‘Why we launched Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa’

When in 2017 the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) issued a three-month quit notice to all Igbos resident in Northern Nigeria, their shocking albeit explicit stand may have received condemnation from the northern political class, but they nevertheless forced a discussion on the dangerous implications of the campaign of calumny orchestrated by the Indigenous People […]

When in 2017 the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) issued a three-month quit notice to all Igbos resident in Northern Nigeria, their shocking albeit explicit stand may have received condemnation from the northern political class, but they nevertheless forced a discussion on the dangerous implications of the campaign of calumny orchestrated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Coalition which comprised of over 36 northern groups had later rescinded its October 1 quit notice but not before leaving an audacious mark on the political landscape, making it one of the most influential coalitions in the region.

Now, the coalition is at it again, making headlines when it independently initiated a northern security outfit that it claimed would tackle the security challenges that have bedevilled most parts of the northern region in the last decade. With the unveiling of the security outfit code-name Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa on Wednesday in Kaduna, the coalition is making a statement and trailing a few steps behind Operation Amotekun – a similar outfit orchestrated and launched by political and traditional stakeholders of the Southwest in January.

The launch of Operation Amotekun by the governors of the south western region last month generated anxiety due to scanty information on the group’s composition, its role, functionality and structure as well as whether or not members will be armed. There were also fears that such a bold move championed by politicians would in the future be hijacked to unleash terror on political opponents.

However, a few days ago, northern youths under the CNG initiated Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa, in Kaduna, saying it will complement the efforts of the police, military and other para-military agencies to detect and expose all criminals and their activities in the region, especially as it relates to arms and drug trade.

The group alluded a direct link between banditry, drugs and arms trade and emphasized that a chunk of the money paid as ransom for kidnapped relatives find their way into the pockets of multinational arms and drug suppliers. “It is the ransom money that is being circulated to buy drugs and arms. So, if we can block the supply channels then it will be easy for government to go in and mop-up the arms,” said the CNG spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman.

They claimed that Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa was not out to fight or compete with Amotekun, rather, the CNG said Amotekun had been a wakeup call for the northern region. While justifying the launching of Operation Amotekun, CNG said it came about as a result of perceived government’s failure to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

“We have never been against Amotekun, perhaps Amotekun woke us up from sleep because we thought if these people who are the least affected by the current security situation should feel this threatened to take these steps, then we think the north should be in a more desperate position to do this,” said Suleiman.

He said the operation would mobilise communities to defend themselves from kidnappers and bandits, adding that it was in line with the utterances of the Federal Government that security was not the sole responsibility of government. “Whether we like it or not, the insecurity is beyond the capacity of security agencies, we are not saying that they are not trying, but we cannot fold our arms and watch them get overwhelmed,” he said.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that a professor of Criminology at the University of Jos, Etannibi Alemika, while speaking on Amotekun in January, had said: “If the security outfit is established within the area of vigilance service, then there is nothing illegal about it because every Nigerian has a responsibility to do that and to even arrest and hand over criminals to the appropriate authority.”

To become a formidable force, several northern groups that once existed separately had come together in 2017 to form the CNG. The coalition which has now become a household name due to the 2017 quit notice usually take up common stands on major issues that affect the north including the Ruga saga, the Tiv/Jukun crisis as well as disassociating the northern region from Omoyele Sowore’s 2019 RevolutionNow match.

At the unveiling of Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa initiative, the logo showed a fierce lion which represent courage and strength. The coinage of the name Shege-Ka-Fasa in itself, as initiated by the CNG speaks directly to a criminal and dares it to attack. “The name is a way of charging the people, and most of them in the villages have been calling to show their support. They already identify with the name,” said Suleiman.

However, simply initiating and unveiling Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa to the world doesn’t mean the operation has been inaugurated said the CNG. The agile youths in uniform at the event had simply been volunteers who felt the need to show their support to the course.

“We are just starting, we just initiated it, and we did not say we have inaugurated or we are going into operation. We will hand over to our emirs and governors. We are calling on them to embrace it, make the necessary adjustments and give it the legal backing it requires,” said the CNG spokesperson.

Unlike Operation Amotekun however, Shege-Ka-Fasa according to the group is designed to involve every citizen in the northern region irrespective of religion and ethnic affiliation. The coalition however said though it was not unmindful of the fact that the northern region has become fragmented, the CNG will be meeting with other groups from the North Central while the security template will be discussed with the governors, royal fathers and religious clerics from the region.

“We are talking about a common problem in the North because the kidnappings are going on in Taraba, Niger, Plateau, Katsina and Kaduna, so if people are going to be rational, it doesn’t matter whether you are Tiv or Jukun, Hausa or Fulani, or Christian or Muslim. Before you are either of those, you are human so we must work together to stop the killings,” he said.

He added that the CNG will continue to mobilise people to understand that there was no point letting bandits chase them out of their homes or kidnapping their family, adding that: “we will give them support; help with logistics and communication because in every locality there are vigilante groups, so we will simply coordinate them. If we are lucky that those in authority accept this, then we simply hand over to them to make the necessary adjustments.”

He said the involvement of Chairman Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong; the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar; security agencies as well as leaders of the Christian Associations of Nigeria and Jamaatu Nasril Islam was key to the success of the operation. The group however warned that “if the leaders in the North do not accept it, the people will definitely protect themselves.”

While expressing confidence in the efficiency of such a local security outfit, the CNG stated that: “The local communities know the drug dealers, they know where they come from, but they are scared to speak because they are not empowered or encouraged. It is about involving the community and if we block the supply channels, then it will be easy for government to mop up the arms. These bandits are in the bush, and if you give them N20m, what they can only do is to carry more arms and drugs.”

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji  Sa’ad Abubakar, has condemned the establishment of the security outfit.

The Sultan, who spoke at a Northern Security Meeting in Kaduna on Thursday, blamed the northern elites for allowing some youths float ‘Operation Shege Ka Fasa’, and urged the northern leaders to caution the youths.

The Sultan said, “I saw it on the television, and the media gave them attention. Now, the elders allowed these youths to go forward. So, the elites are our problems, the elders are our problems. If the elders don’t take the lead, the youth will do whatever they like and think they are right. You have to caution these youths by giving them good leadership.

“Now, they have launched their own security outfit, I don’t know what they call it, Shege Ka Fasa’, meaning what?

“I want to call on northern elders to caution them. Don’t allow these youths to take over leadership from you. You have to reach out to everybody no matter how low the person is. So, I think we need to take the bull by the horns and not allow the youths take over responsibility. I think we need to do that and much more.”

Also, the Kano State government has dissociated itself from the newly floated security outfit. Governor Abdulahi Ganduje disclosed this on Friday while addressing State House correspondents after a courtesy visit on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

Ganduje said the Kano State government had invested so much in security at various levels and it would be unnecessary to consider any other external arrangement.

Similarly, the Arewa Youths on Thursday also distanced itself from the newly launched ‘Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa’.

The group alleged that some northern elders were behind the floating of the security outfit.