How insurgency weakens ties forged over 200 years

It is a story of love gone sour. But  this  sourness  may grow into something sweet, and love will return with  healing power and life. It was a golden moment long ago when the two groups first met. The story begins with a hunt which originated in what we now call Nigeria’s far north: 200 […]

It is a story of love gone sour. But  this  sourness  may grow into something sweet, and love will return with  healing power and life. It was a golden moment long ago when the two groups first met. The story begins with a hunt which originated in what we now call Nigeria’s far north: 200 years ago  Dikko left Katsina on a search for elephants. He was the leader of a group of hunters, and he travelled towards the thick forests of the South where elephants were said to flourish, and which was to later become known as southern Nigeria. He crossed fast flowing rivers and streams, navigated deep valleys, and encountered wild animals as well as other hunters and travellers, seeking their fortune in the wide expanse of land and contiguous areas known as the south, or ‘Kudu’ in Hausa.
Elephant Tusks are said to possess medicinal properties and have always been quite expensive. The account does not indicate if he did come across the elephants, but the records agree that he settled at Elele, a part of present day Rivers State. This was the beginning of the Hausa community in the state. Later, a group of Hausas left Elele for Port Harcourt, and they formed the Hausa quarters of the city. Located on the coast, Port Harcourt  has always attracted a diverse group, from within the continent and beyond, making it very cosmopolitan. It has attracted Sierra Leonians, Ghanaians, Europeans, Indians and many other groups, which eventually gave colour to the city.
The Hausa quarters is a popular part of Port Harcourt and a high level of intermarriage between Hausas and their hosts has flourished, and a vibrant multicultural community has blossomed. But this  love which Daily Trust witnessed in all its glory ten years ago  during a  visit to Port Harcourt, has soured. The  cause of the weakened  love is said to be the insurgency in the North East. The attacks by the Boko Haram militants has led some elements in the city  to label members of the Hausa community, or northerners in the city, with the words  ‘Boko Haram’. Indigenes of the state who have embraced Islam, or who happen to wear a long Kaftan and trouser, or wear the Hijab as a Lady  would, are labeled  ‘Boko Haram’. Members of the community are shocked at the sudden turn of events. It is in this sense that love has  soured between two groups which have always been quite fond of each other, and have had  many years of close contact. But how does this form of labeling manifest on the streets of the city?
Garba Abdullahi, a member of the Hausa community opens up. He says that on one occasion, he went to  one of the markets in the city  to  buy some items and had a dramatic experience while there. “Somebody saw me in my  long gown, the type we Hausas normally wear. He immediately drew close  to me and said at the top of his voice ‘Boko Haram, Boko Haram, go back home.You people are destroying our people. I felt like going to the police to make a complaint, but I decided against it. We have experienced so much here on account of the insurgency in the north.”

But he shows that labeling is more widespread  in the area than people think, saying “If a Christian from an area outside the north, dresses like a Muslim in Port Harcourt, he will also be called Boko Haram.” Hajiya Hafsat Abdulsalam, Women Leader, Northern community, South South adds “Nobody has insulted  me with that word yet, but  we have heard of Hausa women or women from the north, who have been called Boko Haram.”
Habiba Mohammed, another woman present during the interview, says “Once in the market an Ikwerre  woman had a disagreement with a Hausa wheelbarrow pusher. She immediately raised her hand and slapped him, calling him ‘Boko Haram.’ On another occasion I witnessed a situation where a woman said to another man pushing a wheelbarrow “If you don’t leave here, I will slap you,you Boko Haram.”

