Protect rural communities from bandits, kidnappers, youth group urges FG

The Youth Arise Movement has called on the Federal Government to urgently direct security agencies to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for protecting rural communities from bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements. The group expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity across Nigeria, urging President Bola Tinubu and relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard lives and property.

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For over fifteen years, Nigerians have endured relentless attacks from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements. Thousands have been killed, kidnapped, displaced, and subjected to unimaginable suffering. Communities have been destroyed, businesses crippled, and places of worship and learning turned into targets of violence.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Ademola Babatunde, the movement highlighted that Nigerians have endured over fifteen years of relentless attacks, resulting in thousands of deaths, kidnappings, and displacement. Communities have been destroyed, businesses crippled, and places of worship and learning targeted. Babatunde specifically identified rural communities as the most vulnerable, citing insufficient security presence and limited protection mechanisms that leave them exposed to repeated assaults.

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These communities continue to bear the brunt of attacks by criminal elements

Babatunde also raised alarm over recent attacks on schools, students, and teachers, describing this trend as a dangerous escalation that threatens national development. The group warned that such attacks are not only assaults on innocent citizens but direct attacks on Nigeria's future. They stressed that any threat to children and educational institutions jeopardizes national development and collective progress.

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Such attacks are not only assaults on innocent citizens but direct attacks on Nigeria’s future. Any threat to our children and educational institutions is a threat to national development and collective progress.

The Youth Arise Movement urged governments at all levels to ensure the transparent and effective deployment of security and regional development resources, particularly for vulnerable areas. They emphasized that the security of human lives is the government's primary responsibility. The group also called for stronger community-based security initiatives, improved intelligence gathering, and enhanced collaboration between security agencies and local communities. Furthermore, they issued a political warning, stating that persistent insecurity poses a direct threat to democratic governance, as a nation under constant siege cannot fully benefit from democracy and development.

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The security of human lives must remain the primary responsibility of government