Apart from the documented 444 murdered victims,
hundreds of wounded persons and thousands
newly displaced, all from a surprising
fresh onslaught by Boko Haram on scores of
communities and towns in at least six northern
states of Nigeria, the questions on the lips of
Nigerians monitoring the carnage would all meet at some point. Was the inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015 in which he promised to stamp out Boko Haram shortly, just a brilliant prose with no work plan for execution?
Was his diatribe on the terrorists and his
renewed pledge to route the insurgents mere
bravado; a politically-right outing to woo
everyone as the messiah, while knowing deep
inside him he had no such capability?
Many of the residents who may have been inspired by the president’s speech to return to the war ravaged village of the North-East, especially in Borno State, only to narrowly escape renewed violence may be wondering if Buhari spoke in good faith.
But those who still have faith in the president are wont to argue that it is too early to expect the man to wipe out a six-year-old orgy of murder in less than two months. They are likely also going to argue that those in opposition to the ruling APC are using the tragedy for political advantage. Ironically, it was the inability of the last government to cage Boko Haram that helped to swing winning votes in favour of the former, the opposition APC.
Meanwhile, there is no running from the fact that eradicating Boko Haram within the days that Buhari has been in power would be too ambitious a project in scope and content given what the President met on ground.
The most worrying factor, however, is that instead of ebbing, the deaths and destruction caused by Boko Haram seem to be galloping compared to the pre-May 29 era.
This is despite the moving of the military command to Maiduguri, Borno State capital and epicentre of the violence which has so far claimed estimated 100,000 lives since the move by Boko Haram to declare Nigeria an Islamic Caliphate started in 2009..
But, Boko Haram is not only the group causing
blood and tears to flow, even though many thought the situation ought not to get worse, given the hope Buhari inspired in the suffering communities, especially in the Middle Belt, when he came on board.
From Benue to Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna, the tales of night marauders stalking sleeping
communities and killing defenceless citizens remain a daily occurrence.
Senator Danjuma La’ah, representing Southern
Kaduna at the Senate, penultimate week,
addressed a press conference in Kafanchan, 180
km south of Kaduna metropolis, to register his
displeasure with the state of security in his zone.
La’ah, the only senator on the platform of the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from
the North-North-West Zone, said: “After several
days of silence from the government of Kaduna
State over the most recent killings of law abiding
natives of Southern Kaduna, I have decided to
make public my resentment over the development.
“On the 5th June, 2015, Ayagan village in Bajju
Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State was invaded by well armed men.
Four people were killed and several others injured when the invaders fired into a crowd of mourners, unprovoked.
“Till date, no culprit has been caught, nor has the
state government made any announcement in its effort, if any, at apprehending the killers.
“On the 11th June, 2015, one Tanko Nyam, 45, of
Kyari Daddu village in Jaba, LGA, was ambushed
by yet another set of gunmen and killed leaving
behind his wife and five kids.
“Then on the 17th of June, 2015, gunmen attacked the village of Katsak, Atakad Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, leaving behind nine dead bodies and 13 persons critically injured as early as 8am.
“This government was brought to power by a
legitimate election from the electorate who are
expecting a dramatic improvement on their
security and general well-being. While, I
acknowledge the fact that the government is still young on the seat, it cannot claim ignorance or destitute of ideas on what to do in circumstances like this”.
www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/444-deaths-in-39-days-boko-haram-more-daring-more-heartless/

May God help us.#chassis

If not more than 444 cos it keeps getting worse. May d departed souls find peace in the hands of our creator Amen.