SoMuchBloodontheLandscape
It must have been a sad New Year for many families across the land. From Kaduna, through Benue to Kwara, down to Rivers, it was one tale of bloodletting or the other. The coincidences of the killings are as befuddling as the intents. It is difficult to understand the motifs of the killings. Perhaps only that of Benue State where thirty three people were slaughtered by suspected Fulani herdsmen can be understood as a reaction by the herdsmen to the anti-grazing law passed by the Benue State government last November1. Like the attack on Agatu community, in the same Benue State, the latest attack cries of injustice to the high heavens.
The owners of the land passed a law that open grazing is no longer allowed in their land, given that the grazers have in the past, unleashed tons of violence on their people, unchecked. And then the grazers retreat and relaunch another attack killing 33 people in one fell swoop. And the same usual government hollow mantra of: “we shall do all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice”; “government will leave no stone unturned (whereas they do not even sight any stone let alone turn them)”; “no effort will be spared in enforcing the security of lives and properties etc. etc.”; are reeled out by government representatives, whereas they know that truly and truly nothing will be done beyond the weightless statements they are making. In this latest attack, the Minister of Interior, Maj-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) represented President Buhari in paying condolence to the Benue State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, who had shouted himself hoarse as he helplessly wailed and wondered why the law enforcement agents, all along, had not arrested the herdsmen who now go about with sophisticated weapons.
Right from when Agatu community was razed down with over 400 people massacred, since February 2016—almost two years now, not one person has been arrested and prosecuted as a result of the pogrom visited on the community. How can a set of people suddenly wake up and launch attack on defenceless and innocent people in a land where there is law and order? Is it because those who could do something about this menace are the kith and kin of the marauders? Where is the Chief of Army Staff? Where is the Minister of Defence? Where is the IG of Police? Where is the Chief of Air Staff? Where is the DG of SSS? And above all, where is the C-in-C? All of Whom as from the same region. Why are they all silent in the face of this wicked oppression? The IPOB menace was not even half as annihilative before the Nigerian state rolled out tanks to crush them. Why are the Fulani herdsmen therefore being pampered? They recently struck in Plateau, in Adamawa, in Taraba, Kaduna States etc. And wherever they strike, they leave behind long trails of blood and tears. It is not enough to condole victims whenever the assailants strike. Nigerians would prefer that those who perpetually threaten their lives are nabbed and jailed. Nothing else will suffice. Not empty talks and promises. The Fulani do not own Nigeria more than the Idoma! The governor and people of Benue must resolve not to shift ground on the law they have passed on not allowing open grazing in their land. It is within their right!
Sadly too, the case in Kaduna where a monarch and his wife were murdered on New Year eve bespeaks of the same brainless attacks by the suspected Fulani herdsmen. It does appear that there is a daily depreciation of the value of human life amongst these people. They even value their cows more than human life. Were it not so, there would be some restraint to moderate the frequent thirst for blood among the herdsmen.
In the case of Kwara State, where churches and worshippers were attacked on New Year eve, in Ilorin, the state capital, saw many female worshippers returning from the Crossover service raped, with their phones and purses snatched. Church buildings and other properties were destroyed and vandalized by miscreants believed to be religious extremists. Ilorin has often been a hotbed of religious unrest. The much we heard from the state was a tepid statement from the state governor condemning the attacks and ordering an investigation. That is the end of the story. Trust me. Nobody will ever hear of the outcome of the so-called investigation
But the worshippers in Omoku, Rivers State were not as lucky. Seventeen (some reports say 20) of those returning from the Crossover service were shot dead. Some were even dragged out from their homes and shot dead in the presence of their wives.
Omoku, is one community in Nigeria where life means nothing. People are brutally killed with valueless spirit. But this is usually during or around election times. During the 2015 elections, Omoku was like a killing field. Many who were killed were beheaded with the assailants going away with the heads of their victims.
That it is happening at a time there is no election readily in sight bespeaks of the depth of violence the community has sunk.
Already, Governor Nyesom Wike has placed a bounty of N200million on the head of the killers. I doubt if that will solve the riddle of mindless killings in the Omoku community in particular and in Rivers State in general.
If you add to these overflowing wells of blood, the killings orchestrated by Boko Haram in the North-east and by kidnappers across the land, then one might fear that soon, River Niger would get crimsoned by the blood of innocent Nigerians. Let the killings stop!