Owo massacre: A killing too many

That Nigeria as it stands today is a country in perilous times is incontrovertible. Nigeria in every consideration appears to be no longer ashamed to wear the garb of a failed state where it has acquired all the attributes, characteristics and presentations of a country enmeshed in absurdities.

Overwhelming evidence that the authorities and heads of government at both the federal and state levels do not care again that life has become too short and brutish is enough indication for any discerning mind to conclude that there is nobody in charge of affairs of the country’s security any longer.

We condemn in the strongest terms, the continuous wanton killings of law abiding Nigerians as well as the destruction of their sources of livelihood in a manner that depicting a country that is at war with itself.

The most recent and indeed most barbaric was the massacre of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State where no fewer than 50 persons were murdered in cold blood for seeking the intervention of God Almighty in an apparently hopeless and helpless environment where misfits had bulldozed their ways into leadership positions and good governance taken a flight.

Across the states such as Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Plateau, Benue,, Nassarawa, Niger, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Rivers, Adamawa, Benue and Taraba, reports of heinous killings of dozens defenseless citizens including women and children in the past few years are endless. Even the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the seat of power has not been spared of the bloodshed.

It is rather most unfortunate that the crop of present day Nigerian leaders have continued to remain insensitive to the plights and welfare of the citizens to the extent that what ordinarily would have attracted outrage in most climes will pass as the norm in Nigeria.

This insensitivity totally negates the constitutional responsibility of government which is the welfare and protection of lives and property. If not, why would President Muhammadu Buhari be hosting dinner party at the State House in Abuja in honour of party men who are presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) few hours after over 50 people were murdered in cold blood in Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria.

Such disrespect for martyrs of the faith is considered unpatriotic and an abomination in climes where human lives are sacrosanct such as the United States of America where President Joe Biden had to cancel an official engagement recently to rush down to Florida following the killing of some students by a gunman.

We are swayed to believe the narrative of many ordinary Nigerians who have consistently accused the federal government of complacency in the handling of and subsequent search for lasting solutions to the challenges of insecurity in the country.

A situation where Nigerians have been killed in their thousands especially over the last seven years of the Buhari administration without evidence of arrest, prosecution and punishment of culprits by government which swore to defend lives, property and territorial integrity of the country makes the government culpable and indeed enemy of the citizens.

Consequently, we don’t have any cogent reason to disagree with an advocacy and human rights group, Media Rights Agenda, MRA which had consistently accused the federal government of encouraging attacks against her citizens by its failure to take decisive measures to protect the people and punish perpetrators of such attacks.

Without mincing words it alleged that the attackers “are frequently security agents or other government officials” who after such crimes are given safe passage to escape which was corroborated recently by the Primate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Chukwuemeka Samuel Uche when he pointed accusing fingers at the military for aiding his abduction and subsequent payment of N100 million ransom for his release.

We are deeply worried that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and his security agents have failed woefully in safeguarding lives and property following their inability to unmask groups, organizations and individuals who are suspected to be the masterminds of the perilous and unacceptable situation which Nigerians have found themselves. Sadly too, this is the same government which has consistently admitted that ‘we know the terrorists and we know where they are. We will soon name the people behind them’.

Similarly, it is unbelievable that the case of the arrest of a suspected notorious kidnapper Wadume and accusations linking his atrocities to high profile groups and individuals seem to have been swept under the carpet. Same goes for the army instructor who was arrested for fighting on the side of Boko Haram but allegedly committed suicide in the process of been driven to army base.

It remains a matter of serious concern to the citizens and embarrassment to the federal government that despite the increasing rate of attacks and crimes against law abiding Nigerians, it cannot point to a single instance over the years, since the inception of this administration on May 29, 2015, where the perpetrators of such dastardly attacks have been arrested, prosecuted and punished.

It can be argued therefore that government’s apparent inability to apprehend and mete out commensurate punishments to perpetrators of these heinous crimes serve as incentives for the hoodlums whether tagged bandits, terrorists, unknown gunmen or Boko Haram to continue their unending reign of terror.

It is also worthy of note that it is this same lackadaisical attitude of government and its security agencies to be firm and resolute in tracking down crime and criminalities with absolute political will power, framework and commitment to prosecuting offenders that has been fueling citizen’s resort to jungle justice witnessed in most parts of the country with the latest incidents recorded in the Sokoto killing of Deborah Samuel, the Lekki incident involving Sunday-David Umoh and the case of Ahmed Usman who was stoned and set ablaze around Tippa garage at the Federal Housing Estate Lugbe, Abuja after been accused of blasphemy.

All these related incidents are traceable to failure of governance considering that such countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran which have death penalty as punishment for blasphemy have never recorded a single death in manner of lynching as every offender is duly prosecuted and appropriate punishment served.

It is our considered opinion that the present authorities of the Nigerian state are guilty of dereliction of duties and responsibilities which had resulted in the collapse of all existential pillars characteristic of decent societies which include but not limited to provision of security of lives and property leading to national cohesion, delineation and protection of national territorial boundary, fostering economic development through the enunciation of functional policies and programmes, breeding of conducive environment necessary for law abiding citizens to pursue their legitimate endeavours as well as the establishment of international treaties.

It is against this backdrop that we challenge all eligible Nigerian voters to be more patriotic and circumspect in choosing the new crop of leaders during the 2023 general elections. They should cast their ballots only for credible candidates who will be willing to render selfless service to fatherland and allow themselves to be subjected to the supreme power of the people on whose behalf they exercise state authority.

Above all, the issue of effecting the necessary constitutional amendment that will pave the way for the creation of State Police should be revisited since it is clear to all that the existing federal government controlled Nigeria Police Force has woefully failed in its statutory role of protecting lives and property of citizens.

For a better society