Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has described the setting up of a fact finding committee to reconcile the figures regarding the number of missing school children in Borno State, a huge joke.

The Federal Government had last week through the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, announced the names of Falana alongside others to be part of the committee to be headed by a one-time Director of Military Intelligence, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo.

Falana initially declined the appointment via a press statement, saying he was already involved in nationwide demonstrations demanding that the Army secure the immediate release of the girls.

He however stated that at a book launch in Lagos that the action of the president was a huge joke, wondering: “How can civilians confront militants who are armed in the process of rescuing kidnapped children?”

Speaking at the public presentation of a book, “Before We Forget Obasanjo’s Letter to President Jonathan and the Aftermath” written by members of Peace and Development Projects, in Lagos yesterday, Falana flayed the perceived inability of the nation’s armed forces to curb the menace posed by insurgent group Boko Haram.

“The decision of the Federal Government to set up a committee, a fact finding one at that to look for abducted school children, is not well thought out. It is a huge joke which I can never be part of,” he said.

He stated that the armed forces have not been properly motivated to confront the Boko Haram menace, saying without such, the desire of the country to win the war on terror will continue to be a mirage.

Said Falana: “How do you explain a situation whereby government has not adequately taken care of the families of soldiers laying down their lives for the country? In a place like the United States of America (USA), the president will personally write a letter of condolence to the families of fallen heroes.

“What do you have here? The maximum time the family of a fallen soldier can stay in the barracks when the breadwinner dies is one week before they are kicked out by the authorities. The ones that are still serving are watching what is happening to their dead colleagues, so how do you want them to be dedicated?”

•Source: LEADERSHIP. Photo shows Femi Falana.

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