Adieu Suleiman Bisalla

My cousin, Usman Mu’azu, had drawn my attention to a Facebook update.  I spent most of the day in a lethargic and nightmarish state of mind that reminded me of that day my immediate younger brother Jamilu Shehu Ashaka, got killed by unknown gunmen on his way to Jos from Abuja in 2012. Suleiman Bisalla […]

My cousin, Usman Mu’azu, had drawn my attention to a Facebook update.  I spent most of the day in a lethargic and nightmarish state of mind that reminded me of that day my immediate younger brother Jamilu Shehu Ashaka, got killed by unknown gunmen on his way to Jos from Abuja in 2012.
Suleiman Bisalla was a good journalist; smart, simple, brilliant, ready to help, was fun to be with and and extremely nice friend that I’ll miss a lot. We had been friends for the last 10 years.
He taught me lots of important things, and was a reliable and generously supportive in times of hardship. During a difficult breakup, he was among the few friends who stayed by me and offered advice. He was simply a wonderful, deeply moral and peaceful person.
I’m happier living here in Abuja with my family because of you; but you are gone. Thank you, Suleiman.
To fellow Nigerians, it’s time to stop the blame game; let’s come together united, because the consequences of insecurity are so evident and hard to cope with; and this happening daily. But I’m also sad that this terrible attack, with its heavy toll, seemed to be largely forgotten in the rest of the world, despite being among the bloodiest in Nigeria.
This attack was brutal, unexpected, and it left deep scars on me and in thousands of others like me.
All of those deaths in the EMAB Plaza blast and other victims of insecurity are important, but for me they all have the same name, the same face, a very personal story with a smile, voice and flesh, with plans and numerous skills, with lots of energy and a future, now shattered, forever; so close was I also on that dammed day. Suleiman Bisalla, you were really an awesome human being, and I miss you a lot.

Saleh Shehu Ashaka, Abuja <[email protected]>;