From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi
Friday, April 29, 2011

But for an act of Providence, Samson A. Sunmonu, an undergraduate of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), would have been dead by now. He narrowly escaped death in the hands of rampaging, dagger-wielding youths who were protesting the outcome of the recent presidential polls in Darazo, Bauchi State.

Sunmonu who was travelling to Lagos from Maiduguri on Sunday, April 17, the day after the presidential election, was oblivious of the danger that lay ahead. He ran into the angry youths who were carrying sticks, machetes and dangerous weapons in the sleepy town of Darazo.
The undergraduate, who thought he had come to the end of the road said he saw how the youths killed and maimed people and looted their property, adding that how he managed to escape from the ferocious mob remains a mystery to him.

Sunmonu, an indigene of Kogi State, also told of how he witnessed two female corps members being mercilessly hacked to death by the rioters just as another one, a male, was hit in the waist and beaten to a pulp.
He said: “I think they hit the man so hard on the waist that he became paralysed. If he survived, I don’t think he will be able to walk in his life again.”

In an interview with Daily Sun, Sunmonu said: “We left Maiduguri early in the morning. I was in a Marcopolo bus which was carrying about 62 passengers. We took the bye-pass and as we approached Potiskum in Yobe State, some people stopped us and told us that the road was not good. “Before we knew what was happening, we saw a roadblock, and bonfire. Our driver slowed down. We wanted to know what was happening. Everyone became afraid.  We advised the driver to turn back. We started heading back to Maiduguri.

“We later heard that problem had started in Postikum where we just left. Some of the passengers now advised the driver to go inside the bush so that we could hide in a village. At this time we saw some trailers carrying cows. They parked by the road side including some small cars. We also parked. There was a village nearby.
“Soon, we saw small boys who came to us, that they were waiting for others to come and join them, that they would slaughter all of us. I was so afraid. They were even demonstrating how they would slash our throats using their hands.”

Sunmonu said at this point the consensus among those who parked including himself and the other passengers in the Macopolo, the trailer carrying cows and other small vehicles was to go to Postikum, where there was a Mobile Police base. He said: “We got there in a convoy and we saw about 10 mobile policemen. We heaved a sigh of relief. The policemen asked us to come out of the cars and sit down outside and minutes later we saw the OC MOPOL from Damaturu who came and was making a call. Other mobile policemen came in three Hilux jeeps and after several hours, they escorted us to Potiskum.

As we entered Potiskum, we saw houses and cars that had been burnt. Then, we started approaching Darazo before they left us. As we came to Darazo, we were told that the road was bad, that Darazo was on fire. Some drivers were afraid and drove inside the bushes.  We stopped cars coming from Bauchi to inquire about the situation. They warned us that Christians among us should not proceed. We had to stop and we waited for another three hours. We stopped one man carrying the poster of General Buhari on his car. He told us that he bought those posters for N1, 500 and that was what had been saving him from the rioters. He said he was travelling to Maiduguri for a very important assignment.

He advised us to be patient and he left. We saw another car and the driver of that car told us that he had to disguise himself, saying he would have been killed if he didn’t. About 30 minutes later, we proceeded and when we got to Darazo, it was a different ball game.” Sunmonu said in Darazo town, they drove right into the rioters as they were carrying out their destruction of lives and property. He said the rioters could not stop the first, second and third cars, but noted that the fourth car was stopped by them.
[/b]
He said: “They stopped the car and started destroying it. There were two girls sitting in the back of the car. I saw it with my own eyes when they brought out the two girls and killed them with machetes. They were shouting “Sai Buhari”, “Sai CPC”, “Allahu Akbar.” They held the two girls and killed them. They stopped our bus and they were asking us to come down. As I was coming out, I shouted Sai Buhari, Sai CPC, Allahu Akbar. They said this is our own and they let me pass. But the girl behind me was scared. She could not say anything. She did not understand Hausa and they killed her.”[b]

He said another guy in another car was stopped and they hit him on his waist. “They broke his spinal cord. I don’t think he can ever walk again if he survived.” According to Sunmonu, there would have been more casualties if the security personnel had not arrived in Darazo immediately. He said: “Luckily, soldiers and mobile policemen came from Bauchi and they opened fire. Right there before we were rescued I counted nine dead bodies- six men and three women. There were two female corps members too. A male corps member also broke his spinal cord. The soldiers then rescued us. Otherwise, we would have been slaughtered like rams. If not for their intervention, I would have been a dead man.”

