Nigeria today has been described as a war zone, no thanks to the many killings in the country.
In fact, the killings have gone from bad to worse, thrown the entire country into a state of anarchy, making the only viable solution the declaration of State of Emergency, a move vehemently kicked against by governors of the affected states.
But sooner than later, President Jonathan was eventually forced to declare a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, states citing insecurity. Just few minutes after President Jonathan declared a State of Emergency in these states, Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Reverend Faye Pama Musa was killed by suspected Boko Haram members.
What has become an epidemic today started off as a joke with Jos being the first to witness such mass massacre.
It all started when the Boko Haram sect/Fulani herdsmen or so it seems, suddenly launched massive attacks and killed more than 140 people in 10 villages in Jos.
They later claimed responsibility for the attacks, blaming it on first attack from farmers who didn’t want their cattle to graze from their farms. And in a counter reaction, the farmers claimed the Fulani’s cattle destroyed their plants, making it impossible for them to have a bounty harvest .
Immediately the tragic attacks struck in rounds, Christians groups sprang up, condemning the killings with most people tracing the underlying reasons to religion. But the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, quickly debunked speculations that it was a religious riot.
Instead, he blamed riot on bad leadership. Later, the killings were said to be ethnic-based, with an undertone and backing of some top shot political personalities among which ex-vice president Atiku was the most fingered.
With this, the issues of security was played up and questions of how safe were lives and properties of a common man was on every lips. But even as President Jonathan’s administration claimed to be vigorously restless in bringing back peace to Jos and the whole country, the killings continued abated with villages like Berom, Du and Riyom, Tahoss, Bangai, Sopp, Angwa Werem, Danjol and Gwom being victims of the most recent attacks.
Aside the Jos killings, some northern states are also witnessing this gruesome genocide. No fewer than 185 persons including women and children were recently killed in an exchange of gunfire between gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram and men of the Joint Task Force in the commercial border town of Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Adamawa State also not left out in the trauma of losing those close to its heart. Not counting the past attacks on innocent lives, recently, at least 11 people were killed in an early morning attack on Midlu village while staging an attack on the residence of the state’s Deputy Governor. The Deputy Governor’s country home where he normally spends his weekend was alleged attacked by the gunmen who murdered two police guards attached to his house before setting the building ablaze. The raid reportedly lasted over two hours.The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the attack.
Nassarawa has also witnessed its share of mayhem with the most recent being last week’s massacre of 100 security men by members of the Ombatse cult in Alakyo, Nasarawa State. The killings were said to have happened when police officers were deployed to rescue natives from the hands of the cult group which has been initiating people by force. The police officers were ambushed by the militia and this led to a cross fire leading to the death of police officers, villagers inclusive.
Again recently in Yobe State, over 60 bodies arrived the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu, the State capital. Sources revealed they were victims of a bloody gun battle between a dreaded Islamist sect and JTF troops during a raid. Briefing newsmen in Damaturu, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Sanusi Rufai, said: “Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect members attacked Gashua town, Wednesday, where they killed two policemen, robbed a bank and went away with over N9 million, while five of the suspected sect members were equally killed.
Aside Yobe, Adamawa and Borno which just witnessed President Jonathan”s sledge hammer, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states have also witnessed huge insecurity, killings, and have continued to live under fear of what may happen next.
Retired Justice Odunowo has condemned the killings saying it is not good for the country’s growing economy. According to him, “if the country is at war, I don’t think the casualties can be more than what we are seeing right now.” He said if a sect is dissatisfied about the government, they should rather present their grieviances instead of killing innocent citizens and taking laws into their hands.
The guilty should however be brought to book. And when asked about his opinion on the declaration of a State of Emergency by the Presidency, he said “I don’t think that can work because why would a State of Emergency be declared and the governors will still be allowed to remain in office? Declaring a State of Emergency is okay but its operations is faulty. Who will take orders from who? Obviously, the administrator will not want the governors to control them and vice versa. So, it may not work.”
In a swift reaction to theses dreaded anomalies, Dr.Joe Okei-Odumakin of Campaign for Democracy (CD), a leading Nigeria pro-democracy organization, has criticized the recent killing of policemen in Borno and Nassarawa States. She said the situation is disturbing and dangerous.
“The high rate of casualties on the part of policemen witnessed in just one week has not been recorded in most of the wars fought in recent history which confirms the notion that Nigeria is presently at war.”
CD reminded the Federal Government that the poorly equipped and less-empowered security
establishment would not produce any result better than the country presently has.
Falana, in a statement, said the attacks on civilians was confirmed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN). According to him, Adoke revealed that the Police alone had killed 7,108 persons in four years. Of the victims, 2,500 were detained suspects.
Falana said a strong case had been made for the immediate intervention of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to try the culprits who have committed such crimes against humanity.
He believes since the Federal Government has allegedly demonstrated its inability to try security personnel and high profile civilians who engage in extra-judicial killings and other crimes against humanity, the suspects and their sponsors will eventually appear before the ICC. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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