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The enemy uses those things you are insecure about. Free yourself and take your power back by being secure in who you are - flaws and all (Yvonne Pierre)

New threats make no distinction between races, nations or regions. A new insecurity has entered every mind, regardless of wealth or status (Kofi Annan)

Continued from Part 3

he government hasn't and is not doing enough to guarantee security in Nigeria. Recently, the Northern State Covernors' Forum (NSGF) Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security recommended that the Federal Government should mandate security agencies to unmask individuals and groups using Boko Haram as a franchise to settle political and economic scores. This government can't claim ignorance of those behind the insecurity in the northern region, only that the will power to go after them is not there. We just read that the Northern Muslim leaders have blamed the insecurity occasioned by the Boko Haram Islamic sect on the inability of the Federal Government to prosecute people arrested or accused of perpetrating violence in the past. They said that such abdication of responsibility was one of the cardinal leadership problems that smacked of insensitivity in governance. These Muslim leaders are right here!

The sabotage from the politicians and the military commanders was recently highlighted. According to the Punch, Femi Falana (SAN) blamed the government for allowing things to get out hand before declaring the state of emergency. He, Falana, asked the government to "Stop shedding crocodile tears over insecurity". He asked the Federal Government to equip security personnel deployed in the fight against insecurity in the country rather than shedding crocodile tears for the victims of insecurity. Falana, in a statement, lamented the conditions of less-equipped policemen and soldiers, who were being deployed to fight terrorists that were armed with more sophisticated weapons. "It is inexcusable to deploy ill-trained, ill-equipped and ill-motivated soldiers and policemen to war zones, armed with only AK 47 rifles without bullet proofs, serviceable vehicles, communication gadgets to fight suicide bombers with more sophisticated weapons," he said. He noted that the security personnel were not being provided with life insurance and accommodation, adding that their salaries were not paid regularly and the families of those who lost their lives in battle were not usually informed officially. Falana said, "In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government should stop shedding crocodile tears having carelessly risked the lives of soldiers and policemen who are made to fight guerrilla war without any training. The Federal Government should take urgent measures to train and equip the security personnel deployed to the battle fields; purchase helicopters for aerial survey of the north east zone; upgrade medical facilities, including the provision of ambulances; fortify police stations and barracks as well as prisons and other detention facilities. More importantly, the Mobile Unit of the Nigeria Police Force should be re-trained and equipped to contain terrorism, kidnapping, insurrection and civil disturbances so as to limit the armed forces to the defence of territorial integrity of the nation."

The point here is that the forces would have scored major victory in the war against the insurgents, if not that some people, civilians and military personnel, sabotaged their efforts. One of the consequences of the sabotage going on here was that the Boko Haram's top boss, Shekau, narrowly escaped capture few weeks ago in Borno State when the military had him looped (read more using the link provided at the end of the article).

Sabotage has prolonged the war leading to more waste of human and material resources which should have been used for other important projects. Not to talk of the demoralizing effect of it on the forces, because, when they know that all the efforts and sacrifices they are making may come to naught, because, one or many of their own had given them and their mission away (betrayal), they tend to be unmotivated. Sabotage also stretches the military to the limit, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), concurred by saying yesterday, July 4, 2013, that "Currently, we are battling with insurgency and terrorism. This has raised the flag of security demands to levels higher than we have witnessed since the civil war. It has meant that the military are seeing more deployments in aid of civil authority than anticipated."

In addition to sabotage, ethnicity, religion and the ineptness of the political and military elites enhanced the failures Nigeria records on all fronts. The president reiterated this point recently. The Tribune (June 24, 2013)wrote that the swearing-in ceremony of members of the re-constituted Police Service Commission (PSC) in Abuja on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, provided ample opportunity for President Goodluck Jonathan to bare his mind on the performance of the police and the paramilitary agencies. Jonathan's verdict was that most of their top officers lacked competence because their elevation to their different positions was not based on merit. He attributed the situation in the various services to indiscipline and the subjugation of merit to other considerations in the promotion of their personnel to higher levels of responsibility. He underscored the essence of discipline and stressed that merit should be the basis for preferment. The president has demonstrated appreciable forthrightness by saying it the way he sees it. His view of these uniformed services is apparently in sync with the general perception of their performance and conduct. It is gratifying that President Jonathan has come out to express concern about the problem of indiscipline and the reign of mediocrity. The onus is on the government to take appropriate steps to bring about the desired change. The uniform is being frequently used as a licence to misbehave. It is often abused as an instrument of tyranny. Some see the uniform as an open sesame to easy money while some others believe that it confers on them the authority to brutalise others.

