Terrorists in Nigeria
By any stretch of imagination, the worsening insecurity in Nigeria is beyond belief. It’s unfortunate that the nightmare is a reality we have had to live with.
But do Nigerians deserve this state of affairs, like millions of traumatized citizens this newspaper says No.
The directive principle of every and anything government is protection of its citizens, the enablement of law and order, and non negotiable safety of the people on behalf of which government holds power in trust.
Gradually, criminal non state actors have occupied ungoverned spaces in large swathe of the country’s territorial land, and are contesting with amazing success the governed spaces, levying taxation and forming parallel government.
This the nightmare oppressed citizens of the country have lived with since 2009, but the scale and ferocity of the atrocities of these outlaws have not been equalled at anytime as we are witnessing under Tinubu administration – a government short in delivery of promises but long in rhetoric and propaganda.
From Sokoto to Kogi, from Kwara to Benue, the story is the same: mass kidnappings, killings, ransom payments, harried travellers in danger of not making it to their destinations.
The abductions of school children whose average ages are 4 to 12 in Orire Local Government of Oyo state two weeks ago is the acme of the tragic paradox that Nigeria has become. Images and videos of traumatized teens at the mercy of the elements – rain, acidic sun, wild beasts are uncannily complemented by their taunts and psychological harassment by the horde of barbarians that hold them captive.
As the traumatized parents watch the videos of this horrendous inhumanity, their psyche is further tortured by the images of those that are supposed to protect them in babaringas, engaged in political horse trading at the so-called party primaries unconcerned about the other realities in the forested Oyo game reserves. That’s what this country has become.
As a newspaper, we find it difficult to understand what is going on . For us, certain fundamental questions beggar belief:
The Are Ona kankafo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams and Odua Yoruba, Chief Sunday Igboho have independently issued dire warnings, they have made public the various requests and overtures to southwest governors and to the presidency to give them approval to flush out these criminals. According to them, governments of the southwest and federal government have refused. Why? Who is benefiting from this misery?
With defence budget running into billions, yet the armed forces though have put up their best which seems not to be enough. They have not succeeded in putting a stop to this madness that is fast tearing apart the country.
The continued incarceration of the Orire captives and others in different parts of the country by bandits and terrorists is shame to the administration that enabled through inaction, political correctness, corruption and sheer incompetence. If this current administration can not secure the country it has no business being there; the more honourable route is resignation.
It’s our considered opinion that this state of fear must not be allowed to continue.
The Nigerian government holds a fundamental obligation to protect citizens and their property. This duty encompasses maintaining internal security against crime, providing emergency response services, and securing the nation against external threats. Nigerians deserve a better country.
