TheCable

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has condemned the recent comment by the Yobe state government that the recent abduction of schoolgirls in the state is as a result of the withdrawal of troops from the area.

In a statement, Gabriel Onoja, president of the group, accused the government of attempting to play politics with “an issue as important as security”.

The group said rather than acknowledge the tremendous contribution of the military in securing the state, the Yobe government is trying to give the impression that whatever lapses that might have occurred “fall squarely on the shoulders of the military”.

Onoja said it is on record that the military went into Yobe and other surrounding states and freed territories and local government hitherto captured by the insurgents.

He said the Yobe state government and the civil authorities should have taken over from there to ensure security and enforcement of the law as there is no way the military can remain at a place continuously while its attention is needed in other areas that may be facing fresh threats.

The group said if the state and local government authorities, as well as the police and other security agencies, had moved to the communities to ensure law and order as well focus on intelligence gathering, the incident at Dapchi would not have occurred.

It said the successes of the Buhari administration in the war against insurgency cannot easily be dismissed by any individual or group.