On the Bomb Blast at Ile Ife

“One of the best way to tackle a problem is to admit there is a problem”.

Most of us did not admit Nigeria is faced with a grave security

problem when boko haram started. We limited it to the North or North

East. Now that it is spreading to other parts of the country, are we

still deluding ourselves? Whether we admit it or not, Nigeria is faced

with a grave security challenge which if not properly managed, will

consume the entire country.
Simon Kolawale a renowned columnist wrote some weeks ago about the

mistakes we have collectively made as a people with regards to Boko

Haram. It is sad that despite his eye opening article, most of us are

still making mistakes. We seem to be underestimating the problem; a

problem may soon bring us all to our knees if we are not careful and

mindful.
There were blasts in the ancient city of Ile Ife and Asikolaye in

Kaduna on Monday, 1 July, 2014. Some people were quick to blame it on

Haramites, while another person asked if there is any place like

Asikolaye in Kaduna? This is ignorance at its apogee.

The Ile Ife bomb is a follow up to the blast which occurred two weeks

ago in Lagos in which four people died. Some people (including the

State Government) tried to cover it up. Imagine if the government in

Lagos and neighbouring States had swung into action to fish out these

terrorists and would be terrorists, the Ile Ife blast may have been

prevented. Lagos for instance is a densely populated area, anywhere a

blast occurs, the effect would be fatal. This should make State

governments awake to their primary responsiblity of protecting the

people. They must not wait until it gets out of hand, then they start

panicking calling on the federal government to do something. If the

government at the center could do something, it would have done it a

long time ago!
Denying that a blast occurred is giving the perpetrators an

opportunity to carry out more and massive attacks so that you will

admit there is one. It also amounts to endangering the lives of the

people. When this whole boko haram thing started, it was all like a

joke; with few blasts in Bauchi and some states. Today it has grown

into a full scale terrorist organisation. Why did it go this far? We

underestimated it!
Let us not underplay this threat to our lives and existence as a country.

The Lagos blast may have been masterminded by members of the Boko

Harm. It is also possible that the enemy is within; some misguided

elements may have learnt the art of bomb making and may be ready to

unleash havoc in the South West. Government and everybody must be on

guard.
God bless Nigeria
Frank Ijege
@foijege on twitter
[email protected]