Womanifesto urges NASS to resume plenary over insecurity

Concerned by the recent wave of insecurities and kidnappings in the country, a group of over 500 women organizations, activists, advocates and practitioners under the aegis of Womanifesto has called on the National Assembly to call-off recession and resume plenary immediately in order to address the ugly trend.

The group  made this call on Sunday in a statement jointly signed by its members which include; 9jafeminista, Action Aid Nigeria, Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls, Above Whispers Foundation, ACTS Generation GBV, Ade Grange Child Foundation, ADEM Community Human Development Foundation, ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF), Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA), African Women’s Initiative (AWI), Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation (ASWHAN), Bring Back Our Girls, FAME Foundation, Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON), Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

Other members are; Centre for Media and Development Communications, Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC), Citizenship and Human Development Initiative, Choung-Dung Women Association, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS), Christian Women in Nigerian Politics, Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR), Community and Youth Development, Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI), Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society, Community Life Project (CLP), Community Rescue Initiative (CRI), Community Women Initiatives (CWI), Country Associates Network (CAN), among others.

Backed by law, the group sited Section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which interprets that the welfare and security of the citizens shall be the primary purpose of the government. It also guarantees the right to life, liberty, and personal security of every Nigerian citizen.

The group registered their displeasure over the increase in the level of insecurity, emphasizing that the safety and security of Nigerians, especially that of women and children, which should be the top priority of the government, has been rigorously threatened for years and has now come to a climax where citizens are being kidnapped from their homes in broad daylight. 

They expressed further that Nigerians have bore the brunt of this crisis and have had to crowdfund ransoms payable to criminals. Despite this, victims of kidnappings are still being murdered by criminals, leaving the nation in a dire state of distress.

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), that over 380 people were kidnapped in Nigeria between December 1, 2023 and January 3, 2024. The number of reported kidnapped persons in Nigeria between June 2022 and July 2023 increased to 3,620 an analysis of data from SBM Intelligence reveals.

Furthermore, government statistics for Abuja shows 40 kidnapping cases involving 236 victims between January 2021 and June 2023. 

“We however believe that the exact number of people kidnapped in Nigeria in 2024 may be higher”, said Womanifesto.

In the midst of this crisis, Womanifesto said it finds it unimaginable that the National Assembly extended its holiday after a 3-week Christmas and New Year recess. 

“This action, we believe, reeks of nonchalance and lack of empathy by those elected to represent the interest of Nigerians. This action is grossly unacceptable to us. We demand that the National Assembly calls off this recess and resumes plenary immediately. 

“The constant threat of violence and kidnapping has left many Nigerians feeling unsafe and vulnerable. Women and children are particularly at risk, with reports of kidnappings and sexual violence on the rise. This continued holiday is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently”, the Womanifesto maintained.

While applauding the recent efforts by security agencies in rescuing some of the kidnapped victims, Womanifesto urged the government to take concrete steps to ensure the safety of its citizens. Adding that the security forces must be anticipatory rather than reactionary.

This they said include; increasing security measures, providing support to victims of violence, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. 

“We also call on national lawmakers to prioritize this issue and take swift action to address it.

“The people of Nigeria deserve to live in peace and security, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that this is the case. We urge national lawmakers to take immediate action to address the insecurities and kidnappings in Nigeria”, the Womanifesto asserted.

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