Nigeria, Bloodbath and Government Inertia
In this Article, learned Senior Advocate, Mike Ozekhome, condemns the recent cold blooded massacre of over 200 people in Plateau State, and the widespread killings in various parts of the country, calling out the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, and blaming the heads of the law enforcement agencies, whom he refers to as“nepotistic and cronystic appointees”of the President
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, once rightly opined that, a nation does not need a weakened government, but a strong government, that will take responsibility for the rights of the individual, and care for the society as a whole. Nigeria: Becoming a Killing Field
The daily slaughter ritual in Nigeria, that has turned the Nigerian geographical space into a killing field, is not only criminal, but also smacks of total abdication of governance by the current government. It is most cruel, hideous, horrific, inhuman, dastardly and barbaric. The latest theatre of the absurd, is Plateau State, where hundreds of innocent and helpless Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable (children, women and elderly), have been mindlessly hacked down in cold blood. Nigerians have become “walking corpses” or “the living dead” (apologies, Ayi Kwei Armah:
“The Beautiful Ones Are not yet Born”). The government that appears overtly overwhelmed (if it ever cared at all), wrings its hands in utter helplessness and blames everything and any one, but itself. PMB says he can only pray to God for miracles. The Commander-in-Chief (C-in–C) in saying this, breaks the heart and freely donates to the citizens, haplessness and hopelessness. What is the military there for, since the Police has been overrun? Sections 130 (2) and 215 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, make the President the C- in-C of both the Armed Forces and the Police. Never before, or after the three year bloody Nigerian fratricidal civil war, has Nigeria witnessed such barefaced butchery of innocent souls, in a most horrendous manner that portends ethnic cleansing and genocidal tendencies. The entire security architecture of Nigeria, has been greatly compromised and doctored. The Nigerian Constitution Section 14 (2) (b), makes the welfare and security of lives and property, the primary purpose of Government. Any Government that cannot protect its citizens, is not worth being called a Government by any description or appellation. We have become a laughing stock, before international circles. We make merriment and hold political rallies, on the cold graves of hot steaming blood of innocent Nigerians. We wanted to win the world cup at all cost, amidst vengeful slaughter of fellow Nigerians.
But, God is a just and righteous God. He does not tolerate injustice and wickedness. He does not condone unearned adulation, and hero-worshipping: The Bible: Job 34:12; Col 3:25; Deut 10:18; 32:4; Isaiah 30:18. The Holy Quran: 5:8; 16:90; 59: 22-24. Die hard politicians are already busy, politicking about 2019, while our citizens are daily massacred in cold blood.
Widespread Violence and Killings
A Governor that is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer of his State, is nothing but a mere toothless crying bulldog, having been stripped of such luxury of controlling powers by Sections 215 (4) of the Constitution. This Section, enthrones a behemoth, elephantine and immobile Police Force at the centre, with the Governor at the mercy of the IGP and President. That is why I have, over the years, consistently and persistently clamoured for true fiscal Federalism, that allows for State Police and Community policing. From Agatu, Naka and Agasha in Benue State, Demsa, Suwa and Burukulu in Adamawa State, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos in Plateau State, to Birnin Gwari, Dangaji, Unguwar Gajere in Kaduna State; from Izza, Wudula, Blakule and Darajimal in Borno State; to Takum, Shaakaa, Donga and Ntule in Taraba State; to Maraban –Udege Village, Aisa and Aguma in Nassarawa State; from Ugboha, Okpella, Odiguete and Igiode in Edo State, Nigeria knows no peace. Things have fallen apart. The falcon can no longer hear the falconer.
Even in Uwheru, Oreba, Ovwor, Onicha-Olona and Abraka in Delta State; to Okpanku, Ozzala, Ukpabi Nimbo, Ngwoko, Ebor, Umuome, Ugwuijoro and Ugwuachara in Enugu State, the story is the same: gory and hideous blood-letting and festival of blood.
Miyetti Allah
The greatest worry of it all, is that these killers are not ghosts or apparitions. They are known. They even come out openly, thump their chests, confess and own up to their criminal acts. The Herdsmen umbrella, Miyetti Allah, claimed the blood-chilling murder of over 200 Plateau citizens, was because 300 of its cows were rustled. It boasted that no one could have expected peace without retaliation, under such circumstances. The same group has, over time, infamously given various reasons for its herdsmen’s killings: Nimbo massacre, Enugu State (deadly attack): “we killed because they stole our cows”. Benue State (several progroms): “we killed because of anti grazing law”. Taraba State (several): “we killed because they blocked our grazing routes”. Adamawa State (many Communities): “we killed because they broke our cow’s leg”. Zamfara State: “we killed because the farmers said we were grazing on their farm lands”. Haba!
Three years down the line, there have been no arrests, no prosecution, no arraignment, no convictions. Rather, some five Christians were arrested in Adamawa, tried and sentenced to death by hanging, for allegedly killing one Fulani herdsman. Some lives, are now more precious than others. Rather than kill cow for a meal to celebrate occasions, as we know it, we now kill human beings to celebrate cows. The Government not only looks the other way, but actually condones the heartless cold-blooded slaughter.
Nigeria cannot continue like this. The Federal Government must rise up to the occasion, draft military personnel to these volatile areas, and wash its hands off, like Pontius Pilate, of compromise, condonation, aiding and abetting, of this national horror.
The saddest and deepest of all the national cuts and travesty of justice, is that there is no one to complain to. The President himself, the very C–in–C, who had promised to lead from the front during his campaigns in 2015, wrings his hands in utter helplessness, and moans (like any of us):
“There is nothing I can do to help the situation, except to pray to God to help us out of the security challenges”.
Interpretation: “I am helpless; Be prepared to take what you get”. But, the Holy Bible tells us that “God helps those who help themselves” (Hezekiah 6:1). In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, we are admonished that “the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”. In the Holy Quran, it is, “Allah helps those who help themselves” 13:11; (Tafsir of Chapter 022 verse 40).
Consequences of Non-Prosecution of Herdsmen
Is the President being fed the true and genuine situation of horrific and grisly events, across Nigeria? Can he, when virtually all his security apparatchik consists of nepotistic and cronystic appointees from his ethnic and religious groups only: Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, IGP, DSS, EFCC, Immigration, Customs, NSCDC, Prisons, NSA, C of S, etc, etc?
The non-prosecution of these marauding herdsmen, has emboldened them to commit more crimes. Daily carnage and spilling of innocent blood, have become the norm. Nigerians now appear unshockable. Many lamentably try to justify this modern day genocide, with partisan political interpretations, pretending all is well. Meanwhile, Nigeria dies by installment. Most Nigerians, have become more cowardly than ever before, afraid even of their own shadows. Nigerians should stand and speak up before we are all eclipsed in dismemberment.
Thought for the Week
“THE HERDSMEN UMBRELLA, MIYETTI ALLAH, CLAIMED THE BLOOD-CHILLING MURDER OF OVER 200 PLATEAU CITIZENS, WAS BECAUSE 300 OF ITS COWS WERE RUSTLED. IT BOASTED THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE EXPECTED PEACE WITHOUT RETALIATION, UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES”
“The killing of innocent people is always wrong.” (Bianca Jagger).
Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb., Ph.D, LL.D., Human Rights Activist