Prof Yusuf Turaki, one of the conveners of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance (NINAS), says the Federal Government must not grow cold feet in the prosecution of alleged Nigerian sponsors of Boko Haram identified by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year.
Turaki stated this in an interview published by Saturday Sun.
The suspects were identified as Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad,
Recall that the government of the United States added the names of the individuals to their terror-support list.
However, not much has been heard of the Nigerian government’s efforts to bring the suspects to book.
In March, a respected human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN criticised the Nigerian government’s “deliberate refusal” to prosecute the suspects.
Speaking on the matter, Turaki said, “If the role of the security agencies, like DSS are to sniff and comb the Nigerian social environment, so as to checkmate criminals and offenders of the state, what makes it so difficult to handle revealed cases?
“When a government sends revealed and known cases to oblivion, it speaks cynicism, connivance and collusion of hidden interests.
“This is an irony of corruption, preferential treatment, defence of sacred cows and hypocrisy. When such happens, truth, justice and integrity are sacrificed on the altar of divination.
“Then falsehood and deceit become normative and a trade-currency. Propaganda is a popular means of casting a spell over people and dosing off their consciences.”
He disagreed with the notion that the government was incapable of tackling the multi-faceted security challenges confronting the nation, noting that the government must however demonstrate the political will to end the menace.