The dominant issue in the media today in Nigeria is the banditry taking place in Zamfara. This is what takes the centre stage in the conventional media. And it is what takes the center stage in the social media too.
Although the issue of banditry in Zamfara precedes the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari, he is today held squarely responsible for this menace that is eating deep into the peace of that rather quiet and simple state of the North Western Nigeria. The outcry is so loud that the President in a rare attitude of responding to dire criticisms, responded by describing himself as one of the unhappiest Presidents in the World.
But how did this sudden sweep in gout cry took the center stage in the media in the last few days? It all began with a story that the Zamfara bandits have killed over 50CJTF in Kauran Namoda local government area. When the story broke out, there were shouting and scary headlines such as “Bloodbath in Zamfara as bandits massacre 50 people”, etc.
Expectedly, there action of people was spontaneous and angry. It was not anger against the Chief Security Officer of the state, nor was it against the Security operatives, but against the President. Expectedly, one could not loose the glaring traces of deliberate manipulation of the scenario for political convenience and a glaring display of raw anger born out of consuming half baked information from the, probably, innocent social media activists.
Most of those who accuse the President said he was doing”nothing” to save that illfated state from the menace of banditry consuming the lives of their dear ones.
But was he not doing “anything”? Let us look at the recent episodes before the last. In November last year, the Security operatives, after intelligence report, attacked a hideout of the bandits and killed 104 of them.
Their hideout was completely destroyed.Moreover,on January 24th of this year, it was reported that the Military kilked 58 bandits and rescued 78 persons held for ransom. Closely,the same Military attacked a hide out of the bandits and killed 29 of them, captured 17 and rescued 89 persons.This was reported on the 29th of January, 2019.
On February, 18th, the Nigerian Security operatives clashed with a group of bandits and killed 37 of them but six Soldiers unfortunately, lost their lives.
Last month, precisely on the 13th, the Military succeeded in killing 55 bandits and rescued 760 persons from them.There are many other escapades of the Military and the Police apart from the ones enumerated here in the last few months.
But those who are unaware, are led to believe that the Zamfara people are left to their own fate. No doubt, the loss of human life is one of the worst calamity that can ever happen to any civilisation. My religion says that if one who kills an innocent human life is as if one has killed the whole of humanity. But then, we all know that there is what is called calamity; when it fallon men, they have to be sober, reflect, and turn to God, just as they determinedly fight the menace as it grows amidst them.
I was keen on why the story of the latest attacks imply blew the top of everyone especially in the social media without giving details as to who said it and how it happened. As I went in search of its details, I realised that it was not actually a banditry attack, but an uncoordinated attack on the bandits.
The story said a group of Civilian Joint Task Force gathered a group of Youth and took them into the bush to confront the bandits. And the bandits, unfortunately, killed the innocent youth in the bush. Before I am crucified here, I am guided by my religion which instructed me not to intentionally take myself to my death, but I can defend myself to death if I am attacked. The source that disclosed the information of the death toll, who is equally the Speaker of the Legislature in the affected State, Alhaji Sanusi Rijiki, said the victims violated the rule as they were not all owed to go into the bush and confront the victims but to support the Military in its operations against the bandits.
“We were told that the members of CJTF mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kauran Namoda LGA and confronted the bandits in the forest”, the Speaker was quoted as saying, and further said, “Confronting the bandits was not their duty. Their duty was to support the Security personnel to carry out operations not to lead operations”. It is not to blame the victims for their action here, which might have been born out of their frustration on how their society has become screwed up over time.
But then, anger does not win a war, patience, coordination and strategy does. May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace, amin.
Now, the recent change in strategy by the Security operatives which banned all mining operations in the state is very instructive. It has come at a time when both the Military and the Police have launched another phase of the war against the bandits, the operation “harbin kunama111” and the operation “puffudder” respectively.
At this point in time, neither out President, nor the Security operatives deserve our curses and detestation. What they require is our total support and ardent prayer to bring this menace to its very end in good time. #notanotherlifeagain!
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
