Gists in Nigeria

Mikel Obi has been crying for a long time. His father was recently 'kidnapped'. The police say he's missing, not kidnapped. Afterall, nobody has heard from him or his kidnappers.
Just when we thought everything had returned to normal, Jos boiled again. There is danger again, and the people can't wait to leave that place. Haba! Is this how it would always be?
I don't know exactly what the government have done to beef up security, or did they relax, feeling everything was okay? Well, hardly surprising. Nigeria don't plan ahead of time. Hasty, last minute decisions, make them happy...no matter how ineffective they turn out to be.
I feel for Governor Jonah Jang, who by the way made his son a special adviser controversially. But in Nigeria, pity is just a mere word. Actions are required. What exactly is wrong with those wrecking havoc?
Before innocent people get hacked further, we urge the government to take action. And fast!
As president GEJ, ironically, says: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

The Nation Newspaper reported tha about eight people were killed in a recent bomb explosion in Maiduguri yesterday. I ask, how do we stop these people? What do we say to pacify them? What else do the security operatives need to do, as it now looks obvious this matter is beyond them. Do we just stay and pity governor Kassim Shettima and people of Borno State?
After the Norway attack last week, the mayor of Oslo said, “I don’t think security can solve problems. We need to teach greater respect.”
He cannot be farther from the truth, and nothing emphasizes the solution in the north, in my opinion, than the mayor's idea. We need to teach greater respect. It is time these people started learning how to respect people's lives...enough said.

What haven't the recent wanton bomb blasts done in this country? Nothing. Now, everything is going bad. People are running from the north, the press now have many things to write about, the country's image is in tatters, economic activities (in the north, at least) are in a near-standstill, politicians have seen a new means of scoring cheap points, nobody goes to a drinking joint anymore (for those who enjoy drinking), people even worship in churches (or mosques) with a foot outside.
If these are considered trivial, then suggestions that the recent visit of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to Lagos, and not Abuja, was for fear of insecurity in the capital, cannot be considered bleak.
President Jonathan's aide, Reuben Abati, denied it as expected. But I feel that's the reason.
That the nation's capital could be ignored in favour of Lagos, and the president flew all the way to meet him, because it was an already scheduled ''working visit'', cannot be denied as mere business visit.
In positive terms, that is a fantastic diplomatic move by Nigeria, because we can't defend a bomb attack on someone like Cameron.
This shows how bad things have gone. Nigeria is in a rotten state, and we need to have a change of heart, to clean it up.

We hear there's good news from Borno State, or anywhere Boko Haram find themselves. A group they call Yusufiyya Islamic Movement (or is it Movement of Islam) has been created (or has been around) and they are against the incessant release of bombs. Nice one. Therefore, the end of Boko Haram is at hand, isn't it? As a positive-minded Nigerian, I say thank goodness. As a realist, I ask 'how?'.
Also, with Ramadan almost upon us, I couldn't help wondering what they would do. Keep bombing on a holy period? Stop bombing and be defeated? Well, I hear they would stop. Okay then, that means the job of the military is over, isn't it? Or would they come back with the bombs once the holy period ends?
I just don't get it. I expect the military to strive harder and harder to stop these guys. They shouldn't depend on 'Yusufiyya' or 'Ramadan'.

As bombs continue to be released in Bauchi and Borno states especially, one cannot understand where the country is actually headed. About 41 people were killed in a clash between Boko Haram and JTF.
Even in Suleja, Niger State, last weekend, there was bomb blast in a church. Where is this country moving to?Destruction, seperation or what?
“We want to declare our stand that government would not be cajoled or intimidated by reactionary forces and agents of darkness; government will do everything to fish out the perpetrators,”, Niger state government said. This is not a new song. I have noticed that the more Boko Haram is chased about, the more they get dangerous. This is worrisome, really. These Northerners are yet to remember or know the great saying, “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man''

I had resisted the urge to talk about Mr Kolade Arowolo, the man who allegedly murdered his wife. First, because I do not know exactly what to make out of it and how to excuse such attitude. Second, I am bereaved and didn't want to write. However, I condemn the actions of Kolade in its entirety. No matter how bad things are, taking the life of anyone, let alone your wife, ranks up there among the worst of attitudes.
He recently revealed he was trying to defend himself, as his wife stabbed him. That could be true, but does that amount to retaliation? If he could stop Titilayo Oyakhire, his wife, from inflicting injuries on him, why go on to stab her? That is not an excuse at all. But I look at it from an angle.
An unemployed man, as Kolade is, is an unhappy man. And what could be worse than a lady being the breadwinner of a home? Make no mistakes, some ladies could annoy and insult husbands who don't have financial ingredients. We fail to consider that. That is not to say Titilayo was one of those ladies, but if you consider Kolade's attack claims and his friend's admission that he was "a gentleman who couldn't hurt a fly", then you need to look deeper.
Titilayo, on the other hand, was said to be cool-headed while another friend of Kolade said he used to beat up his girlfriends while in school. This makes things much more confusing. What is however not confusing is the fact Kolade has done a lot of bad by killing his wife. Were Titi related to me, only God knows what I would do to Kolade. He has to be punished.
But while women fight against domestic violence, they should also try let their ladies know how much it means to remain respectful to husbands, no matter the situation.

The Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, has to go. The reason is simple. He caused the recent suicide bombing in Abuja. As a matter of fact, he was the target.
Just when the federal government (who are tired of keeping quiet) and Borno state government (who are tired of being under pressure) were making headway with the Boko Haram, and were about placating those headless chickens, Ringim made a harmful error. He said the days of Boko Haram were numbered, and boasted how they would be dealt with. Two days later, Boko Haram struck. I think Ringim must have been their target.
But why must he make such threats when he and his troops had nothing to offer? Now, all FG and Borno state started, have been shattered by a limelight-seeking and popularity-loving man.
He should honourably resign. And if he doesn't, president GEJ must take actions. We need actions, not talks. Ringim has given us the latter.

At the last count, the recent Abuja suicide bombing claimed eight lives, and not two. This is worse than I actually thought. Also, about 70 people would be without cars.
I fear the death toll might rise. Also, I fear nothing would be done about it.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has promised to bring the perpetrators to book, has promised to do this, and promised to do that. We have heard all these before.
Suicide bombing should no more be associated with this great nation. President GEJ and indeed Nigerians have to make it so.

So, finally, Boko Haram (Education is a sin) made good their threats of wrecking more havoc in the northern parts of the country, including Abuja. This is horrible. Some people are even saying they targeted the police because IGP Hafiz Ringim 'boasted' that Boko Haram's days were numbered. From every indication, it was an empty threat. He even managed to escape being bombed.
Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, former Lagos State Governor said something I totally agree with. He said nowhere was safe any longer in the country, and wondered whether the Boko Haramwas on a revenge mission,

“Many questions are begging for answers. Could it be an act of sabotage or revenge? Some section of the police are not happy with the IGP’s pronouncement over the military killing of senior police officers in Lagos. Could it be Boko Haram on a revenge mission?”
Well, we do not know. What we do know is that the Boko Haram is on the prowl. We have to watch it.

Nigeria's security problem seems to be going alarmingly much more into deeper grounds. When the capital city of a nation is bombed every singular moment, then there is problem. The recent bomb blast on police headquarters in Abuja is as embarrassing as they come. Boko Haram, who must have shared half of my site, have been fingered as the culprits. It isn't surprising. They have been allowed to gain ground. Soon, who knows, their next target would be the Aso Rock. God forbid. This is no more Borno problem. It has become a national malaise. It has always been.
I can't believe this country would ever be associated with bombs. That is the situation now. And to demonstrate how terrorist this is fast turning into, it was alleged to be a suicide bombing. If a man could set himself ablaze just to prove a point, then we are in for more problems.
Let us pray in our churches and mosques. This problem must leave Nigeria. It has to.

Boko Haram, that terrorist Islamic group wrecking havoc in Borno State, are at it again. They have shot four people dead in a beer parlour!! Even beer parlour? Where people go to drink their stress away? I thought they were after the educated, and the government. Surely they would find no government official there, and educated people might be the last group they would find there.
Anyway, they have given conditions for cease-fire. And what did those clowns say? First, the governor of Borno State, Kassim Shettima would have to resign. Haha. For this Naija? Governor fit resign for dis place? Kai, we dey America so? They also said former governor Ali Modu Sheriff should be tried. Interesting! Then, twelve states in Nigeria, the muslim dominated areas, should be made Sharia States. That's one-third of the country, literally speaking!
Well, from these conditions, it's more than obvious those touts don't want to stop. Their conditions are almost impossible. In fact, they are outrightly impossible. This country doesn't belong to a set of comedians who don't want to go to school. It belongs to everybody. They want to go on killing their brothers, abi? Well, since the government seem powerless, let them go on. Posterity, that judge, would touch them one by one. Chikena. Me no get talk again!