The military claims that it has made major progress against the insurgents, but, the question remains why is the sect still running amok against Nigeria, killing human beings and destroying property? The Punch of Monday July 1, 2013, wrote that operatives of the Joint Task Force have killed no fewer than 50 terror suspects in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government of Borno State. Also, three suspected terrorists, who were on their way to Jigawa State, were arrested at the Borno Express Motor Park on Saturday (June 29, 2013) by a volunteer youth group, Civilian JTF. Why is it that all these killings and arrests of Boko Haram sect members haven't made any positive impact in the war against the sect?

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika, candidly said few days ago that he has had sleepless nights since 2010 when he was appointed COAS because of activities of the Boko Haram sect. Still, he (Ihejirika) claimed that the military had made tremendous achievements in the battle against insurgency in the north, but admitted that a lot still had to be done as the battle against insurgency will continue to have occasional setbacks since it involves dealing with terrorists, who disguise as civilians, to ambush the military personnel and the mission. Previously, this writer didn't want to criticize the president, but, as it stands now, there's no way anybody can exonerate the President from the mess going on in the north. The president allowed others to deceive him, including those sympathetic to the sect's cause, into ordering the release of many of the arrested insurgents and their relatives, and these people go back to re-group and then cause more mayhem. Without the senseless release, may be, the war should have been winding down in favour of the Nigerian military. The mistakes of this president are predicated on the fact that he succumbs to pressure easily, and that's not the mark of a strong leader. For example, the United States with its double standard, is wavering when it comes to Nigeria. Obama refused to visit Nigeria, but, relates with worse regimes all over the world. America can engage Nigeria and from there influence certain things. One can't change somebody from afar, as Ndiigbo say that "you can't slap a person from afar", and that, "it's only when you get closer to someone that you can perceive his or her bad breath (halitosis or mouth odour)" America criticizes Nigerian military for human rights violations, but, America, in its wars all over the world, is the greatest violator of human rights. When Boko Haram was killing innocent Nigerians, where were the Americans? For the Americans, they have the exclusive right to perpetrate evil in wars and then subsume that in semantics by calling it "collateral damages". Americans should have been sensible enough to know that there's no war without collateral damages, and it's not the exclusive right of the Americans to commit that. Quoting Huhuonline: Following condemnation from the US State department and refusal of President Barack Obama to visit Nigeria over credible allegation of human rights violation in the war against terrorism, the federal government ordered the release of wives and relatives of suspected Boko Haram Operatives! Recall that John Kerry, US Secretary of States, had expressed deep concern over credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism. Huhuonline reader, Atiboloko, posted a comment later that "When you start listening to human rights advocates then be ready for a prolonged war. I hope we don't end up as US troops in Afghanistan".

