IGERPOLITICAL, RELEGIOUS CRISES IS A THREAT TO NIGERIA

•Gunmen kill 10, injure DPO, nine others in Adamawa
•Ex-Petroleum Minister Ali-Monguno regains freedom
By Wisdom Patrick (Lagos), Joe Nwankwo (Abuja) and Sunny Nwankwo (Maiduguri) 
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),



 Mariam Aloma-Muhktar, warned on Monday that the current spate of political and religious violence in the country is a threat to the nation’s stability.
She also said there was the need for humanitarian action on the part of all Nigerians.
In a keynote address in Abuja at the opening of the 2013 Workshop on Refugee Law for Judges and Kadis organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the CJN noted that in the past, internal displacement was an uncommon phenomenon, especially in Nigeria, lamenting that it has now become common.
According to her, “This has been caused by diverse inter-communal, political and religious violence, forced evictions and recently flooding.
“It is important for us all to bear in mind that all these pose great challenges and call for humanitarian action on the part of all and sundry and attending to humanitarian needs is not a cheap venture.”
Justice Mukhtar further said: “While it is imperative to address the needs and welfare of these vulnerable groups, my view is that it is better to avoid, as much as possible, those situations and circumstances that precipitate internal displacement and refugee crisis.
“This is an area where the political class must be up and doing and I hold the view that good governance, respect for the fundamental rights of the citizenry as stipulated in the Constitution and strict obedience to the rule of law will promote peace rather than internal displacement and refugee crisis.”
In his welcome speech, the administrator of the institute, retired Justice Umaru Eri noted that the commission of acts of terrorism was on the increase and it had culminated into loss of lives and property.
He added that natural disasters such as flood have compounded the crisis around the nation which brought about increase in the number of internally displaced persons.
Justice Eri commended the Federal Government for ratifying the basic international instruments on the protection of refugees at the international and regional levels.
Meanwhile, unknown gunmen struck again in Maiha, Adamawa State, at the weekend, killing no fewer than 10 persons, and wounding nine others, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Maiha.
Police sources said the suspected gunmen launched a surprise attack on a market and a church in Jilang village.
Adamawa State Police spokesperson, Ibrahim Mohammed, who confirmed the Saturday night incident from Yola in a telephone interview, however, refused to give details of the attack.
He simply said the gunmen, who came on motorcycles, slaughtered six people in the village market and another four in a church.
Mohammed explained that the police officers who rushed to Jilang village from Maiha after they were alerted of the incident could not catch up with the hoodlums who, he said, sneaked into neighbouring Cameroon Republic through an illegal route.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
But security agencies believe it has the imprimatur of the insurgent Boko Haram sect.
Another report later on Monday said Nigeria’s first Petroleum Minister, Shettima Ali Monguno, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Friday was released by his captors in Kirenuwa village, 145 kilometers away from Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
He was released by his abductors at about midday on Monday.
And as he stepped into freedom, the 92-year-old educationist urged hundreds of sympathisers who came to welcome him not to shed tears, saying, “They did not kill me, so don’t cry.”
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who confirmed Monguno’s release, also appealed to the crowd that thronged the victim’s house in Maiduguri to let him have at least 24 hours to rest and not disturb him.
The Governor thanked Allah, journalists and security agencies for their role in securing the released of the elder statesman.
There has been no confirmation about whether ransom was paid for Monguno’s freedom or not.
His family had during the weekend appealed to his abductors to release him without delay.
Monguno was kidnapped by gunmen shortly after Friday Jumat payer in his mosque in Mafoni, Maiduguri.
His abductors insisted that his freedom must be preceded by release of some Boko Haram members held at various security formations across the country.
While pleading for his release on Saturday, Rahama Ali-Monguno, spokesman for the family, said the elder statesman needed to be released so he could have access to his daily medication.
“We are begging the abductors in the name of Allah to please release our father. They should consider his old age and his current state of health,’’ he had told newsmen.
He also urged the abductors to consider the numerous philanthropic gestures of the elder statesman.