…Calls for emergency in funding military
By Mike Odiakose
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, former Vice President Atiku Abukakar, on Monday greeted with alarm the reported deaths of 50 policemen in Zamfara State at the hands of bandits.
The killing of the soldiers is coming about two weeks after scores of soldiers were wasted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
Reacting to the killing of the policemen, the Waziri of Adamawa regrets these deaths and is pained that those who have dedicated their lives to securing Nigeria are being cut down in their prime. He condoles with their families and survivors and prays that God grants them fortitude and strength at such a trying time.
According to him, “coming so soon after the heavy losses sustained by the Nigerian Army at the hands of Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, this new casualty figure is a red flag that calls for immediate and decisive action on the part of the leadership of Nigeria.”
Atiku Abukakar called for a state of emergency to be declared not in Borno or Zamfara, but in financing the military and security services.
Atiku Media office said: “He calls for an immediate allocation of at least $1 billion to go towards arming and training our military, police and other security agencies as well as providing improved service conditions for the officers and men at the frontlines of the war on terror and criminality.
“Furthermore, calls for a comprehensive insurance program for all officers and men of our military and security services such that if they are injured and killed in service, their family receives a sum equal to 10 years salary and allowances.
“Going further, Atiku Abubakar also posits that the emergency should allow families of soldiers and policemen killed in service to be allowed to remain in their official quarters for as long as is reasonably possible for them to get alternative accommodation and that a special agency be set up to help them in that process.
“Also, the PDP candidate calls for a comprehensive probe into the disbursements of the $1 billion special security budget that was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account by the current administration in January of 2018. The nation is not getting value for money as there has not been a commensurate improvement in the weaponry and conditions of service of our troops since that withdrawal was made.
