Like Predecessor Like Incumbent: Nigeria Continuously Sinks In Butchery Under Buhari’s Presidency With Over 1000 Terror Murders In Two Months
(Public Security & Safety, 16th July 2015)-It is an established fact that over 625 killings have been recorded since 30th May 2015 in the hands of the Boko Haram Islamic Insurgency. It is also correct to observe that at least 380 innocent citizens of rural extraction have been slaughtered since May 2015 in the hands of the Fulani Islamic Terror group, erroneously called “Fulani Herdsmen”. In other words, over 1000 terror killings have been recorded since May 2015, mostly under Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidency.
For the records, President Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner of the highly disputed and ethno-religiously porous Presidential election held on 28thMarch 2015 and was constitutionally sworn in on 29th May 2015. The Boko Haram Islamic Terror Group has responsible for over 13,000 killings or innocent deaths in Nigeria between 2009 and 2014, according to former President Goodluck Jonathan. The Fulani Islamic terror group also accounted for at least 3,000 deaths between 2009 and 2014.
There also is likelihood of Nigeria facing three or more armed uprisings simultaneously before the end of 2015 including “oil insurgency” in the Niger Delta region called “the South-south zone”, save there are all encompassing and pluralistic policy changes in the way and manner the country is presently governed. Already, pockets of attacks on public facilities and civilian areas have been reported in the said Niger Delta since Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari became the President 48 days ago.
Boko Haram Killings/Attacks Under Buhari’s 48 Days Presidency:
On July 14, 2015, 43 persons were killed in four villages near Monguno, Borno State, July 12; two IEDs planted at ECWA Church, Jos, Plateau State exploded but there was no casualty, July 7 – A teenage suicide bomber killed 2-year-old, 25 others in Zaria, Kaduna State; July 5, 52 persons were killed in twin explosions in Jos, Plateau State. The police said the attacks were carried out by two female suicide bombers. On July 5, six persons were killed in an explosion at a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish in Potiskum, Yobe State; July 3 – 29 persons were killed in Mussa Village in Askira-Uba LGA, Borno State; and July 2 – 11 persons were killed at Malari Village along Bama/Konduga Highway, Borno State.
Others are: June 30 – 48 persons were killed in Mussaram I and Mussaram II in Monguno LGA, Borno State; June 30, thirteen persons were killed in an attempted night invasion of Maiduguri by the Boko Haram terror insurgents; June 27, five persons were killed at General Hospital, Molai, Borno State; June 23, 20 persons were killed in an attack on Debiro, LGA, Borno State; June 23, 15 persons were killed in suicide bomb attack on Nannawaji Village, Gujba LGA; June 22, eight persons were killed in twin suicide attacks on Baga Fish Market in Borno State; June 17, seventeen persons were killed in explosion in Monguno in Borno State; June 15, eleven persons were killed in twin bomb blasts in Potiskum, Yobe State; June 11, thirty-seven persons were killed in separate attacks in Borno villages; and June 7, three persons were killed in an attack on Baga/Monguno Highway.
Also, on June 5, forty persons were killed in suicide attacks on Jimeta Night Market in Adamawa State; June 3, two persons were killed near military checkpoints in Maiduguri; June 3, four persons were killed in attack on mechanical workshop on Baga Road; June 2, seventeen persons were killed at Maiduguri Abattoir; May 31, four persons were killed at Gamborou Market, Maiduguri; May 30, twenty-six persons killed in bomb attack on a Mosque near Maiduguri Market; totaling at least 625 deaths (Sources: Nigerian Eye, Wikipedia, BBC, CNN, Eyewitnesses, etc).
Most Recent Killings By Islamic Fulani Terror Group:
Plateau State-2nd May 2015, twenty Seven (27) people were killed when the Fulani terror group attacked a COCIN church in Forom Village in the State. The reverend of the church, Rev. Luka Gwom and a lady who got married in the same building two weeks prior (Pauline) were also killed. 4th May 2015, thirty (30) people were killed in early Sunday attack on two villages in Barkin Ladi; seventeen (17) were killed in Vat village and 13 in Zakupang Village. On 6th May 2015, two (2) people were killed in Kakpwis Village in late night attack by the Fulani terror group. The deceased were identified as Bot Joshua and Emmanuel Joshua. On 9th May 2015, two (2) people were killed in Bangai Village of Barkin Ladi LGA. On 20th May 2015, twenty- two (22) people were killed near Kurra in Barkin Ladi LGA. On 29th May 2015, over 500 gunmen attacked Shonong Village destroying and burning 250 houses and displacing over 1000 people. On 10th June 2015, nine villages in Barkin Ladi were attacked leaving 20 people dead. On 11th June 2015, Rakung Village was attacked leaving 4 dead. The deceased were identified as Pam Babel, Salome Pam, Luka Gyang and Joy Toma.
