APC is Treating Herdsmen Crisis Like PDP Handled Boko Haram Insurgency
APC Government Should Admit Its Mistake and Rethink Security Architecture of Nigeria Federal Government Seems Overwhelmed by Killings
I pray that this country will never fall into this situation again. During the (President Goodluck) Jonathan era, we made almost the same sort of mistake when the spate of killings started in Borno State and Yobe – people thought it was something that would (soon) go away. But it metamorphosed into something that is large-scale called Boko Haram –abducting our girls in school, committing all manner of atrocities. So, I think it is proper if people criticise (the current administration) like we did during Jonathan’s administration for not reacting enough to be effective in dealing with the very serious security situation that evolved in the North-East
The former Convener of the Nothern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo, is mad about the killings going on in Nigeria. He wants the All Progressives Congress-led federal government to treat the security issue in the country like malignant cancer and get rid of the killers – whether they are herdsmen or militants. In this Interview with Bayo Akinloye, Unongo also warns the government of President Muhammadu Buhari against allowing the current violent conflicts to degenerate into a religious war
Are you worried about the spate of killings going on in states like Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa? I must be mad if I am not worried. I don’t even know the word to describe the wanton killings going on in some states across the country.
But some people are claiming that the killings are not as widespread and wanton as being portrayed.
The killings are not limited to the Middle Belt. We know what’s happening in states that border northern Chad. There have been several killings in Zamfara State. Then, the killings spread to Adamawa State; the killings spread to Kaduna, Kogi and spread further in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Plateau states. Killings have been going on in these places. The north-eastern states have witnessed similar killings. Therefore, the killings appear to be everywhere. What, perhaps, interests people is the expansion of the killings that are taking on religious connotation. The killers have started going into churches –where people are holding religious services. They even killed priests, reverend fathers of the Roman Catholic Church, including the parishioners. Also, I learnt the killers went to another church where they killed more people. So, this is what seems to be the fate of Nigeria now.
Do you think the state and federal governments are doing enough to stop the killings and bring perpetrators to book?
I don’t believe that the state government has anything to do with security – the constitution is very clear (on that). The maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the government. But in terms of enforcement of law and order, the application of arms (to resolve violent conflicts) is exclusive to and is the responsibility of the federal government. So, the federal government appears overwhelmed by what is happening. I don’t believe it is the responsibility or the duty of the state government –like in our Middle Belt states it is so terrible that even Dane guns, arrows, bows, knives, and machetes were considered dangerous weapons and seized from the locals who could have defended themselves against the attackers who have AK-47s. After confiscating them, these people (the attackers) unleashed mayhem on our people. Therefore, the responsibility (to stop and arrest the attackers) rests squarely on the federal authorities that have been saddled with the duty of guaranteeing the safety of life and property.
You asked whether, in my judgment, the federal government has done enough. I think they were slow in believing that this is a serious problem. I think they acted as if they felt the killings were not going to be as serious as they have become. I pray that this country will never fall into this situation again. During the (President Goodluck) Jonathan era, we made almost the same sort of mistake when the spate of killings started in Borno State and Yobe – people thought it was something that would (soon) go away. But it metamorphosed into something that is large-scale called Boko Haram –abducting our girls in school, committing all manner of atrocities. So, I think it is proper if people criticise (the current administration) like we did during Jonathan’s administration for not reacting enough to be effective in dealing with the very serious security situation that evolved in the North-East. I think we can accuse the APC (All Progressives Congress) government also for thinking that we have lived with the Fulani herdsmen for hundreds of years and they had never been what we are seeing now. So, they thought that this was a passing phenomenon. And, when it started becoming something where 20 people, 30 people ended up like the drama in Benue where 75 people were killed. I think at such a time the government should have reacted much quicker to contain the violence and then have a proactive approach to the issue of security.
We think the security architecture of Nigeria –we should know now that Nigeria has been selected by terrorists –like what happens elsewhere in advanced countries, the