By Victor Ahiuma-Young

THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has expressed grave concern over worsening insecurity in the North-Eastern part of the country, as Boko Haram insurgents are over-running towns and villages in the area.

NUPENG recalled that at the last count, Gulak, Madagali, Michika, Uba, Bazza in Adamawa State have fallen to the insurgents, while Banki, Gwoza, Bama have fallen in Borno.
The union in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, called on the military to declare the area a war-zone and flush out the insurgents as there could not be a caliphate within a republic.

According to NUPENG, “the military must be fully armed with modern day weaponry to challenge and flush out the insurgents who are carrying sophisticated arms.
“We demand a concerted effort with the support of our neighbouring countries, namely Cameroon, Niger and Chad to help stem the current tide, as the insurgents will have no hiding place. We  call on the Federal and state governments in the North-East to address the refugee problem.

“The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, must deploy more men and relief materials to assist the refugees. It is a high time an action was taken to nip the current invasion of the terrorists in the bud, before it leads to serious security implications on our existence as a nation.”