Nigerians in 2015 voted President Muhammadu Buhari to power in anticipation that as (a) 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. Out of 15,424,921 casts during 2015 elections GMB gained more than 12 million votes from the people of the Northern Nigerian.
The people of the region expected to have fair treatment from the administration but the case is reverse six years down the line, rather than abate, 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 houses, roads, farms, schools and mosques as they’re invaded by terrorists.
On a regular basis, several civilians and security personnel are killed by men of the underworld. The situation is getting worse by the day. Bandits and insurgents appear to exploit with disastrous consequences on communities and individuals.
Therefore northerners absolutely have right to voice out their demands that the administration rewards their loyalty in real terms by protecting their lives and properties.
It was under the watchful eyes of the present administration that the North came across something called banditry and kidnapping that cost the lives of thousands. Mr President and his handlers clearly know that northern votes secured his first and second terms.
Six years down the line in office, the administration is characterised by insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, economic recession and other untold hardships.
The administration and its security apparatus are not on top of the situation because each passing day Nigerians are maimed by armed bandits and others, as these bandits displaying a certain degree of impunity scatter themselves and are walking freely.
People, irrespective of social status, are tired of excuses and verbal threats which criminals laugh at, considering the escalation of attacks by bandits, rustlers and insurgents. It leaves the conclusion that the people of the North are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wrecking havoc.
It always appears that both the federal and state governments have lost control in protecting people of the North, a constitutional duty that they swore to uphold. Now, the economy and security situation in the north is becoming unbeatable and irrefutable evidence that the administration does not care about the people of the North.
Today, northern states have turned into scary zones with bandits, kidnappers and terrorists killing, kidnapping and raping innocent unarmed civilians without any challenge from the security agencies.
One may find 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 where scores of people are being killed on a daily basis and hundreds of others have abandoned their homes.
Nine students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria were taken hostage by kidnappers along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway. Another tragedy befell ABU, Samaru community when suspected kidnappers abducted a middle-aged woman and her 13-year-old daughter.
Gunmen stormed the official staff quarters of the ABU 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 kidnapp(ed a) pastor, 14 church worshippers of ECWA Church at Dankade, Kaduna state. The list is endless.
Recently, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, lamented the high rate of insecurity in the North, saying North is the worst place in the country to live as bandits are fast overrunning the North as residents sleep with their eyes open. 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.
Certainly, insecurity in the North has become a source of concern both to Nigerians and the international community. Each passing day the armed bandits cause more hardship to live with threat to life and livelihoods. I am shocked that the over 1,570 Nigerians were kidnapped between January and November 2020 in 366 reported cases.
The kidnappers raked in over N311 million from payment of ransom by relatives of their victims within the period, though they demanded over N6.9 billion from their victims. The money paid did not include milions of naira paid by some families who chose to keep quiet because of threats or simply to have their peace.
Last weekend, Boko Haram insurgents were said to have tied up farmers and slit their throats during an invasion of their rice farms in Zabarmari village, Jere local government area of Borno state.
The million question that needs an answer from Mr President is, are there no more competent people? You cannot get a different result from doing the same thing every day. Why is the president still keeping the service chiefs? He is the only one who can explain. Their tenure has expired, so, why is he still keeping them? Let Mr President get new hands who would show they can perform.
Peoples in the North, irrespective of social status, are sleeping with one eye open for fear of the degree of impunity displayed by armed bandits.
Dukawa writes in from Kano via [email protected]
