 All right welcome back away from business and economic matters. We will be focusing on something that is affecting almost every Nigerian as we speak. That's insecurity. All right, the river state governor, Nesam Wiki, has imposed a dusk to Don Cuffy on every part of the state. The reason for that is the spate of attacks and security installations in the state. Police stations, police officers and soldiers have been the target of violent and fatal attacks in the river state and part of the southeast in recent weeks. Governor Wiki says the curfew is until further notice. That was the governor of the river state. Nesam Wiki bringing in the rest in top of the speed that concerning the state of security in that particular state. And of course what they need to do and what is to be expected. A dusk to Don Cuffy. Yes, Justin. This security situation in Nigeria, you know, when people think, you know, assumed that this was just in the north. In recent time we've seen in states in the south, states in the southeast, there's been a heightened, you know, spree of insecurity. Let's, you know, give us a chronological view. We've seen jail breaks, first of all, attacks on police stations, attacks on correctional centers. You know, Nigeria was thrown into chaos, you know, recalling a few weeks back when we saw those attacks on those police stations. You know, we didn't know who was responsible. Nobody took responsibility. But we saw how security agencies were quick to point to, you know, figures and groups in the southeast like IPOP, you know, indigenous people of Biafra, Eastern Security Network saying they were responsible for those, you know, press releases back and forth. Those groups denying that, you know, we saw lots of that. We had, you know, on the breakfast representatives of Orhanese Indigo talking about the insecurity in the south, south and southeast part of Nigeria. And then weeks later, we're seeing what's happening in River State. You're seeing that, you know, unknown gunmen are basically attacking police stations in River State, attacking police posts, attacking security officers. The news broke just three days ago about two or three customs officers killed. You know, there's just been a lot. It is really, really alarming. And what worries me right now is that those in charge of security are seemingly reactive instead of being proactive. Because this should have been a wake-up call. When we had the first jailbreak sometime last month in Nemo State where security formations were being attacked, you know, they should have opted games. They should have maybe installed CCTV or any other things they need to install to make sure that they can actually monitor this situation. Not that after each attack they will now come and start doing investigation. They should be able to do their own intelligence and, you know, find out what possibility there could be in another state. And of course, I know that the southeastern governors have met twice and now they are fronting a group called, you know, Abubago, which is the glory of the tiger. My issue is that when issues of security, you know, arise in Nigeria, the police authorities, the security agencies are more reactionary instead of being very proactive. Indeed, Justin. What we talk about proactive security, this is something we need to take very seriously. Take, for example, you know, since we're talking security and the general security in Nigeria, you have the Kankara kidnappings and the president says this would be the last. You have the Kagara, he says this would be the last. You have the Jangebe, he says this would be the last. The Greenfield University kidnapping, this would be the last. And we keep having series of insecurity and you ask yourself, what are the proactive security measures that we should be having? And we definitely cannot have this conversation without talking about regional security, state security, state police in, you know, other states have seen, you know, the Amoteco. Yes, in the South West. You know, people have accused them of, you know, carrying out extra judicial killings. There's a conversation about carrying arms, you know, firearms and all of that. But when you listen to the news, you hear, you know, instances where Amoteco have actually forestalled an attack, prevented an attack, you know, arrested people who seem to, you know, to trouble, you know, residents of the state. And what we've heard about the Ibubeagu, there's quite an opposition to it. But, you know, South East Governors have all come together and endorsed this. You know, we just can't wait to see where this will lead because it seems that, you know, when you listen to analysts speak, they say people and states need to make security localized. People have to be involved in their own security. Exactly. You're talking about community policing. You can't wait for the federal government all the time to secure you. If you're the governor of the state, you're responsible for the security of, you know, the lives and property in your state. So state governors should be able to, I mean, look at what Mr. J.D. Johnson spoke about earlier when we did Off the Price. He spoke about how it's important for governors to collaborate among themselves and find a solution. To forge a common front. Exactly. Instead