By Chidiebere Nwobodo
South-East and South-South have been in the news recently for bad reasons. Relatively hitherto peaceful zones are almost becoming war zones. The unconscionable and gruesome assassinations of security personnel, especially police officers, is not only barbaric but sadistic. These zones are gradually descending into anarchy caused by these anarchists cum bloodletting beasts masquerading as “unknown gunmen”.
No matter how we detest police brutality and inhuman actions of soldiers on the civilian populace, resorting to these savageries and bestialities on these officers can be described as callous, evil and despicable. These security personnel are fathers, husbands and uncles of other people. Their families need them as well. No matter their provocative actions, they are still victims of a system that has failed all of us. These killings have to stop. There is no single justification for it.
I was one of the people that promoted #EndPoliceBrutality campaign aka #EndSars. We spoke vehemently against police brutality on the civilian populace and cannot keep mute when the security agencies are at the receiving end, because an injury to one; is an injury to all. Killing them and taking away their riffles is a dangerous pointer that something more monstrous is building up—a tornado is gradually gathering in the sky to strike soon. It reaffirmed the fears of concerned Nigerians that the country might have degenerated into a failed state where the state no longer has monopoly of violence.
If security personnel, armed and trained to police the country can no longer defend themselves, it is obvious that we are fastly progressing into a ticking time bomb and landmines. The nation is teetering on the brink of total collapse. Tell me how then will the police defend the unarmed civilians when they have become these vulnerable and weak. God forbid, if these daredevil “unknown gunmen” eventually turn against civilians, that will be the birth of another insurgency in Eastern Nigeria. We don’t need this now.
Governors of these zones should as a matter of urgency rise to the occasion and do the needful. There is fire on the mountain but no one seems to be running. These unknown gunmen need to be unmasked. It is a big shame that the security agencies doesn’t even have enough intelligence to protect its personnel let alone the civilians. President Buhari is fiddling while the ship of this country is gradually capsizing. A President that appears incapacitated to even help Katsina; his state, who shall we run to.
It is as if there is no government in place. I pray, may Nigeria survive till 2023. The omnibus signs are scary.
