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At the mercy of terrorists, bandits and violent herders (II) Continued from last week
The roads were free of agents of Beelzebub. In fact, people preferred travelling around the country during that time at night. You were sure of travelling from the extreme regions of the north to the other extreme without the fear of having your life cut short by those who have lost theirs to the denizens of hell. You would prefer to travel at night in order to have a feel of the expertise of the “Meti” who were always available beside the roads in all the villages and at the various bus stations all around the north.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Remember those nights -nights of the big, hot kettles and the dark colour of the spiced tea; spicy teas that usually leave you with that unforgettable memory of how ‘sweet’ life could be. You would also want to savour the pleasurable noise of young and nubile female hawkers jostling on the roadside trying to sell Fura de Nunu. You would always want to travel in line with the injunctions of the Almighty in the Quran 6: 11: ‘Go about journeying on the earth, and behold the end of those who gave the lie (to the Truth).
Suddenly, all of the above have virtually, if not completely become a thing of the past. I shudder to think that they have become past perfect. This is because our nation is now held in the jugular by at least three noxious luciferous agents all of which now threaten its corporate existence. In the beginning it was the Boko Haram (BH) terrorists whose activities and notoriety have occasioned panoply of studies and works all around the world. The BH emerged from parts of the Northeast and have ensured that the north has lost its peace and sleep. Since whatever happens in the north does not stay in the north, the terror in the methodology of violent extremism has since become a national tragedy.
Damaturu lost its innocence in order that Adamawa and Niger might lose their sanity and conscience. Thus, teenage girls have become women at seven; boys who have barely left their mothers’ bosoms have since become gun-bearers and agents of death. Men, aged fifty and above now rape toddlers who do not know where they are, nor to what use their genitals could be put. Life has simply lost its sanctity. The north appears to have lost innocence.
Then from nowhere emerged what they now refer to as bandits. The latter reminds you of that era in classical Arab history known as the Jahiliyyah- an era when brigands would establish authorities over large swathes of land and pursue the villainous pleasure not of the celestial but the terrestrial. Bandits they are because they rob. Bandits they are because they kill. Bandits they are because they engage in rape of women and kidnap for ransom.
Unlike the BH that initially pleaded the establishment of an uncanny suzerainty of Islam the like of which is even unknown to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), the bandits in the northwest of this country do not lay any claim to preternatural knowledge of Islam. Rather, their sole agenda is to be in charge of the natural resources of the land. They desire to be in control of bread, water and fire.
The other day the Daily Trust did a report on the group, I could not but wonder how exactly and at what point did the North lost it? How did we produce that kind of flagitious assemblage; of execrable elements who value nothing else but money, who believe that it is only through the gun that life could mean? Are these people Muslims? How could they be? Do they observe the five daily prayers? Do they meet one another and still say “Salaam alaykum”? How could that be?! “Do they not know that they shall be resurrected (for reckoning); On a Great Day; The Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) (Quran 83: 4-7)
While the nation is busy grappling with how to rein in these elements and impose some order on the disorder in the polity, the third angle in the triangle of infamy have since emerged. Here reference is to the violent Fulani herder. The herder who uses his cattle as a warrant to perpetrate odious criminality. The herder of today who now bears Kalashnov and AK 47. The herder of today who now sees his host as a boon and the latter’s land as that which can be desecrated and destroyed at will and without compunction. His criminal activities have called to question our unity as a nation.
That the ordinary herder has achieved notoriety for criminality has also, unfortunately, widened the geography of ignorance and prejudice among a section of the Nigerian elites who now consider all Fulanis as land-grabbers and kidnappers. It does not matter to the latter anymore, after having witnessed the murder, the kidnap and the atrocities perpetrated by a section among the Fulani herders in parts of the country, that not all criminals are Fulani; that not all Fulanis are criminals; that not all Fulanis are herdsmen and that not all herdsmen are criminals.
Now how shall we educate our compatriots that while it is true that some Fulani herders have been perpetrators of acts of brigandage and kidnap, some of them have also been innocent victims of the same crime? How do we evolve reasonable and equitable balance between unity and security of our lives and properties as citizens of this country? How do we return peace to our land?!
These are questions that keep agitating my mind; these are queries that we must answer objectively in order for us to gain two ‘paradise’. According to Ibn Taimiyyah, paradise comprises a dyad- the terrestrial and the other celestial; he who fails to ‘enter’ the terrestrial paradise are likely not to gain the one in the celestial!!!
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, mhas released excerpts of the Justice Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry report which he says indict the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Bello Doka, his media aide, Malami said chapter nine of the Salami report shows a clear conflict of interest that makes the EFCC chairman’s continued involvement in matters relating to him untenable.
Malami said the Salami judicial commission of inquiry was established under his supervision to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC.