of running to the federal government, running to Aceroc every other time. You know, so proactive security, regional security, these are very important issues. I don't think that when these conversations come up, the federal government should dismiss it and say, these are states trying to break away. This is just a pretext to, you know, secede out of Nigeria. We should look at it from the perspective that when security is localized, everybody feels that they have a brutal place. There's a stake to it. Exactly. But another thing that is also worrisome is the issue of politicization of all of these security challenges that we have in Nigeria. You talked about what happened in the southeastern part of the country. You know, the former IG was quick to blame the IPOP and the ESN. And the ESN and the IPOP, you know, they have come out to say that they are not responsible. And the governor of EMO state, you know, Opu Zodimma was also in the news. And he said that this particular killings across the state is, is politically motivated. Yes. I did watch him speak, you know, one of the news channels, that period when it happened, especially when his house was attacked by hoodlums, arsonists set fire to his house. In the video I saw on social media, such a sad situation. A police officer lying dead, he had been killed. You know, we saw people, you know, clad in black, black outfits, black masks. You know, they had gone to his house to attack him. And, you know, reacting to this on TV, he said that he feels that this is a politically motivated attack. And not just an attack on EMO state, but also on the federal government. So really... Now why would anyone just want to motivate people to kill themselves or to kill other people? And what is that to gain from... I really would never understand that logic. From orchestrating killings. I would never understand that myself, Justin. But these are, these are key issues. And I think one thing that's very important to note regarding this is, what the current governor of River State, Yosemite Wike, is doing about this. You know, when you talk about Benway State, we've seen the sad and unfortunate incidents, the deaths, the destruction in Benway State at the moment. I mean, we saw a picture just on the front page of the Ponsheny's paper, a deal to lifeless bodies on the ground and people just standing. You know, and you've been saying, Benway State governor, Samuel Autumn, in recent times, speaking up against this. He's been condemning the president. You know, and, you know, like we saw on the newspapers this morning, President Mohammed of Buhari responding to this through his media aid, you know, saying that Autumn is antagonizing him and that he was sad about the whole incident. You know, so I feel that, you know, people should begin to do what Yosemite Wike is doing. Rather than just speak out in condemnation, let's see you act. Yosemite Wike has done something here. He has declared a curfew. You know, on his state. So, within certain times, you should not be seen out and about in the state. So, if other state governors begin to take actions like this, you know, declare a curfew, declare a state of emergency, let's see proactive security, let's see state policing. I believe that, you know, to make Nigeria a lot more safer. It should. It should. Because, you know, even in Ponsheny, a dusk to don't curfew, there are, you know, implications to that. You know, as much as you want to keep residents safe, you know, and secure, you know, it also affects the economy of your state in the long run. All right, I'll be talking more on the state of security in Nigeria in a moment when we come back from this quick break to join us again. In view of what's going on, therefore, and its implications to the security of the state and citizens, and in this challenge of a constitutional responsibility in that regard, the government of the state has decided to restrict night movements into and out of the state from the land borders of the state. Consequently, a night curfew is ever imposed, and no person or vehicle is allowed into and out of the state from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from tomorrow, 28 April, 20 to 21 on the foreign notice. You're welcome back to the Breakfast and Plus TV Africa. It was still on the conversation of security in the South-South, generally in Nigeria, but specifically in River State. And to continue our conversation, we've invited Mr. Dagatola. He's a spokesman for the Movement for Socialist Alternative. Good morning. Thanks for joining us. Well, good morning all. And it's a very topical topic for all of us, the best state of our country, and the critical growing in security, not just in the East, clearly in all parts of the country. We thought Boko Haram was a phenomenon restricted to part of the northern part of the country, but we are seeing synapses of the same phenomenon growing in all other regions of the country, and this is becoming alarming for all of us. And Nigerians have now been informed that a coffee has been imposed specifically in River State. Dagatola. How do we begin to react to this as an immediate measure to halt the state of insecurity that is becoming alarming in Nigeria? All right, Mr. Tola, if you can hear us. But the truth is that it doesn't