NUJ Condemns Rising Killings, Urges Immediate Action from Tinubu Government

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urgently called for an immediate end to the wave of violence and killings sweeping across Nigeria. In a statement issued by Achike Chude, the National Secretary of the NUJ, the Union expressed grave concern over the senseless bloodshed that continues to claim thousands of lives in various states, including Edo, Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Imo, and Ondo.

The NUJ described the ongoing violence as a direct threat to Nigeria’s stability and cohesion, warning that it was a “clear example” of the country’s increasingly fragile socio-political fabric.

“The consistent and unrelenting gruesome killings of our fellow Nigerians speak volumes about the current state of the Nigerian nation,” Chude stated. “They highlight the seeming helplessness of our security institutions in defending the territorial integrity of the state and protecting its citizens.”

The Union expressed alarm at the continued activities of criminal elements, including terrorists, bandits, and gunmen, who have been allowed to operate with little resistance, despite the nation’s once-strong military reputation.

A Call for Action and Political Responsibility

Chude recalled that Nigeria’s armed forces had once played pivotal roles in restoring peace to war-torn nations like Liberia and Sierra Leone, reinforcing the Union’s belief that the military still has the strength, will, and capacity to protect Nigeria. However, he stressed that what the armed forces now lacked was political backing from the nation’s leadership.

“We refuse to believe that the same security forces who once brought peace to our West African neighbors are now incapable of protecting Nigeria,” he said. “They have the strength, the will, and the capacity to defeat the enemies of peace, but what they need is the political backing.”

The Union pointed to the failure of the political elite to form a united front against insecurity, criticizing the lack of political will and urging leaders to rise above partisanship.

“It is time for a new kind of political class consciousness,” the statement said. “Those in positions of power must be imbued with a true sense of patriotism. Their inaction has become dangerous, and continued failure is no longer an option.”

Accountability and National Unity

In a stern warning, the NUJ declared that any political figure complicit in the violence, whether directly or indirectly, “has blood on their hands” and must be held accountable for their role in exacerbating the crisis.

The Union called for national unity and peace, emphasizing that violence and development cannot coexist. “Conflict and progress, violence and development cannot exist on the same spectrum,” the statement stressed.

Chude’s rallying cry was clear: “Enough is enough. Too many have died, and we can no longer allow more lives to be sacrificed. The time for action is now.”

The NUJ concluded by urging an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s political and security systems, hoping that such reforms will put an end to the bloodshed and restore peace to the nation.