Bokkos As Nigeria’s Epicentre Of Killings

Until on Wednesday when the police command was able to deploy additional personnel and equipment to combat the blistering killings shredding several communities in Bokkos, Plateau State, the entire area that was no strange to killings was a mind-numbing human butcheries that turned the fertile agricultural land into a valley of blood and anguish. Many stood in painful bewilderment at the video clips on the tragedy that trended in various social media platforms. Many more called for quick responses from the security personnel to stop the violent acts of these raving mad criminals whose hearts have become blood-thirsty.

Blood Of The Innocent

Without doubt, since the inauguration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led presidency, the insecurity that raged unabated during the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari that saw terror gangs unleashed their venom on defenceless communities was brought under control. The recent cold-blooded killings of 16 travellers in Edo State, who were suspected to be kidnappers by their murderers, recalls to memory that our nation is imperiled by mutual suspicion among groups that are supposed to work in unity and live peacefully.

With the drumbeats of 2027 almost attaining an ear-splitting level, we don’t need any prophet to predict what the future holds. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State this week lamented that most local government areas in the state have been overtaken by Boko Haram.  From the north to the south of Nigeria, perpetrators of violence are deliberately strategising to take over some of the states in order to portray to the world that those in power can’t be trusted to tackle the challenges plaguing the country.

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More than any other time in the country, the political class is grossly divided over what best options should be adopted. Those who are feeling abandoned in the political wilderness, after fighting so hard to enthrone Tinubu as president, are set to form a rainbow coalition to undo what they did in 2023. The new anchor of the opposition’s strategy is to convince voters that Tinubu has failed to deliver on his electoral promises.

Renewed Violent Attacks

The renewed rising tide of insecurity provides bullets for the opposition to shoot down the re-election dream of the president whose body language has revealed his interest for a comeback bid. Political heavyweights of yesterday who are feeling scorned over their rejection of promised appointments are leaving no stone unturned to demand their pound of flesh. While it may be too early to predict where the pendulum would swing to, what is set to happen is the deployment of massive propaganda to convince undecided voters ahead of 2027 polls.

In a period of national challenges holding out as unsurmountable burdens, the timeless quotes of what befalls a society in pain is aptly captured by an Anglican cleric, Bishop Richard Hooker: “He that goeth about to persuade a multitude that they are not so well governed as they ought to be, shall never want attentive and favourable hearers; because they know the manifold defects whereunto every kind of regimen is subject, but the secret lets and difficulties, which in public proceedings are innumerable and inevitable, they have not ordinarily the judgment to consider.”

The Tinubu government has shown tremendous strides in tackling insecurity and insurgencies. However, insurgencies have now become politically motivated, the days ahead may prove dreadfully uncertain in reining the activities of brigands whose activities may be sponsored to undermine the genuine efforts of the government.

Rising To The Tide

This week, the minister of information and national orientation, Hon. Mohammed Idris, attracted criticisms when he was said to have dismissed Governor Zulum’s security concerns.  In a quick response, the minister said, “Yes security is indeed improving in many parts of the country, even if acts of violence have not been completely eradicated. Security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the situation in some parts of Borno State and others are brought under control. The synergy we have seen in the operations of security agencies, especially in the last two years and the massive investment in hardware and other equipment indicates the seriousness with which the federal government attaches to this issue”.

Government’s commitment to the eradication of insurgencies and other criminal activities, Hon Idris added, has been demonstrated by the tremendous strides recorded in the area of security in the last 18 months. Despite this, the minister called on critical stakeholders, “especially the sub-national governments, to join hands to ensure rapid eradication of the remaining pockets of criminal elements wherever they may be”.

Defeating insecurity is doubtlessly a collective decision. No sacrifice should be deemed too much in guaranteeing the security of citizens. The need to democratise the security architecture and involve besieged communities for self-defence under a well-defined community policing has become irreversible since the security forces cannot deploy enough boots on ground in all parts of the country. Collaborating with security agencies by communities to provide the first line of defence against terror gangs is the only option left.

The cyclical massacres in Bokkos and attacks on other besieged Nigerian communities are emblematic of a nation in deep hostilities. This is not the time to politicise insecurity; it’s time for collective action against bad elements in our midst who, aided by their criminal collaborators, are determined to destroy our country.  The collapse of Nigeria won’t serve anyone any good. The incapacity of previous governments to combat insecurity was clearly indicative of a gross failure in leadership. The present rising spate of attacks on communities point to a deeper menace that can only be eradicated by identifying the sponsors and their co-conspirators to bring them to justice. That is the only reasonable option left for the Tinubu-led government to deploy in order to prevent further heinous assaults threatening Nigeria’s corporate unity.