Sunmonu said the soldiers escorted them to the Darazo police station. He met more shocking scenario there. “On getting there, I saw two corps members who were slaughtered. They soon removed their bodies and took them to the mortuary. I saw some who escaped with only skirts and underwear at the station. I saw little children crying, their parents had been killed. It was terrible. The army officer in charge of the operation, a full lieutenant escorted our bus to the Armoured School, Bauchi, including some corps members that had escaped. We were told that a curfew had been imposed on the town, so we slept there.”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/29/national-29-04-2011-006.htm

why does this have to happen?

datz wot u get when u are around olodos.

sometimes i just wonder why things happen like this in nigeria

Darazo was where i did my NYSC some years back. I feel for the Xtians, Igbos and Yorubas in that city.

If this riots were to be some years back I would have been caught in it cos I mixed with the indigenes too much even sat with them late into the night.

All the lungus I still know like the back of my hand

icez:

why does this have to happen?

The answer is the same as it was 12 years ago when the killings started getting national audience. Because your government has yet to take the job of securing you and the nation, seriously.

PS. It seems what they would rather do is buy for themselves Kevlar and Bullet-Proof Glass cars, than spend your money on improving security in the country. Death toll as a result of violence of this kind now passed 16000, and I notice what we do is cry a little, and wait for the next massacre to cry again. 

Congratulations Nigeria, you have officially passed the Somalia you're always talking about in non-human behaviour.

Horrible.

The most disgusting aspect to all of this is that, after all these, it would be business as usual. No SNC, no restructuring, nothing. . . . . we continue to be one nigeria. Why're we in the same country with these guys? GEJ should understand he's in a divine position to convene a SNC and fast. If we've got to divide, so be it for the sake of ourselves and posterity.

We can't continue living a lie.

icez:

why does this have to happen?

It happens everywhere you have the Jihardists. It will continue to happen in Nigeria.
Oil and water cannot mix, so the Jihardists can never leave in peace with "condemned indels".

May their souls rest in peace. Amen

Most Northerner are ANIMALS! But Aboki get mind shay.

How do one condoles the families? cos am short of words! But i pray may the Almighty in His infinite goodness grant them the strenght to bear these avoidable losses! Shame on the political elites, nigerian govt and whosoever is a party to these murders will surely reaps the repercussions a thousandfold either here or in the beyond!

dem_people:

The most disgusting aspect to all of this is that, after all these, it would be business as usual. No SNC, no restructuring, nothing. . . . . we continue to be one nigeria. Why're we in the same country with these guys? GEJ should understand he's in a divine position to convene a SNC and fast. If we've got to divide, so be it for the sake of ourselves and posterity.

We can't continue living a lie.

^^^^The reason all this nonsense will continue to happen is because the different ethnic groups in southern Nigeria plus the middle-belt don't want to speak with one voice. For as long as we can't come together to forge a common cause, this nonsense will continue.

Another reason is the basta*rd political/ruling class in the south and middle-belt that gain from things are they are presently. They don't have the balls nor the will to speak as one and call for a sovereign national conference.

Did anyone see Babangida on the news threatening to "go back to the trenches to keep this country one". He doesn't realise -if there's a war- things wouldn't be as they were 40 years ago when the rest of Nigeria fought a war (with outside help) against Ndigbo. If the south, plus middle-belt manage to get their act together, get some liver and call for a secession if certain conditions aren't met, the core north can do absolutely nada. What is saving them for now are the greedy/selfish traitors and turncoats amongst us and our inability to speak as one.

Oh!! And for the record, i'm sure we have old soldiers in the south we can call on if need be, so Babangida should stop with the comical threats.

dem_people:

The most disgusting aspect to all of this is that, after all these, it would be business as usual. No SNC, no restructuring, nothing. . . . . we continue to be one nigeria. Why're we in the same country with these guys? GEJ should understand he's in a divine position to convene a SNC and fast. If we've got to divide, so be it for the sake of ourselves and posterity.