He said the current EFCC chairman served as secretary to the commission at the time.
According to the statement, chapter nine of the report examined the conduct and responsibilities of senior EFCC officials and created personal and professional exposure for individuals now exercising prosecutorial authority over Malami.
Malami said the EFCC’s actions against him could not be reasonably interpreted as neutral law enforcement but amounted to a personal vendetta rooted in unresolved issues arising from the report.
He said the law on recusal is settled and is based on the test of reasonable apprehension of bias rather than proof of actual malice.
Malami said any reasonable observer aware of the circumstances surrounding chapter nine of the Salami report would conclude that he cannot receive an impartial investigation under the current leadership of the EFCC.
The former AGF accused the commission of violating his fundamental rights through unlawful restrictions on liberty and denial of fair hearing.
He also alleged a sustained trial by media through selective leaks and public commentary aimed at securing public condemnation before judicial determination.
Malami said the pattern of conduct by the EFCC reflects an attempt to criminalise lawful policy decisions taken while he was in office.
He said he is willing to submit himself to a neutral and independent investigative process and to face trial only before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Malami demanded the immediate recusal of the EFCC chairman from all matters relating to him.
“This is not a personal dispute; it is a constitutional issue. If the EFCC is allowed to function as an instrument for the settlement of personal scores and grievances, then the rule of law itself is imperilled.
“Abubakar Malami, SAN, will continue to insist on justice according to law and due process, not persecution by power,” the statement said.
President Donald Trump’s fresh visa restrictions is set to affect Nigerians who are planning to travel to the US for the 2026 World Cup.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
On Tuesday, Trump signed a Proclamation which restricts entry to the United States for citizens of countries deemed high-risk due to “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.
Nigeria is among the 15 additional countries now subject to partial restrictions.
This means that Nigerians with Immigrants and Non-Immigrants visas in the categories of B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas are hereby suspended.
Officials at the American Embassy have also instructed to reduce the validity for any other Non-Immigrant visas that have already been issued to Nigerians.
Another reason for the decision of the American government is the fact that some Nigerians overstay their visas when they visit the US.
This comes amid reports that the Super Eagles could possibly still play at next year’s World Cup if their appeal to FIFA questioning the eligibility of some DR Congo players is successful.
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Nigeria Set To Buy 24 Italian Fighter Jets In €1.2billion Deal, Biggest Purchase In West Africa – Report
Business Inside Africa reported on Tuesday that the agreement was reached with Italian aerospace and defence giant, Leonardo S.p.A., as part of Nigeria’s expanding military modernisation programme aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Air Force.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Nigeria has moved to significantly boost its air power with the acquisition of 24 M-346FA light fighter aircraft from Italy in a deal estimated at €1.2 billion, marking the largest single purchase of military jets by any country in West Africa.
Business Inside Africa reported on Tuesday that the agreement was reached with Italian aerospace and defence giant, Leonardo S.p.A., as part of Nigeria’s expanding military modernisation programme aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Air Force.
Beyond the delivery of the aircraft, the deal includes maintenance, logistics and long-term technical support, a move analysts say signals the Nigerian government’s intention to sustain combat readiness rather than rely on short-term military upgrades.
The purchase follows earlier approval by the Federal Executive Council for a $618 million borrowing plan to finance the acquisition of the Italian-made M-346 attack jets and associated munitions.
The latest procurement comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with deepening internal security crises, including a protracted jihadist insurgency in the North-East, worsening banditry in the North-West, and persistent communal violence in the Middle Belt.
These conflicts have placed enormous pressure on government resources, displaced millions of citizens and severely disrupted economic activities across large swathes of the country.
Security officials believe the M-346FA jets would enhance aerial surveillance, close air support and precision strike capabilities, giving the military greater operational flexibility in its fight against insurgent and criminal groups.
Nigeria’s growing military footprint is also unfolding against a fragile regional backdrop.
Recently, Nigerian troops were deployed to neighbouring Benin following an attempted coup in which mutinous soldiers briefly seized key locations in Cotonou.
The deployment, carried out at the request of Benin’s authorities and approved by the Nigerian Senate, reportedly helped restore constitutional order and underscored Abuja’s readiness to project military power beyond its borders amid rising political instability and military takeovers across parts of West Africa.
Observers say the choice of Italy as a major defence supplier reflects a strategic shift in Nigeria’s arms procurement policy.
By turning to Italian manufacturers, Nigeria appears to be seeking more modern equipment, competitive pricing and stronger after-sales support, while gradually reducing its dependence on traditional arms suppliers such as the United States, Russia and China.
The massive arms purchase, however, is likely to reignite debates over government spending priorities at a time when Nigerians continue to face severe economic hardship, rising debt and worsening social conditions.
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