Gradually, life returns to Maiduguri

However, in the last four days or so, there is a kind of new lease of life as people have started returning to their houses whereas businesses have started witnessing patronage even though there are reported cases of skirmishes between security agencies and members of the Jama’atu Ahlil Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also known as […]

However, in the last four days or so, there is a kind of new lease of life as people have started returning to their houses whereas businesses have started witnessing patronage even though there are reported cases of skirmishes between security agencies and members of the Jama’atu Ahlil Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Yusifiyya Movement or Boko Haram.

Observers say whatever happens in life, there is always a cause and an effect and that was exactly the conundrum that came to play in the Maiduguri.

In retrospect, though members of the hitherto Operation Flush 11, a security outfit involving the police and the military put together by the Borno State government  had been having an endless duel with members of the Yusifiyya sect, the whole impasse took a new dimension when the federal government took over the operation.

A new Joint Military Task Force (JTF) code named Operation Restore Order which comprises the army, air force, navy, police, customs, immigrations and the prison service were deployed to the city of Maiduguri and the neighbouring Jere local government area to address the lingering crisis.

Observers say the initial radical approach of the JTF coupled with raids in one or two places was responsible for the mass exodus of the people.

But another trigger was a reported warning from members of the Yusifiyya movement that unless the JTF members are withdrawn, full scale war will be inevitable.

Yet, pundits say the sudden ban on private and commercial motorcycles in Maiduguri and Jere was equally another reason, though not a cogent one, that had been a motivating factor in the panic exodus.

The combination of all the above factors, coupled with the persistent sounds of bombings and gunshots, mounted a huge burden on social and economic life in Maiduguri.

Thus between 6th July and 10th July, 2011, the threats finally paralyzed everything. Some major roads were completely blocked for motorists; some banks shut their doors to customers but some markets and shopping malls summoned courage to open their doors for business; for few hours though.

Once it was six o’clock, virtually everybody will be at home. That was the situation that Maiduguri found itself. But after adjustments, moderations and assurances from all the major contenders, including the JTF, Borno State government and the Yusifiyya movement, life is gradually coming back to the city and social and economic endeavours are picking up.

Major markets and business centers that were shut down in the heat of the crises have now opened their shops to customers.

The popular Baga market in the metropolis which has been virtually deserted is now a beehive of activities as people were seen engaging in buying and selling.

Some of the traders who spoke to Weekly Trust recounted their ordeals and prayed that things should continue to improve so that the once bourgeon city will return to its normal self.

Modu Fantami, a trader who sells food stuff at the Baga Market said the people of Maiduguri must thank God and must not relent in engaging in prayers all the time.

Though some of the traders complained of low patronage, Mohammed Bukar, a tomatoes seller said: “Things have started improving because some of the people that fled the town are coming back, though with little skepticism on the sustainability of peace,” he said.

Bukar Tijjani a resident of Gwange and one of the returnees said he left Maiduguri along with his family in the heat of the faceoff between men of the JTF and the sect members.

“I decided to return to my house when I learnt that peace is gradually returning,” he said.  “But I would definitely leave whenever I feel that my life is being threatened.”

When our reporters visited some banks in the metropolis, it was discovered that they have started entertaining customers but mostly between 9am to 12pm. Some offer services till 1pm.

Before the recent improvement in the security situation, most ATMs in Maiduguri have folded up because they were overstretched. Some people had to go to Damaturu, about 120 kilometers away from Maiduguri to carry out simple transactions in the banks.

Observers say the decision taken on contentious issues by relevant stakeholders had calmed nerves and encouraged some of the fleeing people to return.

Following public outcry by various groups such as the Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought (BELT); the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Amnesty International and other interest groups, it is believed, forced the JTF to exercise restraint in their approach to security issues. For now, few road blocks exist in the metropolis and there are fewer cases of flagrant shooting at civilians.

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, the new spokesman of the JTF had during an interaction with newsmen said the situation in Maiduguri was not under control.

“The military have Rule of Engagement but unfortunately, whenever something happens, people tend to exaggerate. Security is a collective responsibility,” he said.