When, during the post-election violence, corp members were butchered in Bauchi, the media frenzy that followed it sort of took the gloss (ok, that's the wrong word) off the carnage that manifested itself in Kafanchan, Kaduna State. I was also guilty of the same sin, astonishingly. When I read Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure's interview on The Sun's Sunday 12th June 2011 edition, I got the picture again.
As one who has stayed there for a while, and still with a family there anyway, Apostle Kure's every talk made sense (I remember having heard him preach live). Kafanchan dwellers always stay perpetually in fear of crisis each time there is a case of religious bickerings, be it in Nigeria or even Iraq. I remember vividly in January 2010, during one of the Jos mayhems, there were alleged plans by the muslims to start a fight. There was tension in the air. We slept at night like dogs - one eye closed, the other open. It wasn't funny. My uncle, a politician, whose friends were lodged in an hotel close to the muslim territory, couldn't sleep at all. He paced up and down, while his sons and I watched in painful resignation. Looking back, we'd all laugh at it, but it was never funny.
In Kafanchan, the muslims would start a fight, after hiding their wives and kids and taking the Christians unawares, and when the fight is over, they claim, as the minority in Kaf, that they attacked. They would gain media and public sympathy and the victims villified.
Let the government take strict measures. If you knew that town before, filled with the Igbos anyway, and see it now, you would weep - whoever you are!
I'm gutted, and that is the fact.

At least five people have been killed after police stations were attacked in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, hospital sources say. That was yesterday.
Please what on earth do we do to these Boko Haram people? Even people set to secure lives are not safe. What is wrong? What is the federal government doing?And the state? How many more people need to die before action is taken.
It's unbelievable. Why?

The Inspector General of Police made a revelation that made me shudder, even if I weren't surprised. According to The Nation, 520 lives were lost during the just concluded elections, in Bauchi and Kaduna States especially. The Sun Newspaper was even more alarming with Ringim's revelation. Although they said 514 civilians and policemen lost their lives, it was also revealed 75 people were injured, 165 churches burnt, 53 mosques torched, 444 vehicles destroyed and 1442 houses either burnt or destroyed! Unbelievable.
So, no matter how successful the election must have been considered, many lives were actually lost. I lost a close friend's elder brother in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, during the election. And many lives were also lost there and a lot rendered homeless.
Dwelling on who should or shouldn't be blamed is a case for another day, even if we have talked about it every time.
We urge the government to strive harder not to spare the culprit, when apprehended. The more the days go by, the more we get many irritating and sordid revelations. This is just unbelievable!

It was bombs galore all the way in the country, just after the inauguration of president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. There were bombs in Bauchi, bombs in Zaria, bombs in Zuba and more bombs, unsurprisingly, in Maidugari. Lots of people were either killed or badly injured. What is happening? Why all the bombs, and how would the country tackle this new demon?
"The matter is sensitive." a source from the presidency rattled. "we have reviewed the situation and we can no longer treat those behind these explosions with levity."
What? Are you kidding me? Were those animals treated in such manner before, while they killed scores? And do they (government) really know them (bomb experts)?
"The government has decided to take very strict, co-ordinated and concerted action against the perpetrators...the blast is a threat to national security.
We will be decisive and civil, but, unfortunately, when we take drastic steps, the media will be the first to criticise us."
Really? They don't need media criticism, even when they go astray? And they are sure to receive more criticisms. To nick this bomb saga in the bud, drastic, even if not civil, action needs to be taken. Okay, that seems wrong. But we're in desperate situation. The killings are getting out of hand, and the devils seem to do more, since the government either do not know how to or isn't ready to stop them. This is a problem, a big mountain for every Nigerian to climb. As Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika put it, and I couldn't agree less, "it is an act of terrorism, a challenge you must face.", these are not the best of times. But I'm confident. No Boko Haram, no terrorist would destroy this country. We pray.

''We are strongly against Nigerian constitution.We are also strongly against democracy being practiced in Nigeria.That is why we are fighting.It is irrational for us to accept the proposal of the new governor who was elected under the provision of the so-called constitution.As we have said repeatedly,what we want is strict adherence to the Islamic sharia which is the only vibrant option that would guarantee peace,justice and equity.We will continue fighting until we achieve a virile society.''- Abu Dardam,Boko Haram spokesperson

A few weeks ago,when I said governor-elect Kassim Shettima faced a next-to-impossible task to stop the heinous and barbaric activities of the Boko Haram,I did so tongue-in-cheek.But when he suggested amnesty for the hoodlums(''they are human beings and family members like us,with wives and children''), I realised I may have been right afterall.
First,I do not consider them human beings in any way.They are just devils.Anybody who takes delight in rendering people childless and turning children to orphans,is not fit to be called human at all.Recently,they were on a shoot-out,for hours,in Maidugari,killing and injuring many.
Again,when kidnapping was at its worst in Abia state,the government suggested amnesty.It failed to work,woefully.We all know how it was settled.
What are they fighting for?Against democracy?Against the constitution?And you grant them amnesty,huh?I think we're beginning to get this wrong.
On the part of Boko Haram('Western Education is a sin', kwo?), do they feel maiming and killing innocent people would satisfy their agitation?For one,they should know that he who throws a stone at the market square knows not who it would hit.
I may not know the enormity of their problem.I may not know what they are fighting for,covertly.But I know violence and killing has no justification.Or does it?