror on major transportation arteries in the North East. Many inter-city and feeder roads in the region have been completely abandoned to the terrorists exacerbating the already precarious humanitarian situation in North-East Nigeria. So many lives have been lost in this renewed ogre of madness. A lot of public infrastructure has been destroyed in the process. Economic activities along Lake Chad Basin has been crippled and farmers in the crisis locations are attacked daily by terrorists.

Owing to renewed attacks in northern Borno State, the following Local Government Areas (LGAS) and towns have been displaced and now live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps: Mongono LGA, Marte LGA, Kukawa LGA, Abadam LGA, Guzar La LGA, parts of Gubio LGA, parts of Magumeri LGA, parts of Nganzai LGA, parts of Benishek LGA, 75% of Konduga LGA in camps, Kala Balge LGA, Dikwa LGA, Ngala LGA.

In Southern Borno State and parts of Adamawa State, renewed attacks have led to the complete sacking of the following towns and villages with no single inhabitants there now: Dagu, Huyum, Killekassa, Kopa maikadiri, Yaffa, Ngurthlaru, Kwabula, Kuburmbula, Kaya, Guryangwal, Shawa, Gogomdi, Gwandang, Gatamarwa, Imirmulza, Thilemakalama, Yaza, Kirchinga, and Mimirsa. In the entire Gwoza LGA, the only towns where there are still inhabitants are Pulka, Dlimankara, and Gwoza. In all these locations in northern and southern Borno states, many district and village heads have been killed by the Boko Haram terrorists.

The same specter of bloodletting, destruction and dislocation are occurring almost on daily basis in Southern Kaduna. In northern Kaduna, most parts of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, and Plateau states and other parts of North Central Nigeria, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and rural banditry have become the domineering narrative and the "new normal" as villages and towns fell one after the other to criminal masterminds. This is totally unacceptable! The Nigeria Labour Congress had earlier alarmed the nation to the epidemic of rape mostly against the female gender. Up till now, there are no concrete assurances that the identified cases are being diligently pursued and prosecuted. The deficit of robust investigation of these violent crimes with the intent of apprehending the masterminds and foot soldiers leave citizens with the eerily feelings that the country has now degenerated into a banana republic where autonomous power centers boldly competes for space and subservience with the state. We call on the Federal Government to quickly rejig our security apparatus and the security systems it has deployed to fight terrorism and violent crimes. Certainly, the current system is not working. Government must do whatever it takes under the powers bestowed on it to break once and for all the spine of terrorism and violent crimes in our country. We cannot afford to slide into a state of anarchy which is the wish of those who have picked up arms against the state and innocent civilians including workers. We must remind the Federal Government that the security of lives and property remains the numero uno responsibility of every government. The government certainly needs to do more to convince Nigerians that it is capable of living up to its promises to safeguard the lives of Nigerians and their property.

We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of our fallen heroes particularly the aid workers who were recently executed by Boko Haram. These compatriots have paid a heavy price. We pray that their sacrifice will not be in vain. Government at all levels and the echelon of our security apparatus must make sure that the sacrifices of our fallen compatriots are not in vain by putting a total stop to the Rivers of Blood!

Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni

President 29th July 2020