The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Nigerians have “lost faith” in the capacity of President Muhammadu Buhari to secure the country. The opposition party said bandits and terrorists “now freely” attack communities across the country without restraint. The party was speaking in the wake of the attack on the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) and the evacuation of students from the University of Jos over the rising insecurity in Plateau state. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesperson, said Nigeria’s insecurity has worsened, adding that “bandits now have the temerity to attack military formations”. “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the decision by some state governments to evacuate their citizens from violence and terror-ridden states, including Plateau state, further confirms that Nigerians have lost faith in the capacity of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to secure the nation,” the statement reads. “The party laments that the insecurity situation has so deteriorated under President Buhari and the APC’s incompetent and compromising watch that suspected bandits now have the temerity to attack military formations, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, where they killed two officers and abducted another senior officer. “Bandits and terrorists are now freely ravaging our communities in Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue, Zamfara, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Imo and other states of the federation, including Mr. President’s home state, Katsina, where the governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has now asked victims of terror attacks to defend themselves. “It is distressing that having lost hope in the capacity and commitment of the President Buhari-led APC administration to protect their citizens, state governments are now sending vehicles to the University of Jos, Plateau state, to evacuate their citizens. This shows their complete loss of confidence in the APC administration and the empty promises by the Buhari Presidency. “It is even more disheartening that while our nation is under turmoil and while hundreds of helpless Nigerians, including innocent students, are languishing in kidnappers’ den, President Buhari and APC leaders are more interested in their lavish funfair with state-owned resources and facilities. “Our party notes that violence and acts of terrorism had escalated across the country due to the incompetence and compromises of the Buhari administration as well as its refusal to heed wise counsel from well-meaning Nigerians, including the PDP on how to secure and stabilize the nation.” The PDP asked Nigerians to “hold the APC directly responsible for the escalated acts of terrorism in our country as history will continue to mark this administration for its mass failure in governance and for plunging our nation into the worst form of hardship and suffering ever”.

The Defence Headquarters, on Tuesday, vowed to track down the bandits who killed some of their troops after breaching the perimeter fence, went straight to the officers’ living quarters and started shooting sporadically at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Daily Trust had reported that bandits invaded the Afaka barracks of the NDA, Kaduna, killing two senior officers. The bandits were also said to have also kidnapped a senior officer. Reacting to the sad incident, the military high command, through the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, condole with the families of the deceased officers, saying henceforth, the security of the NDA communities have been beefed up while operations are ongoing in the general area. A statement on his behalf by the Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, Irabor said all efforts have been intensified by troops and they are currently combing the entire locations in search and rescue mission for the adducted officers. “The gallant troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), in joint operations are in hot pursuit of armed bandits that attacked the officers’ quarters of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Kaduna early hours of 24 August 2021. “The bandits who sneaked in after breaching the perimeter fence went straight to the officer’s living quarters and started shooting sporadically. Unfortunately, two brave and gallant officers paid the supreme price while 1 other officer was abducted by the bandits during the process. “All efforts have been intensified by troops who are currently combing the entire locations in search and rescue missions for the abducted officers. “The Commandant NDA as well as the HQ 1 Div. with the support of NAF are presently in a coordinated joint operation to search and rescue the abducted officer and arrest the perpetrators. “The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) wishes to use this medium to condole with the families of the deceased officers, and thanked troops for their quick response. “The CDS also wishes to assure the NDA communities of their safety as security have been beefed up while operations are ongoing in the general area. Further details will be released later,” the statement read.

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said that the South-East geo-political zone was not safe to hold its delegates conference scheduled for October 4 in Abia State. Petrus Obi, NUJ National Vice President, South-East zone, stated this in a statement in Abuja. sit-at-home order, which though has been momentarily suspended by the IPOB authorities is being largely complied with by residents and inhabitants anywhere in the zone out of fear for their lives. “It is on record that Abia, being the home state of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been worst hit by reports of insecurity amidst palpable tension that has enveloped the entire zone. “The IPOB agitators sustained remonstration of the continuous incarceration of their son and leader Nnamdi Kanu may not have a better opportunity than this being presented by the conference to make a statement.” Daily Trust reports that October has also been fixed for the court hearing on the bail application of the IPOB leader. Obi said, “I fear for the lives of the over 1,000 journalists besides other participants, who will be in attendance at the slated conference venue which of course I will not attend because my life is so precious to me. “It will be in the interest of the revered union and professional body that the conference be postponed and moved to a safer state in the face of security issues in the zone.”