Continuing on the blunder by the President in allowing others to deceive him; we read how President Jonathan ordered the release of Boko Haram members, who then returned and killed 7 students and 2 teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe State, few days ago. On June 13, 2013, based on a Presidential order, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State also released Hassana Yakubu, one of the wives of the wanted Boko Haram leader along with seven other wives of top commanders of the Boko Haram sect. Previously, JTF released six women and 14 children detained in Borno State. That might have been a wrong move, as those women should have been used as bargaining chips. Nobody knows if those women are also terrorists themselves, because, the insurgents can use women in their heinous acts, because, women can deceive the security officers and then unleash deadly assault on them or on others. If you think that those women are harmless, then read Vanguard of Monday July 1, 2013, where it was written how a youth vigilance group, popularly called "the Civilian JTF'', said it apprehended two women attempting to smuggle assault weapons into a market in Maiduguri on Sunday (June 30, 2013). The women concealed the weapons in their dresses, and were nabbed at the Bulabulin entrance gate of the market. Samuel Aruleba in London, UK, expressed his anger here in Punch when he wrote "To some people on the high horse, life means nothing when things are still going their way. Not until they lose a soul dear to their heart would they for once think and act congruently along the line of unmitigated logic. The Nigerian President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has been credited with the reported news by Newsdiaryonline.com that some suspected Boko Haram terrorists under the watchful eyes of prison guards in the country were given presidential pardon to go home in peace leaving those whose relatives were mercilessly bombed out of life, to wail and leak their wounds forever uncomforted. I don't mean to sound braggadocios of my previous public efforts in joining reasonable members of our society in condemning everything condemnable about lousy resolves coming out of the Aso Rock in recent times. Can one tell me that this regime is not a magnificent advert for the plague of misfortunes Nigeria has been contending with in the past few years? Recently, it was an army of treasury looters and corrupt brigades that was given presidential pardon for stealing more than enough to cater for their families and to the detriment of pensioners and job-seekers without due consideration to people's feelings. The decision to free the lucky members of the Boko Haram sect without a Court order will forever remain an unfortunate pronouncement by the President. However, the tragedy of a people lies in the failure to recognise and promptly reject a doctrine of insolence and insipid in politics. People say there's always a "next year." It is a phrase that disguises impotence and failure. The folly of this example became multiplied by the choruses that lauded its wisdom. By the way, Boko Haram means death, life terminator, property destroyer, enemy of the nation; yet, Jonathan's verdict is "no sufficient evidence" to punish them. Nigeria, we hail thee".

Read more:

https://www.ipaidabribenaija.com/news/item/25177-jtf-sabotage-shekau-narrowly-escapes-capture-in-borno

To be continued!

TIT BITS

Consequent upon the fact that we, human beings, are fallible, this writer didn't get everything right in the preceding part of this article (nobody is perfect). There were so many errors in a particular paragraph in that article that it will be irresponsible to overlook them. I noticed the errors after the publication. What I really meant was:

"Not long ago, this column wrote how the former Inspector General of Police, Ringim, who was sacked on January 25, 2012, relocated to the UK on fears that Islamic militants, Boko Haram, may kill him should he return to Nigeria. Ringim luckily escaped in the June 2011 bombing of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, by Boko Haram, a few days after he threatened in Maiduguri, Borno State, to crush the group. Ringim was a prime target in the bombing of the Force Headquarters, as his itinerary, for that day, was given away to the terrorists by one of his men. What happened was that when the two terrorists, who drove the Honda car laden with explosives meant to blow up the Force Headquarters and Ringim's convoy, arrived at the premises, they were accosted by a police man on guard, who questioned why they parked where no visitor was allowed to park. In order to evade arrest and avoid exposing their mission at that point in time, the two terrorists decided to detonate the explosives prematurely, few minutes before the arrival of Ringim's convoy. That was what saved the then IGP. Also, the sabotage from within led to the murder of Ringim's deputy in office, Retired DIG Abubakar Saleh Ningi, who was killed along with his police orderly and driver on June 5, 2012. They were shot dead by two gunmen on a motorcycle along Sauna Kawagi Road in Kano metropolis on their way from the retired police boss's farm. Of course, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the killings; the sect, in a statement on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Maiduguri, said that it was happy to have murdered the top retired police officer, and bragged that very soon all top government officials would be targeted the same way as they will have no hiding place. Also, sabotage led to the November 2012 murder of a civil war commander, General Mamman Shuwa, by the terrorists in Maiduguri, despite the fact that he was ringed, 24/7, by security personnel (for protection)".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z30EeVQLYwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEPdn8sUsmQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylqvLc8NBE0&list=PLC393C1B55205BCD6

THE THANX IS ALL YOURS!!!

Continued from Part 3