We can't continue living a lie.

Even if there is going to be a SNC, who should convene it? The President, The National Assembly, Civil Society or Ethnic Groups?

congrats my broda, i pray for the souls of those that died. i know one day some ppl will realize how cruel they have been. now is the time for SNC.

Kobojunkie:

The answer is the same as it was 12 years ago when the killings started getting national audience. Because your government has yet to take the job of securing you and the nation, seriously.

PS. It seems what they would rather do is buy for themselves Kevlar and Bullet-Proof Glass cars, than spend your money on improving security in the country. Death toll as a result of violence of this kind now passed 16000, and I notice what we do is cry a little, and wait for the next massacre to cry again. 

You are always on the wrong side

MeGaStReEt:

You are always on the wrong side

That is because I don't subscribe to the pack mentality, that many of those you are used to ,do. I try to see things as they really are . . . not create fantastical views of reality like you do. 

People come here every other month to cry and wail on the very same things quarter after quarter. When the rest of the world has moved on to other problems we are still stuck tangling with the same old that we could easily fix if only we would use our heads.

Kobojunkie:

That is because I don't subscribe to the pack mentality, that many of those you are used to ,do. I try to see things as they really are . . . not create fantastical views of reality like you do.

People come here every other month to cry and wail on the very same things quarter after quarter. When the rest of the world has moved on to other problems we are still stuck tangling with the same old that we could easily fix if only we would use our heads.

Do you think we should convene a SNC? or can we still work things out (south and north)

icez:

Do you think we should convene a SNC? or can we still work things out (south and north)

You should spend some time thinking exactly how SNC will secure the people -- farmers, businesses, individuals, students, NYSC members, etc. How will convening an SNC provide a solution to the security issues that exist in the north, and south?

All that will do is accomplish NOTHING if the major issue of security is not tackled once and for all. Even in countries like the U.S.A, all the different groups who live here do not necessarily see eye to eye or love each other but the mere fact that security is NO JOKE at the local, stat, and National levels, FORCES individuals to curb their appetites for blood. That is why the KKK still exists even as the black population continues to explode. We have Jews all over the place even as the Nazi party also exists in the same communities and country.

We need to stop picking on the foolish issues and start focusing on the major solutions. Have we not wasted enough time in thinking that dividing the country will make things change? Isn't it time for common sense solutions that have been tried and tested in other worlds to be the focus? Haba!!

Kobojunkie:

You should spend some time thinking exactly how SNC will secure the people -- farmers, businesses, individuals, students, NYSC members, etc. How will convening an SNC provide a solution to the security issues that exist in the north, and south?

All that will do is accomplish NOTHING if the major issue of security is not tackled once and for all. Even in countries like the U.S.A, all the different groups who live here do not necessarily see eye to eye or love each other but the mere fact that security is NO JOKE at the local, stat, and National levels, FORCES individuals to curb their appetites for blood. That is why the KKK still exists even as the black population continues to explode. We have Jews all over the place even as the Nazi party also exists in the same communities and country.

[/b]We need to stop picking on the foolish issues and start focusing on the major solutions. Have we not wasted enough time in thinking that dividing the country will make things change? Isn't it time for common sense solutions that have been tried and tested in other worlds to be the focus? Haba!![b]

Na wah o! na fight

Kobojunkie:

That is because I don't subscribe to the pack mentality, that many of those you are used to ,do. I try to see things as they really are . . . not create fantastical views of reality like you do. 

People come here every other month to cry and wail on the very same things quarter after quarter. When the rest of the world has moved on to other problems we are still stuck tangling with the same old that we could easily fix if only we would use our heads.

e.g Kobojunkie

icez:



Na wah o! na fight 

You ain't seen nothing yet. Wait until she gets really mad after a few other posts on here. You're dealing with a wild enigmatic personality in her.

icez:

Do you think we should convene a SNC? or can we still work things out (south and north)

You should spend some time thinking exactly how SNC will secure the people -- farmers, businesses, individuals, students, NYSC members, etc. How will convening an SNC provide a solution to the security issues that exist in the north, and south?

