NBA blames ‘intelligence failure’ for Plateau killings

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, has blamed ‘intelligence failure’ for the Plateau killings.

Newspot reported that attacks on communities in Plateau State on Christmas Eve left over 150 persons dead.

In a New Year message made available by the NBA National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb-Lawal, Maikyau said the incidents were “inexcusable and unacceptable”.

He noted that the recent drone attack by the Nigerian military in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, showed there was a gap in the country’s security architecture.

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, over 100 villagers engaged in a Maulud celebration were killed by an airstrike launched by the military in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

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The NBA President said, “From the information made available by the military and other security sources, the Tudun Biri incident is suggestive of the gap in our security architecture – lack of inter-agency synergy and coordination, while the attack in Plateau is indicative of poor intelligence gathering or, a deliberate failure to act despite the intelligence on the impending attacks on the villages, or notice of the attack on the villages by the bandits, as reported by community leaders.”

The NBA called on government, through the Armed Forces and other security agencies, to ensure that every square inch of the country’s territory is under the government.

It warned that no part of the country should be under the control of terrorists and other criminal elements.

“The Federal Government must adopt a holistic approach to the issue of security while not overlooking the peculiarities of each region and design bespoke measures to deal with them,” it added.

“In this wise, the government must neither be “scared” nor “ashamed” to make the right investments in security, in line with global trends, without compromising our sovereignty.”