address... We've got your introduction. Thank you so much, Mr. Tola. But right now, this issue of security did not just start in River State. It has been alarming, and it has been across the southeastern region, the South Governor's meeting to call for regional security. But was it surprising that right now it is moving towards River State? How come the security apparatus in that particular area are not being proactive enough? Yeah, the entire rank and file of the police and the military are completely demoralized. The mass unemployment in the country is one factor we can't also ignore. And the fact that government demonstrates to all Nigerians that they have imposed a coffee on themselves to not respond to the situation that is happening in this country. And this is why even this coffee that has been imposed in River State currently does not fundamentally address, does not go to the very root of what is responsible for the growing insecurity in Nigeria. We want to say that Nigerians will more than be happy to see government take a proper step. But as you begin to confront and harm the group, when Nigerians, some sections of Nigerians are harming themselves to take up positions which ultimately will not resolve the fundamental crisis that is plaguing us as a nation. Well, we don't support acts of terror. Why we don't support that particular measure? We are not mindful of the fact that government itself, which is policies and programs are responsible for this dead state of insecurity in all of the country. All right, Mr. Tola, can you hear me? Yeah, I can hear you. Yes, I understand your concerns, but it seems the U.K. is the only governor right now to have taken such a measure. Others, like we've seen autumn, they've been criticizing the governor speaking in public. But yes, the U.K. here has taken a stand to declare a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning. You don't think he deserves some kudos for that? Or what else or what more should the state begin to do? Government is waking up to this responsibility. I don't think what we should be doing is applauding them, but stating all of the failures that have occurred that they should have reacted to up to this point. And we must also understand the state of the state of Nigerian military. There are those who have raised the question of restructuring. While we are not fundamentally opposed to restructuring the Nigerian state, we think more than ever before that Nigerians must be allowed to discuss the fact of this country. Do we want to continue to be Nigerians? Do we want a united country? On what basis would Nigerians continue to exist as the country for all of us? What would be the responsibility of government to its citizens? What would be the role of the police and the military in Nigerian federations? Working people in Nigeria want to be part of the process of deciding all of these key crucial issues. And this federal government, the wild regime, cannot continue to wish away the fact that Nigerians want to discuss the continued existence of Nigeria. And I must tell you that Nigerians want to continue to be Nigerians. Unfortunately, those who have decided to hold power and deny the mass of working people the opportunity to have themselves come to power and build a better country for all Nigerians, or mindful of where they are born, where they live, and where they come from are responsible for these current situations where some sections of the Nigerian people are beginning to think that if this country is broken away, that life will be better for each and every one of us. We want to go on record to say that Nigeria can work, but the only Nigerian that can work ultimately from this crisis that is confronting us is a Nigerian that will govern by the working people themselves. A country where the resources of this country will be used to ensure that education is accessible to all. It is scandalous that when you look at the figure of unemployment in Nigeria today, it's indeed alarming. At no time in this field of this country have you had such good millions of young people with practically nothing to do, no future, no expectations. The economy has been granted to a zero state. A situation where the resources of this country cannot be used to provide electricity, and Jakuta has been closed down, refineries are not working. All the key functional sectors of the economy that will provide jobs for young people to do are not functioning. So, Mr Tola, Mr Tola, would you trace, would you say, Mr Tola, if you can hear me, you've mentioned some of the key challenges faced on a country, and I want to relate all this back to the security challenges, especially in rivers. So, Mr Tola, if you can hear me, would you say these are some of the reasons why Godmen in recent times in river states have been going on rampage? I mean, we see a press release here from the government outlining all the security challenges in rivers. They say 24th of April, Saturday, customs officers, police, members of the Civil Defence Corps, they were ambushed at their posts, they were killed. The next day, Sunday, April 25th, we saw another deadly attack in river states. You know, men of the Nigerian Army right in their police posts in Abua town, in the Abua or Dua local government area were also killed. So, there's