For far too long, we have been shedding blood in this country. We, sadly, are becoming so used to killings that it appears as though it is now a common occurrence. People are killed in hundreds and after the initial hue and cry, life returns to normal. This is a clear indication that we have come, as a nation, to internalise this sad reality as a way of life. We have resigned to a state of helplessness and despair. What is even sadder is the fact that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts simply disappear into thin air with no traces.
It is true that these killings had been going on for many years, especially in the North Central, North East, and North West, but under the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari, these killers gained so much notoriety that many believed that they enjoyed official cover and protection. For those who felt this way, it was difficult to dispute their position given the repeated attempts of the Buhari government to not only rationalise the activities of these killers, blame the victims for not being good hosts but also rebuke the people for ethnic-profiling.
The only reason these killings have remained protracted is because we have simply shied away from calling a spade by its name. We have pretended that these wanton killings by militias with ideologies aimed only at ethnic cleansing and territorial expansion are mere disputes between pastoralists and farmers. Have farmers and herders not lived in peace for many years before now?
While the government looked away, the perpetrators became emboldened and embarked on a killing spree across the nation without regard to borders, even when we were told that these killers were from outside of the nation.
That Buhari will go down in history in the country as a monumental failure as president, is because he failed rather abysmally in securing the nation. In the process squandered all the goodwill he enjoyed on assuming office. We were told as a retired general it would only be a matter of time before he routed these killers. Alas, the rate of killings grew in astronomical proportion and the whole nation became a huge killing field.
On Christmas Eve, while Christians in Plateau State were looking forward to the Christmas celebration, some groups of bandits and terrorists in coordinated attacks in three local government areas, gruesomely murdered over 195 and left over 10,000 displaced in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi areas of Plateau State, in unrestrained attacks which lasted till Monday morning, December 25.
Of the number, 148 were killed in Bokkos Local Government Area, 19 in Mangu Local Government Area, and 27 in Barkin Ladi. 1,290 houses were burnt down in Bokkos Council, one house was razed in Mangu LGA and Barkin Ladi had its share.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu had ordered the apprehension of the perpetrators. Vice-President Kashim Shettima, during a visit to the survivors of the attacks who were gathered at the mini stadium, Bokkos communities, assured the survivors of the co-ordinated attacks that the Federal Government will not let the incident slide but will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
He stated: “President Tinubu is deeply shaken by these killings in the Plateau State. Plateau used to be a very calm and peaceful place; the inter-community violence will not be allowed to persist under our watch. We are resolute in our commitment to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. The government is here to deliver justice and resist the temptation to show hate towards others.
“We will harness all our resources to bring those responsible to justice. We will not rest until we can prevent the recurrence of these heinous acts.
“Your blood, your tears, and your cries stain our collective conscience. We are here for you; we are here, resolute in our commitment to ensure that the perpetrators of these mindless killings face the full force of the law.”
He, however, appealed to the people of Plateau State to resist what he described as “the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or the poisonous rhetoric of hatred towards,” their fellow citizens while assuring that the government is set out to ensure justice and security for them.
“This violence persists due to this dangerous practice of treating criminals as ambassadors of their group, where the law is taken into our hands, and where protection fails. But this is not the case now. This is a promise,” Shettima assured.
These lines by the vice president sound too familiar. We have heard these before. It now sounds like broken records. It sounds like a line out of Buhari’s playlist. Mr. Vice President should know better. These are not mere ethnic disputes. Only a mad man with a cutlass or hoe can clash with Fulani herdsmen with AK47.
Meanwhile, suspected Fulani militias’ attacks have claimed more than 300 villagers in Plateau State since May 2023.
About five months ago, at least 20 people, including women and children were confirmed killed by people suspected to be Fulani militias in separate attacks in Batin and Rayogot villages, Heipang district of Barki Ladi LGA of Plateau state.
Some villagers said security operatives were aware of the planned attacks and the movement of the attackers from Heipang to Batin where they carried out this heinous act. They claimed that the militias were hiding in Heipang before they moved in large numbers to attack Batin.
For Tinubu to succeed as President, he must secure Nigeria. He must be prepared to go all out to arrest the nation’s decline to a state of anarchy. How on earth can attackers go on for hours and days unrestrained? How can killer-herders continue their nefarious activities all these years with no single arrest or prosecution?
Left for the hypocritical elite in the north and those who have made capital out of our unfortunate situation, these killings will go on forever, but President Tinubu is condemned to stopping it.
President Tinubu has to stop it because the success or otherwise of his presidency would be determined by this singular act. The primary function of any government is to secure the lives and property of the people.
Secondly, President Tinubu must realise that insecurity is mostly responsible for hunger in the land. Killer herders have chased farmers from their farms. How can we then get food?
It was in this country that a former president told the world that terrorists had infiltrated his government. Tinubu must seek advice from former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose genuine attempts to check the activities of these murderers were truncated by the elite in the north who accused him of killing their youths. This is not a matter of political affiliation but a national concern and priority.
President Tinubu should seek external aid, if necessary. These terrorists have too many enablers and sympathisers within the government. He should also give adequate support to efforts to check these terrorists and endeavour to keep information of his efforts and strategies from politicians.
Enough is enough.
