FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NIGERIANS UNITE AGAINST INSECURITY AND TERRORISM (NUAIT)
ABUJA, NIGERIA. 07/07/2013

The Slaughtering of School Children in Potiskum (Yobe State) and the Langtang (Plateau State) Killings.


Once again Nigeria’s public space is inundated with news of the sporadic massacre of school children and their teacher(s) at Government Secondary School, Mamudo, Potiskum, Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram Sect. Latest report indicates the death toll may have risen to 42. In June, a similar attack was masterminded on a school in Damaturu ensuing in the death of about 7 Pupils and 2 teachers.
A while ago skirmishes in Magama, Bolgan and Karkashi villages of Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani militias resulted in the death of dozens of people. Sun Newspapers indicates the death toll sequel to the invasion of these villages may have risen to 70 with the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) attached to the area adjudged missing.

At the time of penning this Piece, news emerged that 34 people were feared dead somewhere in Benue state aftermath of a clash with suspected Fulani herdsmen. It follows that more than 100 people have been hacked to death in the last one week in Nigeria.

We whined, wallowed in self-denial and blame-game when a recent study of 80 countries by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Nigeria as the worst country for a child to be born in. The aforementioned events seem to validate this report.

These witless and atrocious killings are unbecoming and unacceptable. There is no justification whatsoever for these barbaric killing of innocent Nigerians. We strongly condemn these killings and we implore the masterminds to sheathe their swords. We also entreat our security agencies to do everything within their powers to bring the masterminds of these heinous crimes to book. For starters, forensic analysis of expended bullets or pellets found in a crime scene will give some pointers as to where those bullets came from. The fingerprints on the weapons or the crime scene will ascertain who committed the crime. An antecedent of culprits’ getting away with such crimes is a subtle invitation to anarchism.

Nigeria is becoming synonymous with indiscriminate butchery of innocent people. If it is not Niger Delta militants today, it is Boko Haram; if it is not Fulani herdsmen, it is Ombatse. Such unwholesome proclivities and incidents are obtainable only in war-torn environments such as Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan etc. Our politicians detest this home truth but these upshots strongly and overtly attest that Nigeria is adrift. There is no gainsaying the fact that the value of life and life expectancy in Nigeria is increasingly dropping at an alarming proportion. There is no outrage anymore when these things happen. Chit-chat, paper-tiger Committees and sub-committees are consequently set up; staggering amounts of money is appropriated to them. Sooner than later, the reports of the various panels and Committees join their ancestors in ‘’Nigeria’s burgeoning National Archive of Committee Reports’’ and it is business as usual again.

On April 17, 2013, President Jonathan named a 26-member ‘’Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North’’. The Committee was given a 60-day time frame to submit its report. It appears this Committee has overstayed its welcome. If public fund is appropriated to the Committee, then it’s high time it was reined in before it metamorphoses into another jamboree.

We also have some posers: will the declaration of a state of emergency in the hotbeds of insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria be ongoing? Given that declaration of state of emergency is a kneejerk and temporary measure, what happens when it comes to an end? Since these guys still manage to launch intermittent attacks even with the state of emergency, is that not a pointer that they mean business and are not ready to lay down their arms in a jiffy or to even hibernate? What happens if and when BH decides to export their stock-in-trade to other less hostile states in the north or other parts of the country, you also declare a state of emergency in those areas? Boko Haram is waging unconventional (guerrilla-style) warfare with the Nigerian state hence deploying a detachment of gung-ho soldiers and police officers in the name of JTF is a welcomed development but not a lasting solution. We commend the efforts and sacrifices of our Security agencies especially the JTF. However we suggest a reappraisal of the JTF Operation and strategy. Our security agencies must not wallow in the euphoria of their effervescent quasi accomplishments.

The N6billion naira yearly security vote accruable to the state governors must be judiciously utilized and accounted for. Government must also decipher and deal with the sponsors of these terrorists and insurgents; tackling the foot-soldiers offers little help. Our government must tackle the remote and immediate causes of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria.

At the risk of over-egging the pudding, it is high time Nigeria articulated a ‘’Coherent and Comprehensive Terrorism, Counter-terrorism Policy/Strategy’’. We deduce it has become a fad for terrorists and insurgents to target schools, churches and other public institutions. We advocate that security-conscious establishments in Nigeria proactively carry out sporadic ‘’Extensive Vulnerability/Resilience Analysis and Security Audit’’ of their domain and take appropriate steps to nip this recurring decimal in the bud. We also advocate that more efforts and resources be geared towards intelligence gathering. Let us do away with our fire-brigade approach and mentality. Let us do away with our penchant for randomly setting up committees and sub-committees every time something happens. Every thoughtful and security-minded country or individual, hopes for the best but prepares for the worst. A wise saying goes, after a battle, sharpen your sword.

Please let us give peace a chance. No country or individual will make significant progress and positive impact in a miasma of insecurity and unpredictability. Nigerians Unite Against Insecurity and Terrorism. See it, hear it, say it, stop it!!!

God bless Nigeria and Nigerians!

Signed
Don Okereke
donnuait@yahoo.com
+2347080008285


Attention:
1. President Goodluck Jonathan
2. Alhaji Sambo Dasuki (National Security Adviser)
3. Senator David Mark (President of the Senate)
4. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (Speaker House of Representatives)
5. Chief of Defence Staff
6. Chief of Army Staff
7. The Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Nigeria
8. Mr. Mohammed Abubarka (Inspector General of Police)
9. Ekpeyong E. Ita (DG, State Security Service (SSS))
10. All 36 State governors in Nigeria
11. All DIG’s, AIG’s, and Police Commissioners of Police
12. All radio, TV, Media houses and Internet bloggers
13. Civil Liberties Organization, Nigeria
14. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
15. Amnesty International
16. Human Rights Watch
17. National Human Rights Commission

The H-ABORTION of children can take place before or after birth!
The will of GOD!
ALL NA PRO-CHOICE ABI?
Mu he he he he he he