By Abba Dukawa
SIR: Nigerians in 2015 voted president Buhari to power in anticipation that as former military head of state and a retired General, he was positioned to deal decisively with all forms of threats to security of the people. Six years down the line, rather than abating it, insecurity has escalated thereby exposing a great number of people to avoidable deaths and loss of property in a manner that history has never witnessed. Looking at the gory security situation in northern states today, people are not safe in their homes, roads, farmlands, schools and even places of worship.
The administration and its security apparatus, despite their claims, are not on top of the situation because each passing day Nigerians are either maimed or killed by armed bandits in manners that could only be described as brazen. People are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc.
It would appear that both the federal and state governments have lost the capacity to protect people of the North, a constitutional duty that they swore to uphold. Now the economy and security situation in the north is becoming unbearable and irrefutable evidence that the administration does not care about the people of the, economy and security grows daily.
Today, northern states have turned into scarred zones with bandits, kidnappers and terrorists killing, kidnapping and raping innocent unarmed civilians without any challenge from the security agencies. One finds it difficult to juxtapose the constitutional and primary responsibility of the government with the prevailing situation in the country under the watchful eyes of the president and state governors given the situation in which scores of people are being killed on a daily basis while hundreds of others have abandoned their homes.
Recently, nine students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria were taken hostage by suspected kidnappers along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway. Another tragedy befell Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Samaru Zaria, community when suspected Kidnappers abducted a middle-aged woman and her 13-year old daughter. Gunmen also stormed the official staff quarters of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and kidnapped a lecturer. Armed bandits on motorcycles reportedly attacked a Jumaat Mosque and whisked away the Imam and some worshippers in a community in Zamfara State. Armed bandits Kidnapped a pastor, 14 church worshippers (of) ECWA Church at Dankade Kaduna State and the lists is endless.
Few days days ago, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lamented the high rate of insecurity, saying north is the worst place in the country to live as bandits are fast overrunning the region. According to him, they move from house to house, village to village, market to market, with AK-47 rifles openly, purchasing foodstuffs and other items and even collecting change.
No fewer than 1,570 Nigerians were reportedly kidnapped between January and November in 366 reported cases. The kidnappers raked in over N311 million from payment of ransom by relatives of their victims within this period, though they demanded over N6.9 billion from their victims. The money paid did not include millions of naira paid by some families who chose to keep quiet because of threats or simply to have their peace. Just some days ago, the insurgents tied up 43 farmers and slit their throats during an invasion of their rice farms Zabarmari village in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
A million questions need an answers from Mr President: Are there no more competent people to lead the armed forces? Why expect a different result from doing the same thing every day? Why is the president still keeping the security chiefs, men whose tenures have expired?
- Abba Dukawa, Kano.