Innocent citizens of rural extraction in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States are also not spared by the Islamic Fulani terror attackers. For Instance, on 15th May 2015, eighty (80) people were killed in Egba Village of Agatu LGA of Benue State. On 19th May 2015, hundred (100) people were killed when the Fulani terror group attacked refugee camps in Ukura, Gafa, Per and Tse-Gusa villages of Benue State. On 25th May 2015, twenty-five (25) were killed in Lorza Village in Benue State. In Taraba State, on 19th April 2015, seven (7) were killed by the Fulani terror group in Sabon Gida Shagogo in Donga LGA of Taraba State. On 4th May 2015, six (6) soldiers were killed in Amar Kambari Village in Karim-Lamido LGA of Taraba State. On 11th July 2015, four persons were killed in Dan-Anacha in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State. InNasarawa State, on 26th Apr 2015, thirty (30) were killed in Keana LGA of the State and on 27 May 2015, twenty one (21) people were killed in Keana LGA of the State, totaling 380 deaths (Source: Dr. Chinan Mclean June 2015). Most of the dead and injured victims of the Islamic Fulani terror group’s attacks; likewise most victims of the Islamic Boko Haram attacks; are of Christian faith. The Islamic Fulani terror activities have also been extended to the Southeast particularly in Enugu State.
With over 1000 terror killings in barely two months of Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidency, Nigeria is continuously under siege with no end in sight over the country’s intra State violence. From the look of things, the Buhari’s administration lacks the qualities of statesmanship to de-escalate and possibly end the spreading violence, just like its predecessor. The insurgency has not only escalated under Buhari civilian administration, but also there is imminence of emergence of new armed violence or resurgence of “oil violence” in the Niger Delta.
In the realm of insurgency, there is also “political insurgency”. In this regard, it is correct to say that President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies and actions so far are tantamount to “political insurgency”, which could breed armed insurgency of endless magnitude. For instance, his administration’s “unitary decisions” including his recent appointments and decisions on sensitive security matters (i.e. bombardments of Niger Delta, relocation of Boko Haram detainees, irrational order for dismantling of military checkpoints, running of “cabinetless” government, etc) are totally antithetical to the multi democratic, political, economic, cultural and religious composition of Nigeria. When congregated and aggregated, they amount to “political insurgency or terrorism”, which can graduate to escalated and endless armed insurgencies if left unchecked.
The President must revert to and take a steady recourse to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, under which he became the President and got administered with the oaths of office and allegiance. In managing the ongoing insurgencies or terror wars being prosecuted against the country and the innocent citizens by the duo of Islamic Boko Haram and Fulani terror groups, the Buhari’s administration must deal with the three hydra-headed monsters expertly identified in modern insurgency warfare. These are called “spoilers of peace building”, “conflict profiteers” and “conflict extremists”. As it stands now, only “extremists” are being confronted with skeletal result; whereas the truth remains that no matter the amount of efforts put in place or success recorded against the “extremists” without identifying and uprooting their “breeding godfathers” (spoilers of peace building and conflict profiteers); it will amount to efforts in futility.
For records, “conflict profiteers” are usually persons, companies and countries that gain from the insurgency by escalating and elongating it. In Boko Haram and Fulani Islamic insurgencies, who are the “conflict profiteers”? On the other hand, “spoilers of peace building” are usually those with vested interest in the conflict or insurgency who use their resources, social positions and contacts to sustain the conflict and frustrate the peace building efforts. In this regard, are there Emirs, top military officers and politicians of core north extraction or origin fueling the insurgencies?
Further “conflict extremists” are usually the combatants and their commanders. In this regard, our questions are: what are the command and operational networks of the two deadly terror groups? If it is true that “subversion plus sabotage plus espionage equals to insurgency”; how far has the Federal Government under Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari gone in studying this within the context of modern military science? Is Retired General Mohammadu Buhari a military tactician or “a retired coupist general”? Has he ever studied the doctrine or theory of insurgency or revolutionary warfare of late Chairman Mao Zedong or Sun Tzu’s Art of War, as well as their counter measures as developed by European modern war strategists and thinkers?
Signed:
Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman
International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law
+2348174090052 (office)
[email protected] , [email protected]