LAGOS – The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the fresh wave of violence and spate of bombings across the country, saying the trend portends danger for the unity of the country. The Guild also bemoaned the near passivity of security operatives in proactively policing and actually apprehension of culprits.

The Guild, in a communique issued at the end of its standing committee meeting held in Kano attributed the unabated violence to failure of intelligence gathering by the security agencies and urged them to talk less and do more in securing the nation.

The communique signed by the Guild’s President, Mr Gbenga Adefaye and General Secretary, Mr Isaac Ighure, maintained that “there is a systemic vice across the country that is being watered by poverty and, therefore, urged the governments at every level to view employment creation and social infrastructural development as panacea to the restiveness fuelling the killings in certain parts of the country.

It urged the Federal Government in particular to address the root causes of the violence, especially in the Northern part of the country and should be seen to be genuinely interested in addressing perceived injustices that might have been metted out on certain groups in the region.

It also advised the security operatives to demographically define and secure the country’s borders and put a lasting end to the proliferation of arms in the wrong hands.

The Guild also commended the state Houses of Assembly that have either passed or commenced the process for passing the FoI Bill into law in their states and urged stakeholders that fought in ensuring that the Bill was passed not to relent by ensuring that the law is put into test continually.

It reaffirmed its confidence in the democratic governance in the country and urged the three tiers of government to respect the rule of law.

It further expressed its unwavering support for the strengthening of the institutions of government, such as the Legislature and Judiciary, in order to deepen the nation’s democracy through effective checks and balances.