If as they say, the fundamental and most basic duty of any government is the safety of lives and property of the citizens, then it’s safe to conclude that the APC government of President Bola Tinubu has failed, and let it be added too, it has failed woefully, in its core mandate.
This cannot be the dream country we all wish for. This is not the administration I boasted would arrest the ugly trend of unexplained killings across the country pronto.
True that the insecurity we are grappling with did not begin with this government. However, the government of the day has also not done anything different. So sad!
Two weeks ago, we called for the sack of the National Security, Nuhu Ribadu, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, for their impertinent, insensitive and unconscionable comments on the current spate of intractable barbarism and mindless killings going on in the country.
Gen. Oluyede who should be more bothered by the rising cases of killings of his soldiers is instead interested in placating bloodthirsty vagabonds who have continued to invade communities eliminating innocent souls, kidnapping and displacing people from their places of abode.
Oluyede, obviously a poor student or adherent of the Christian faith, likened those who have ensured that no day goes by without reported cases of killings of innocent Nigerians, including soldiers whom he is supposed to be commanding, as the prodigal son who spent his share of his inheritance until he was destitute.
As for Ribadu, he sees these mass murderers as his brothers, so for both men who, unfortunately, are saddled with the responsibility of securing you and me, the best option to ending these unprovoked assaults and assassinations, is deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration; the Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi school of thought.
Last Thursday’s deadly Boko Haram attack on the 15 Task Force Brigade, which resulted in the death of Brigadier General O.O. Braimah and 18 other soldiers, is to say the least, very disturbing and disheartening.
As would be expected, the military authorities have given their own account discountenancing reports in the media as fake, advising that only official reports from the military should be sought. The military also said only about four soldiers died, including Gen Braimah.
How that is possible is left to you and I to conjecture. However, the question is: How was it that the General was so vulnerable and easily exposed in an attack at the base, if indeed only four lives were lost?
Again, this is a clear case of another avoidable death and how long shall we continue in this senseless bloodletting of our soldiers and civilians? When will the identities of the sponsors be made public? When are we going to retrategise, recalibrate, and jettison the approach of chasing, begging and rewarding with cash unrepentant criminals in the name of providing safe corridors?
Whichever way one looks at it, with the account of the Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, this is a total indictment and a failure on the part of the Federal Government.
Zulum attributed the deadly Boko Haram attack on the 15 Task Force Brigade in Benesheik to a failure of intelligence, calling it one of the most “surprising attacks” he has witnessed in recent times.
He disclosed that the troops had received credible intelligence of a potential assault three days before the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday.
Despite this prior warning, the insurgents were able to strike, resulting in the death of Gen Braimah, the base commander, along with several others.
Speaking in Benesheik, Zulum urged the military to review its security architecture to address emerging threats more effectively.
He also questioned local leadership on their awareness and handling of the intelligence prior to the assault. The chairman of Kaga Local Government confirmed that intelligence reports had been received, further highlighting the lapse that allowed the attack to proceed.
In the last one week, gunmen reportedly killed at least 60 people, including those killed on Easter Sunday, across over 10 villages.
Until we’re prepared to take this fight to these criminals and flush out their sympathisers in government, we will only be deceiving ourselves.
Both the military hierarchy and the federal and state governments are complicit. This is looking more like a criminal enterprise than a genuine fight against terrorism.
It is public knowledge that for some top miliBoth the military hierarchy and the federal and state governments are complicit. This is looking more like a criminal enterprise than a genuine fight against terrorism. tary brass, government officials and others, this is just another avenue to enrich themselves.
However, the entire blame is ultimately with the President who has continued to delight in making promises of defeating terrorism when even those he appointed as security aides and others in government are performing below par. He has continued to retain them in spite of their insensitive rhetoric, which completely suggests a lack of desire to do the needful.
Everywhere else, terrorists are vanquished and eliminated. In Nigeria, we have a pathetic policy of reintegration of murderers who infiltrate the security forces and ensure that this vicious cycle is maintained.
The President must take responsibility for refusing to sack these elements and their sympathisers in government.
Gen Olufemi Oluyede and Nuhu Ribadu, should see what anguish and pains their prodigal sons and kins have put us through in one week.
BREAKING: How Ribadu, Oluyede’s Prodigal Sons, Kins Killed Gen Braimah, Others
