The recent brutal killing of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, by suspected herdsmen has again worsened the horrendous security situation with attendant unremitting kidnapping, robbery, ritual killings, smuggling, street gang (or cult-related) violence, herdsmen killings, Islamist terrorism and militancy in the Nigerian state.
Expectedly, Funke’s demise by unidentified persons has thrown up a groundswell of sharp reactions and acerbic comments from various groups and Nigerians. Some prominent Nigerians- former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Chief Edwin Clark, PANDEFF Leader; and Uche Secondus, PDP National Chairman, among others- have visited, condoled with the bereaved father and condemned the killing.
Consequently, Malam Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, has warned against unguarded statement that could heat up the polity in the nation. According to him, the presidency cautioned leaders in the country to be mindful of their utterances and its potential consequences, saying “It is incumbent on all leaders across the country to consider their language and its potential consequences. Insecurity is an issue that Nigeria must face together as one nation – united.’’ This was as Sarkin Fulani has warned Nigerians to stop pointing fingers at our people (Fulani) for every killing. Similarly, Buhari has described critics of insecurity in the country as being unpatriotic.
Since the advent of democracy in Nigeria 20 years ago, many crimes have proliferated in every nook and cranny of the country. Before now, Boko Haram and suspected Fulani herdsmen had unjustly slaughtered thousands of Nigerians, raped women, maimed others and rendered many as Internally Displaced Persons. The seed of the current anarchy was planted long ago but its ultimate manifestation became obvious in 2009 when Boko Haram gained traction in the North-East. It challenged an unprepared state to a contest of supremacy. Today, Boko Haram and Islam of West Africa (ISWAP) are the two monsters posing nagging security challenge to the nation’s peaceful co-existence and safety of the people.
For instance, the insurgents have slaughtered at least 100,000 persons in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, according to estimates given by immediate past Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima. More than two million are languishing in Internally Displaced Persons camps. In 2014, the insurgents kidnapped 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno and 106 Dapchi schoolgirls in Yobe in 2017, attacked several military bases and killed many soldiers. In fact, 7.1 million people in North-East region, Nigeria, are in dire need of essential activities, according to United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM). At least, 25,794 people were killed by Boko Haram during the first term of President Buhari, data from Nigeria Security Tracker, NST, showed. No fewer than 10,665 lives were allegedly consumed in violence across the federation in 2018, Nigeria Watch, an annual report supported by the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) and the French National Research Institute for Development (IRD). The actual number of casualties is yet ascertained.
The assurance of All Progressives Congress, APC to curtail the rising insecurity in the country which wooed many Nigerians is now lost to the wind. President Buhari administration had pledged to defeat Boko Haram in three months, yet in five years, the government is busy giving excuses and telling tales by the moonlight on security matters. In exacerbating the matter, the present administration wanted provide ranching colonies in all the states as a way of arresting the farmers-herdsmen crisis. The plan was opposed for fear of becoming a land-grabbing tactic. The government changed gear to Fulani colonies to stem crisis, yet the idea did not fly. Not done, the Federal Government sneaked in plan to build Ruga settlements in 12 states in the country, yet the masses still reviled it.
Based on the suspension of the project, Northern Youths Group issued a 30-day ultimatum to Federal Government to continue with the project or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences. Up till now, the government has not arrested the spokesperson who issued what sounded like a ‘threat and treasonable message.’ What further fueled the suspicion was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s statement that Buhari plans to Fulanise West Africa and islamise Africa. Owing to the increasing tension, government should discontinue with the project to calm frayed nerves and tribal dread.
Yet, it is the primary duty of the government to maintain security of life and property of all its citizens. Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which says: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” the pervasive security breaches expose Nigeria as a failing state. The prevailing situation is a throwback to Thomas Hobbes’ state of nature, aptly described as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
It is disturbing that the Nigerian state is yet to curb gruesome appetite of some criminals in shedding blood. Communal clashes continue to claim lives in thousands. Since the resumption of assaults by Boko Haram and other dangerous groups against the defenceless but innocent Nigerian masses in most parts of the country, the government is indifferent in bringing the suspects to judgment throne to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in the society. In fact, the suspects and accomplices should not be treated as sacred cows in the eye of the law otherwise the perpetrators will have immunity in perpetrating more havoc.
Though we commend the Federal Government for payment of $ 496 million to USA for acquisition of 12 Tucano fighter jets to fight the insurgency, we observe sadly that Nigerian government places a very low premium on human life and safety. Undoubtedly, security is everybody’s business. The ebbing security is attributed to the handiwork of some Nigerians, politicians and even governments and these the same means that must join hands in weeding out the nightmare from out midst.
The poor performance of the police is traceable to their outdated operations. In the United Kingdom, America, Australia and Europe, the police drive their operations through intelligence. In the UK, automated surveillance is the name of the game. There are 5.9 million CCTV cameras deployed in surveillance activities. In the aftermath of the August 2011 London riots, police analysed 200,000 CCTV images to identify the suspects. On the other hand, Nigeria Police Force is mired in corruption hence lack of motivation particularly non-payment of allowances to the policemen, allowing the police to buy their uniforms, poor pension scheme and poor remunerations.
Last week, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo assured that the Federal Government would deploy soldiers to all the highways in the country. This proposal is archaic and out of tune with modernity because no matter the number the bandits could still outsmart them. In modern policing and security architecture, digital security network is encouraged and permissible. With the decimation of soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents, how many are left? Will the government allow the soldiers to ply roads or stand under the sun and rains to maintain security?
In its 2015 report, Australian think tank, the Institute for Economics and Peace, said Fulani herdsmen “are the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world.” It is appalling that the same Federal government that declared Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for agitating for self-determination has not deemed it necessary to declare this deadly group a terrorist group.
Given the enormous national security implications of interstate livestock commerce, we hereby call on the federal government to set up a special unit or marshal of the Nigeria Police Force through an amendment of the Police Act with a specific mandate to monitor interstate movement/transportation of cattle to ensure compliance with any legislation, which regulates such movement or transportation.
In view of the fact that cattle-rustling as well as trespass into farmlands are seen as criminal phenomena and major triggers of the clashes, the special unit or marshal of the Nigeria Police Force should also forestall such criminal activities and apprehend perpetrators for prosecution under the relevant criminal laws of the various states or federal legislation.
On the whole, the killing of Funke Olakunrin is one death accompanied by many adverse reactions from Nigerians. While the South-East Governors’ Forum does not encourage the herdsmen to pass their cattle through bush track to the region, other nationals are poised for different negative actions against the marauding herdsmen which may affect our unity in diversity. We, therefore, enjoin the Federal Government to wake from its slumber, take charge of the security of lives and property of Nigerians by dislodging the ignominious, suspected bandits and criminals swelling the rank of innocent business people in a bid to restore peace, safety and cooperation between one another.
