By Shehu Musa Gabam
The news from the Northern region is no more interesting to many friends of newspapers and online Media due to constant lost of lives and properties that continue unabated. The killings and destruction in the region is gradually becoming a norm and least the victims may get from those who failed to protect them is a mere condolences by government media aides .The cultural pattern adopted by the government of condemning only the incidents without swinging into action to curtail the reoccurrence has further exposed the government incapacity to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians. Nigerians most especially Northerners are been surrounded by Insecurity and the most unfortunate of all is the manner some media aides are responding to this issues of critical national importance .
The 43 people killed in Borno State by degraded Boko Haram and according to previous statements accredited to the government explained further in contradiction what is obtainable today in the North about the successes recoded in the fight of Boko Haram as well as other criminals elements .The government statement that such farmers should have obtained clearance which according to them should have avoided such ugly incident clearly tell the world that the issued of Boko Haram been defeated is nothing more than a hear say. Our stand is for government to address this issue of insecurity holistically even though many from the glass house has misunderstood our stand on critical issues that should not been seen from political angles. We should put ourselves in the shoes of those who are been killed and attacked while on their legitimate duty in search of daily bread and most of them are the breadwinners of their families.
The government will be under pressure to save their image as having done well in the areas of insecurity and economy as promised during their campaign but this is never to be done at the expense of other peoples lives or livelihoods.The mass slaughter of unarmed citizens by armed Boko Haram in some communities in the North East ,the
Bandits has continued to run their show in the North West with Abuja-Kaduna high way and other part of the North has continued to cause national shock, grief and outcry from Nigerians. Government must woke up and do more than what is obtainable today to guarantee the lives and properties of the North because we cannot continue to pretend about the safety on the region.
Nigeria appears to be under siege from many forces who appeared to be running their show without any fear and further exposed the inability of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Security Chiefs to protect the lives of Nigerians.Repeatedly, innocent citizens in different communities across the nation are brutally attacked, and their sources of livelihood mindlessly destroyed. The wicked assertion is the manner that most of the Northern elites are keeping mute at the time that our voices of the North should be raise high as a consensus in demanding for urgent action from the government that is serving our mandate. The President must at this critical time chose between its personal relationships and acquaintance with those bestowed with the authority to protect the lives of Nigerians as they will account for Almighty God their deeds hereafter.
I commend the federal government in some of few successes so far recorded in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast but the resurfacing of the attacked on Nigerians most especially farmers that forms critical part of today’s government economy policies is unfortunate and regrettable. This should not be allow to continue because long as farmers are afraid then hunger is inevitable in no distance time a price that all Nigerians will pay for as unfortunate as it may be. I am appalled by the repeated occurrence of other ugly incidents that are tearing communities apart at this difficult circumstances because if people resort to vigilantism in self-defense there could be a complete breakdown of law and order in the country.
Finally ,I call on the federal government along with the 19 states Governors of the North to as a matter of national emergency convey “Northern Regional Security Summit ” that will not only discuss but a summit that will come up with holistic Solutions that stop most urgently the bloodshed in the North .The North need to come together and discuss urgently it problems as some Governors has openly faulted the Security architecture of the country as they are helpless in dealing with the dreaded kingpins.
May the repose soul of those who are departed rest in Jannatul Firdausi Ameen.
Shehu Musa Gabam (Makaman Tilde)
A Public Affairs Commentator,
Writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