All that will do is accomplish NOTHING if the major issue of security is not tackled once and for all. Even in countries like the U.S.A, all the different groups who live here do not necessarily see eye to eye or love each other but the mere fact that security is NO JOKE at the local, stat, and National levels, FORCES individuals to curb their appetites for blood. That is why the KKK still exists even as the black population continues to explode. We have Jews all over the place even as the Nazi party also exists in the same communities and country.

We need to stop picking on the foolish issues and start focusing on the major solutions. Have we not wasted enough time in thinking that dividing the country will make things change? Isn't it time for common sense solutions that have been tried and tested in other worlds to be the focus? Haba!!

Kobojunkie:

That is because I don't subscribe to the pack mentality, that many of those you are used to ,do. I try to see things as they really are . . . not create fantastical views of reality like you do.  

People come here every other month to cry and wail on the very same things quarter after quarter. When the rest of the world has moved on to other problems we are still stuck tangling with the same old that we could easily fix if only we would use our heads.

You are always on the wrong side because you are always shallow witted, and always bloody loud about it. Where you not one of Buhari's most vociferous supporters?

“They stopped the car and started destroying it. There were two girls sitting in the back of the car. I saw it with my own eyes when they brought out the two girls and killed them with machetes. They were shouting “Sai Buhari”, “Sai CPC”, “Allahu Akbar.” They held the two girls and killed them. They stopped our bus and they were asking us to come down. As I was coming out, I shouted Sai Buhari, Sai CPC, Allahu Akbar. They said this is our own and they let me pass. But the girl behind me was scared. She could not say anything. She did not understand Hausa and they killed her.”[

Dude, read the above and go wash your hands before talking rubbish here.

@topic
Some of us screamed our lungs out about the bakwardness, evil and primitivity that Buhari stands for. The wanton killings have backed up our arguments.
May the souls of the fallen rest in peaces and God soothe the hearts of the bereaved.

I think we should send Kobojunkie up North and see how "comfortable" she would feel with her fellow "Nigerian." I can bet you that she would be in the next plain leaving Nigeria going back to the backward state of Ohio.

Kobojunkie:

You should spend some time thinking exactly how SNC will secure the people -- farmers, businesses, individuals, students, NYSC members, etc. How will convening an SNC provide a solution to the security issues that exist in the north, and south?

All that will do is accomplish NOTHING if the major issue of security is not tackled once and for all. Even in countries like the U.S.A, all the different groups who live here do not necessarily see eye to eye or love each other but the mere fact that security is NO JOKE at the local, stat, and National levels, FORCES individuals to curb their appetites for blood. That is why the KKK still exists even as the black population continues to explode. We have Jews all over the place even as the Nazi party also exists in the same communities and country.

We need to stop picking on the foolish issues and start focusing on the major solutions. Have we not wasted enough time in thinking that dividing the country will make things change? Isn't it time for common sense solutions that have been tried and tested in other worlds to be the focus? Haba!!

How do you suggest that the security of the north is restored (maintained)?

icez:

why does this have to happen?

The answer is the same as it was 12 years ago when the killings started getting national audience. Because your government has yet to take the job of securing you and the nation, seriously.

PS. It seems what those in government would rather do is buy for themselves Kevlar and Bullet-Proof Glass cars, than spend your money on improving security in the country.[size=13pt] Death toll as a result of violence of this kind now passed 16000, and I notice what we do is cry a little, and wait for the next massacre to cry again.[/size] 

Kobojunkie:


PS. It seems what those in government would rather do is buy for themselves Kevlar and Bullet-Proof Glass cars,

Armored cars and kevlar jackets are for wimps who are not schooled in the martial discipline of Juju-ological Warfare.

When in Nigeria I keep  a pair of smoke-dried vultures' heads in my car, to ward off evil spirits and enemies of frogress, but it is the live tortoise strung around my neck that protects me from incoming fire of all calibers up to Threat Level 4.