He said all over the world, fighting a faceless people has remained a daunting task. “In our own case, we are facing a group of people where sympathizers and supporters of the group are many,” he said.

“Residents should stop panicking because the army has come of age. The military also recognizes that the people are the essence of the existence of the armed forces,” he said.

Another reason why people are gradually returning back to Maiduguri was that members of the Yusifiyya movement have allegedly declared that they are not targeting civilians and urged residents to stop fleeing from their homes.

“Right from the onset, we have not been killing civilians deliberately,” Abu Zaid, the spokesman of the group said. “We have our targets and we are waging war because we are pursuing a cause,” he told journalists during a press conference on phone.

By and large, the timely intervention of Governor Kashim Shettima through compensating some of the victims of the crisis had brought respite to some helpless families.

The governor had paid compensation to some residents of Kaleri ward in Mafa local government area, whose houses and cars were allegedly torched by members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on 9th July, 2011 during a raid in the area.

The raid was carried out when a bomb exploded close to a checkpoint of the JTF members.

Shortly after the raid, hundreds of women and children living in the areas fled their homes from uncertainty of where another trouble would erupt.

But when Governor Shettima visited Kaleri few days after the incident, he promised to compensate the victims. And when the time for the compensation came, he gave eleven cars, including Honda Accord and Volkswagen models, worth millions of naira to the victims, whose vehicles were allegedly burnt during the imbroglio between the JTF and members of the Yusifiyya movement.

The beneficiaries include two widows, Saudatu and Fatima, whose husband, Mallam Muhammadu Bahaushe was allegedly shot and killed by the JTF men.

The women had told Governor Shettima when he visited Kaleri that their husband, who had a sachet water factory was killed and his house and car burnt.

“We also lost N1, 605,000.00 and a handset during the raid. Our husband died and left us with 7 children,” the women said.

The governor therefore paid the exact amount of money to the widows and additional N10, 000 for the handset. He also gave them another car and promised to rebuild their burnt house.

He also gave N200, 000.00 to another widow, Hauwa Ahmadu, whose husband Mallam Amadu was equally killed during the raid. She said until his death, Ahmadu was attached to the security unit of the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) in Maiduguri.

The governor equally promised to rebuild all the houses that were allegedly torched at Kaleri on the 9th July, 2011 and that similar gestures will be extended to the residents of Shehuri and Abbaganaram areas of Maiduguri metropolis where there was an altercation between the JTF and Yusifiyya members which also resulted in the burning of some residential and business premises.

“Historically, Borno has been known to come out ever stronger with each passing crisis that confronts it,” Governor Shettima said, during a state-wide broadcast on the way forward.

“I think the action taken by all the major contenders in the imbroglio in Maiduguri have direct bearing on the way people are coming back,” Barrister Ismaila Musa, a legal practitioner said.

“You know, by their nature, human beings want peace and always feel safe if he or she is assured of his safety,” the barrister observed.

Halima Jafar, a civil servant in Maiduguri opined that another factor that made people to start returning back to their homes was the forthcoming fasting period. “We are expecting a ceasefire during the fasting period because Ramadan is a sacred month,” she said, citing a leaflet she saw in front of her house, where some members of the Yusifiyya movement said they would sheath their sword for the sake of the Ramadan.

The leaflet, which was released under the name:  AHL AS-SUNNAH Wal AL JAMA’A ALA MINHAJ AS-SALAF {Yusufiyya Islamic Movement} spoke on so many issues including the reason for the continued armed struggle by the group, bombings and the issue of dialogue.

In the letter, the group said they have resolved to “temporarily halt our fight against the assassins of our leaders in compliance with the prohibition of fighting in the Holy month of Ramadan.”

But reacting to this development, Abu Zaid, who is the spokesman of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda Awati Wal Jihad said the leaflet on the ceasefire in Ramadan did not emanate from them.

“It must be from some people who want to cause confusion,” he said. “In Islam, the only months that waging war is prohibited are Zulkidah, Zulhijja, Muharram and Rajab. Ramadan is not among them,” he said.

That notwithstanding, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi said with prayers and repentance, peace will surely return back to Maiduguri.