been lots of attacks on security officers. So, would you say those are the origins, and why specifically security agencies? Why these attacks specifically, you know, targeted at security officers in river states? I think we should all join together. Journalists, activists, all of us join together, and Nigerians in our majority join together to condemn these attacks. We do not support terrorism. We don't think this will ultimately resolve any of the issues. Rank and 5 policemen and soldiers and Nigerians, they are suffering the same situations all of us are suffering. So, no sections of individuals should now think that when they learn their guns on police stations and ordinary rank and 5 policemen, that the contradictions that confront all of us will be resolved in any way. So, we come all out to condemn this and say that those who are behind this attack are only hurting such to the existing injury. That what we must all do is to all come together collectively and organize. We must be organized. Tomorrow we will work as they may be. What is the response of the NLC, the TUC to this current situation in the country? This is an organization that has the ability to mobilize all Nigerians collectively or mindful of a different divide, putting on the appropriate program that will resolve the question of insecurity in Nigeria. We want to commend the governor but we are not unmindful of the rules. Alright, Mr Attola, a point noted we need to... I've come men in a place like River State, politicians themselves, we understand that citizens, CSOs, organizations, trade units need to come out and condemn this particular act. But right now, a curfew has been imposed on River State and thus to don curfew. That cannot be sustained for a very long time because indeed it will affect the economy of that particular state. Aside from curfew, what next is the main question? What should be done? What should be done to ensure that security formations are no longer being attacked, that residents and indeed residents across the south and should be able to go to their beds and sleep well after a long day's work. What do we need to do after curfew? The only way out to serve this issue of security in River State? I'm extremely very happy that you have posed this question. I think the first thing was made quite clear to all of us is that in Nigerian states, it's military. The police have relied upon to provide appropriate security for Nigerians everywhere. So we must begin to popularize the fact that it is a democratic right for Nigerians to be able to bear harms and protect themselves and protect their community. I've used the word democratically so that we do not have ethnic militias thinking that those people who are not from that place also don't deserve to be protected. That is the first step. The second step, like you have pointed out, is that it can be sustained. Even a coffee itself imposes small damaging effects on an economy that is already dwindling and collapsing and which is why we must return back to challenging government to address the fundamentals of human existence in Nigerian society. And what are those fundamentals? Nigerians want to be able to ensure that their children go to school. Good qualitative school without having to go and steal, without having to be millionaires, without having to be politicians, senators, covenants or whatever. Even as ordinary Nigerians want to be able to assess free qualitative education where Nigerians will be taught will be provided the necessary enlightenment that as human beings, their democratic rights for all categories of human beings can live together. Secondly, there is a need to create jobs. There is a need to create jobs. River state itself, which is the outback, all of the Niger data which is the basis for the survival of Nigeria and the basis of the huge millions of dollars that is earned from oil daily from this country. What has happened to our wealth? How this ruling elite has managed the oil wealth of this country up to this date and that this world would not have been used to establish the necessary industry in Nigeria. The fact that we don't have an Ajakuta sterile email functioning goes a lot. The fact that we do not have 24 hours electricity in Nigeria is a huge problem that makes individuals who are even running the business to be able to work to survive. These are fundamentals and as long as the government is not ready to address these good fundamentals of the survival and building of a functional economy, the crisis will continue. How do we explain that as an all year producing country, Nigeria imports well for usage, resulting into a huge loss of jobs and the huge wealth that of a billion of your power was satisfied to make billions of neurons from those important fuel into the country. Alright, thank you so much Mr Tola for your comment and indeed them all that you have said concerning the state of security or insecurity rather in our river state and indeed across Nigeria. Yes, we thank you very much for your time and thoughts. We do hope the government is listening and will begin to act in due course. Thanks again. Alright, away from security as we will take yet another break and when we will come back on the last lap of the show, we will be looking at sports. We will be right back.