Mr. President, still Zamfara bleeds

In as much as you’re living in Nigeria, whether you agree or not, one of the realities you must come to terms with is: fear and sad events as well as unfortunate incidences must define most of your life. Possibly, even if you’re safe from falling into abductors’ hands, you’re not certain on whether it […]

In as much as you’re living in Nigeria, whether you agree or not, one of the realities you must come to terms with is: fear and sad events as well as unfortunate incidences must define most of your life. Possibly, even if you’re safe from falling into abductors’ hands, you’re not certain on whether it might affect you one day or your close relative.

Regrettably, from the forgoing daily unfortunate occurrences, and the manner through which kidnappers hold people for ransom, we must come to terms with the fact that most of us are living few inches away from imminent dangers. Mr. President, apology to my mode of expression, but I have to tell you, while you’re away, your people were sad when you left Nigeria for World Economic Summit in Jordan. As expected, with President Buhari’s immediate departure, there were great lamentations about bandits’ onslaught on people of Zamfara State.

Hence, the need to remind you, in saner climes, safety of life matters more than everything. But unfortunately, the reverse is the case here in Nigeria. Admittedly, I know government is doing everything to end these wanton attacks on innocent citizens, but I have to say, it’s time to show more concern for Zamfara State. People have cried for the umpteenth time, therefore, it’s time to show more remorse and compassion.

Recall that killing of almost fifty civilian JTFs was the latest in a series of tragedies for Zamfara State. As concerned citizens, we are all guilty if we don’t feel the anguish of Zamfara’s misfortune. My dear President, the vacuum created by your absence has led many to raise doubts about your concern to Zamfara’s bloodbath. However, despite the little doubt, we still believe, with serious commitments of our security agents, Zamfara will the soonest return to normalcy. This makes me to remind you that fighting insecurity is one of your major campaign priorities.

Therefore, deterioration of this carnage calls for urgent need for government to redouble its effort. Also, many reasoned that, with absolute presence of functional leadership structure, it’s quite unfortunate that people of Zamfara have become victims of incessant attacks by armed bandits. Painfully, Zamfara’s case has made us to live with gory tales of crimes and heinous activities. Many must have deeply saddened by Zamfara’s devastating tragedy. It’s quite disheartening that some areas of Zamfara State have become a killing field. I have been devastated by grief when I watched a video clip of a teenage girl crying for help to Zamfara people. The way she narrates how bandits killed her father must leave everyone with humane heart speechless.

The question I asked myself, can we call ourselves a nation when we can’t guarantee the safety of lives? Frankly speaking, it’s a national disgrace if we can defeat Boko Haram, but failed to stop handful bandits that held millions of people ransom. Even though the insecurity affected a particular section of our country, but to me, we can’t call ourselves a nation when killings have become a daily routine. More obviously, since we fail to save souls, what value can we add to people if they are not in peace? Shameful indeed if our security agents can’t dismantle the hideouts of those bandits from whatever place they are.

Accordingly, failure to stop this rampage on innocent people reinforces the need to question leaders’ commitments to our safety. Are they not ashamed to live in utmost protection while their citizens are living in fear of the unknown? Also, having swallowed enough of these killings, banditry, large scale abductions is a clear indication to us that more strategic effort are needed to end the menace. Though there’s rising hope with additional deployment of troops, but we must not fold our arms in the face of this crime spree. Quite understandably, the inability of government to safeguard lives, and ensures it security has made most of us to live in perpetual fear and disgrace.

 

Abbas Datti, Kano.