Now that 104 girls of government girls science and technical college, Dapchi, abducted by insurgents or whatever name they can be described, have been set free, as typical Nigerians, we have every reason to clink glasses and drink champagne, roll out the drums and celebrate for a job well done by Mr. President and his men.
On February 19, 2018, Nigerians woke up to the painful news of yet another abduction of 110 school girls who least expect such humiliating experience from armed men who apparently had a motive yet unraveled even though they claim it is against their religion which forbids girls going to acquire western education.
In 2014, it was 276 Chibok girls that were abducted by Boko Haram and before then, there have been series of atrocities committed against mankind by these sects who are armed with sophisticated weapons and modern machineries at their disposal. They operated without any resistance as they were in control of their territory.
From records, several thousands of persons, including innocent children have been killed, turned orphans in senseless attacks through bombings of worship centers, such as churches, mosques, and public places.
When the killings which were targeted more on their kith and kin from the Northern part of the country became uncontrollable even by the several security outfits that were deployed to the areas, it beat the imagination of right thinking Nigerians why they have to resort to such devilish mission to exterminate innocent lives.
These bloodbaths have been going on for some years now and the nation has been under siege by these lawless persons who believe the country must be ruled according to their Muslim creed. They are abhorrently against western education and that may just be the message they are sending with the abduction of innocent students.
In recent time, the onslaught has gradually shifted to the Southern part of the country with the invasion of their land by militant herdsmen who have come in droves like ants attracted to a pack of exposed sugar.
Yes, the inhabitants of the once peaceful land that accommodated these herdsmen elements are now wailing and weeping over the gruesome killings that they have perpetrated on a frightening dimension.
The worrying aspect of these dastardly acts is their method of operation and swiftness. When it was first reported that their presence was a threat, not a few took the alarm seriously, until they left behind several trails of blood, rape of innocent women and depriving farmers of entry into their farms.
Some of this herdsmen and their relatives made their debut as innocent, helpless northerners from neighbouring Niger Republic who need help and they were employed as house helps, gatemen, cobblers, cart pushers, Okada riders. When one of them secures a place to roost, he invites others and so the clan enlarges.
Those who are deployed to look after the flocks are just the few who go about while majority of them are scattered virtually all over the place all around us. In fact, there is nothing actually wrong for them to be in our midst, since the constitution guarantees them the freedom to stay anywhere in the country as citizens.
But, the recent happenings and ugly reports of their atrocious activities which have culminated in the untimely death of innocent persons including a 17 years old student of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Akhere Ojierakhi, a toddler, and a secondary school student, Victor Momodu has gone too far.
These wicked and inhuman behaviour of the herds men no doubt have drawn the ire of every right thinking Nigerians and they deserve to be dealt with decisively. The swift response of the Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki that those responsible should be fished out in seven days is commendable and whoever has information that could assist the law enforcement agents should not hesitate to do so. Enough is Enough.
We also appreciate the governors promise to overhaul the security architecture and provision of 36 patrol vans to patrol the 18 local government areas to check the activities of these killers masquerading as herdsmen.
Also, Nigerians frown at the politicization of the activities of insurgents or armed groups riding on the back of religion to unleash violence on innocent persons. How do we explain that wicked activities of these hoodlums can be used to score cheap political points.
If it is true as been speculated in certain quarters that the abduction of these school girls are politically motivated, to score cheap political points by the government then, there is nothing to cheer about, especially with the death of 5 of the girls and the fate of one still yet unknown.
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Eubaldus Enahoro is Assistant Editor with the Nigerian Observer
