TheCable

Following Boko Haram killings in the north-east, Isaac Ositelu, presidential candidate of the Accord Party (AP), has asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security.

Ositelu said the life of any Nigerian must not be cut short while the leaders “carry on as if it is business as usual”.

He said it is a tragedy of “immense proportion” that each time the military claim to have technically defeated the insurgents, the group usually responded with bigger damage.

“It is unacceptable the way our people are being killed on a regular basis. No nation should stand aloof and watch with trepidation the deliberate and consistent carnage in our land,” he said.

While condoling with the federal government, military authorities and the families of the fallen heroes, Ositelu said the Metele massacre in Borno state is one too many.

He said if the funds disbursed to the military in the last 19 years had been efficiently utilised, it would not come under violent “butchery by the marauders” and insurgent groups.

The AP presidential candidate said clear cut performance metrics would be used in defining the tenure of his security chiefs if the mantle of leadership is handed over to him.

Over 100 soldiers were reportedly killed in the Metele attack.