Almajiri’s invasion: Southern, Middle Belt leaders raise alarm

Leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, SMBF, have raised alarm over the invasion of the Southern and Middle Belt regions by the Almajiris. The leaders urged the people of the regions to be vigilant, and advert what it called possible spread of Coronavirus in the areas by the Northern elements.

They expressed dismay at what they described as the complacency of the security forces over the invasion of their areas by teenagers from the far Northern Nigeria hidden in containers and trailers, in spite of ban on interstate movements by the President, the Northern Governors Forum and all the governors in the South and Middle Belt.

In a statement jointly signed by Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Olu Adebanjo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, and Dr. Bitrus Porgu, on behalf of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Middle Belt Congress, MBC, respectively, the forum faulted Nigeria’s security forces for alleged complicity in the act and called on people of the South to resist the temptation to accommodate the visitors in light of the dangers posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint statement read: “This ominous development is coming after Boko Haram threatened openly three weeks ago that they were going to take their battle against Nigeria to the South-East and South-South.

Very worrisome in this development is the quietness of the National Security organizations, the National COVID-19 Committee and the Presidency since this story broke out.

This development has brought about very strong suspicious among our people regarding the aim of the development of these young men. Their capacity to escape all borders security checks until they reach many states in the South and Middle Belt points to a strong collaboration.

God forbid that the Boko Haram threat is being surreptitiously executed. We will certainly not fold our arms and allow massive influx of youths who have no reasons to flout extant laws on interstate movements, no pressing national engagement in our areas, no verifiable occupation, no tests for COVID-19 and no prearranged accommodation, to come and forcibly occupy our forests and perhaps prosecute the threat of Boko Haram.

The silence of the Federal Government in this situation is ominous. The maneuvers appear deliberately planned and provocative. We will resist any threat to the security of our lives and property with every amount of self-help available to us.

To avoid further descent into an uncontrollable situation, we call on the Federal Government to publicly declare this invasion illegal, direct our national security organization to flush them out now and ensure that they do not return.

Not too long ago, General T.Y. Danjuma warned us to be ready for self-help. We hope that his predictions have not become inevitable and that our nation can be saved a slide into lawlessness and its disastrous consequences.”

It was reported earlier on that, 13 Almajiris were brought into Ondo State with a truck packed with goods but were caught and returned to the Northern part of the country.