But the women remember an occasion when Governor Rotimi Amaechi was informed of the  pains members of the Hausa community pass  through. According to them, he was reported to have said “If anybody calls any of you Boko Haram, you should immediately make a report at the nearest police station.”
But they cannot recall any member of the community who went forward and made a report to the police. Some of the women have injected  some humour into the repeated attacks. When called Boko Haram on the streets, they respond by saying “Yes, I am Boko Haram. But you are a militant.”
Musa Baba Ahmed, Chairman, National Butchers Union of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, says  “In the early days of the insurgency, if we wear Hausa clothes, people  will call us Boko Haram. If  they see our wives wearing Hijabs, they call them ‘Boko Haram’. So, our wives have stopped going to the market. This situation has created a lot of trouble, and some of our people are ready to respond if they are called Boko Haram.”
Musa Ibrahim, PRO of  the National Butchers Union of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, laments “We have witnessed this  insult so many times. What led to it is the insurgency in the north.If  there is any little disagreement here, people immediately call us Boko Haram.” But he emphasises “Even without a disagreement, people still rise up and call us Boko Haram. It is strange.”
Alhaji Isah Madaki, Sarkin Hausawa, speaks on the beginnings of the community in Rivers state “Hausas came here 200 years ago. They first settled at Elele, and they were people from the present day Katsina State. They were hunters looking for elephant Tusks, as well as Coral Beads which women wear.” He shows that later on Hausas involved in the cattle trade began to convey cows all the way to Port Harcourt. He  says that he was born in the city, and that 20 of his children were born there too. To show how the idea of Boko Haram is influencing behaviour in the city, he refers to the moment early this year when Hausa migrant workers were returning to Port Harcourt from the north.
But he adds “Sometimes, when we are passing on the streets we are called Boko Haram. When we look at the persons speaking, we see that they are irresponsible people.” He says that the issue of name calling is all politics, because “many of the Hausas are members of APC, and that is why they call us Boko Haram.”
Bala Mato is the Chief Security Officer of the Mile III Building Materials Market. He explains why many northerners flock to the city and have  made it a home ‘In the past there was fertile land in the north for the cultivation of crops. But today, most of the land in the north is dead, and there are no jobs. Instead of staying idle, most of these young boys come to Port Harcourt to do work and earn some money. They send some of this money back to their parents from time to time. There  are up to 500 of these boys here in the building materials market. They do work as security men, wheelbarrow pushers, carrot and sugarcane sellers. They  are not members of Boko Haram, as the security operatives sought to show recently, when the boys  were travelling back to Port Harcourt and were arrested. Musa Saidu, Chairman Arewa Consultative Forum, South South and South east, comments on the labeling of Hausas in the city “This is done by the hoodlums in the city. These hoodlums attack members of our community, and then instantly call them Boko Haram. But none of the leaders here in Port Harcourt will attack us  and then begin to label the community. We have had a harmonious relationship over time. The rivers people and the Hausas are like brothers. This  problem is caused by a few misguided elements in the city who look for any opportunity to yell ‘Boko Haram’ when they see our people.”

DSP Ahamed Mohammed, PPRO Rivers State Command, sheds light on the labeling of the Hausa community “In terms of the labeling of the Hausa community,or persons of northern extraction as Boko Haram, I know there was a time we received one complaint. The Commissioner of Police then urged the community that if anybody labeled them thus, they should report the matter to the nearest police station.” But he says that no report has been received yet. He attributes this to the tendency of the average Hausa man to “leave everything to the hand of the Almighty.So,the matter won’t be reported to the police, even if it happens.”
Nasir Uhor, Vice President General, Nigeria Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Rivers State, examines the ripple effects of the insurgency “This insurgency has painted every Muslim black. If I walk on the street, people will begin to exclaim ‘Boko Haram’, Boko Haram’. But this is happening to me who also hails from Rivers state. Infact, one does not need to be a Muslim to be insulted. As long as you dress like a Muslim, you are immediately labeled. We are being goaded into taking some precipitate action, but if we do anything such action may be misconstrued. In the meantime, I have counseled against any form of mass protest.”
Maryam Talatu Garba, Women leader of the Hausa community, who has lived in Port Harcourt for 50 years, recalls an  occasion which caused her much pain  “One day we were in the bus, and people began to call us ‘Boko Haram’. We were tempted  to start fighting. They even said they would tear my Hijab. Formerly, Port Harcourt was a very peaceful place. Today, things have changed significantly.” Rabi Usman adds “Despite the recent killing of our people in Kano, for instance, people here still insult us and call us ‘Boko Haram’.”
She goes down memory lane “In the beginning the people here liked us, but now because of the insurgency in the north east, they  dislike us and call us ‘Boko Haram’. This attitude is destroying the peace here in Port Harcourt. One day an elderly man in a bus, who should know better, called me ‘Boko Haram’. It was so disturbing.” Rabi  feels that both Hausa men and women feel the pain, but there is a slight difference between the sexes on this “All of us feel the pain, but the men are always outside. So, they feel the pain more. We the women are always in the house.”
According to the women, Hausa children in schools in the city are being called ‘Boko Haram’, “Port Harcourt has become a difficult place to live in, and the community is over 200 years old. The rivers people and the Hausas used to relate like brothers,” the women argue.
Rabi  now makes a statement which radiates so much  honesty and friendship. “In spite of everything, the Hausa community is happy with Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He shows love to everyone and he sees us as his friends. Everybody in the state is equal before his eyes, and we like him on account of this. He is our friend.” These may not be the best of times for the old Hausa community of Port Harcourt, but the pain of the present, may  give birth to showers of healing and love.