Suicide Bombings: SSANU demands special task force to protect Unimaid, condemns monopoly in cement business

The Senior  Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has called on the federal government to set up task force in  the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno State to protect the university community from the incessant suicide bombings from Boko Haram terrorists.

The call was made on Thursday by National President of the union, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, while delivering his speech at the 31st National Executive Council, NEC meeting at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State in South West of the country.

According to Ugwoke, SSANU had lost manpower since the university became the target of attacks, stressing that the spate of attacks in the institution was worrisome.

To this end, he urged security operatives to up their games in arresting the ugly situation of suicide bombing in the university.

He lamented that the economic recession in the country had lasted for too long, even as he urged the Federal Government to give account of the recovered loots from politicians and public office holders and also inject the recovered money into the economy.

On the suicide bombings, Ugwoke said: “Sambisa has been cleared and I feel it is now accessible. But what concerns us most is the spate of attacks at the University of Maiduguru. It is auspicious concern to us.

“It seems that the suicide bombers are targeting that university. The University has lost a lot of manpower to terrorists of suicide bombers..

“I got a letter of the university community calling on the Federal Government to set up a special task force to look after the University. As you are aware, teaching,  learning, research and community development cannot take place in atmosphere of chaos and fear.”

“So,  for teaching and learning to take place, calmness and peace and sine qua non. I appeal to the Federal Government to listen to the cry of the University community in Maiduguri by setting up a task force with a designed security gadget or network to track down the people that send these young girls and young boys to bombard the University.

“These suicide bombers come out from somewhere. They were not born with bombs attached to them.  The fact that the security agencies have not been able to track the source of the manufacturers of these IED and also from where they recruit these innocent ignorant Children to do these heinous acts is surprising to someone of us.

“We are calling on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities by securing members of the university community of the University of Maiduguri.”

Speaking on the economy, Ugwoke said,  “The recession is lasting too long and it is biting hard on SSANU members. Government should give account of the recovered loot and plough the recovered loot into the economy so as to boost it and move the economy forward. The money is losing value. “

The union condemned the idea of government granting permission for monopoly in building materials to some individuals especially on cement, saying such policy should be stopped so that more actors will be involved to help Nigerians afford the cost of building materials.