Last December, National Economic Council(NEC) approved the withdrawal $1 billion to procure military hardware to fight Boko Haram and other insurgencies and the decision was mired in controversy. Last Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of the funds, raising the same dust as the issue did last year. In this report, ABDULRAHEEM AOUDU, SANUSI MUHAMMAD and DANIEL AGBO highlight what led to the approval of the fund and the trending allegations and controversies.
From the Excess Crude Account(ECA) to fight insurgency as kidnappings, Boko Haram killings, genocide by unknown gun men have reached alarming proportions. Last Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of the fund for the procurement of military equipment to fight sundry security challenges. Minister of Defence, retired General Mansur Dan Ali made this known after meeting the president, together with Service Chiefs. According to him, the meeting also dwelled on issues around states with serious security challenges. As usual, the approval generated as much heat as it did when the matter was mooted in December.
APC wants to fund elections–PDP
In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) alleged that the money is meant for financing President Buhari’s interests in the coming All Progressives Congress’s(APC’s) national convention and the 2019 general election.
Specifically, the party had called on the National Assembly to commence appropriate actions against Buhari, bordering on gross misconduct, for unilaterally approving the release of the fund without its involvement.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said its investigation revealed that the presidency willfully sidestepped the National Assembly to avoid legislative scrutiny and accountability. By so doing, this will pave the way for the diversion of the fund for selfish partisan purposes.
In summary, Ologbondiyan alleged that the federal government was using the Economic Council to loot the treasury. According to him, ‘’it is a notorious fact that the presidency and the APC have been plotting to loot this $1bn from our heavily depleted Excess Crude Account since last year in the guise of fighting insurgency.
The spokesman pointed out that ‘’this is the same Buhari administration that has been bragging about technically defeating the insurgents. This is also an administration that is not known to have exhausted subsisting budgetary allocations for defence.’’ Ologbodiyan further said that “Nigerians are thoroughly disappointed that President Buhari, the same African Union ‘anti-corruption champion,’ who swore to be above board and to protect the constitution and our laws, has allowed himself to yield to temptation of resorting to ways which are totally at variance with the laws and democratic tenets.
According to PDP, ‘’democracy thrives on constitutional processes of separation of powers, due diligence and transparency, and not on totalitarian tendencies.” The President, as a leader, ought to have known that he is not above the law, the spokesman further said. He asked the National Assembly to look into the constitution and impose appropriate legislative instruments against the President, if he has breached any part of the 1999 Constitution.
Diverting money is PDP’s turf – APC
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has denied the PDP allegation of diverting the insurgency fund for election purposes. According to him, “there is no such plan. But it is easy for the PDP to make this wild allegation because they know that was how they got the money to fund their elections in 2015.’’ The APC spokesman said that diverting funds is what PDP is adept at doing.
Buhari’s aide defends the approval
Similarly, President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Ms Lauretta Onochie, said there was no illegality in the approval of $1 for the procurement of military equipment. According to her, the release was approved by the National Economic Council and the state Houses of Assembly.
The presidential aide pointed out that “NEC, made up of state governors, approved the $1bn given to the military to purchase arms. The state Houses of Assembly approved same. There is no illegality in the release of the fund to the military. “No one should play politics with the security of Nigerians.”
Focus on the soldiers, not just equipment—Senator Sani
Significantly, Senator Shehu Sani said that rather than purchase only military hardware, the fund should also take care soldiers’ welfare. Sani, in a Facebook post, also said the defence architecture of the country has become moribund and called for local production of equipment. According to him, ‘’a billion dollar to purchase arms will not make sense if we don’t factor in the welfare and wellbeing of the officers and soldiers fighting the war. A special fund for the injured, the orphans and widows of our fallen soldiers should be factored in. A weapon cannot fight a war without the men to use it. We also need to remind ourselves that our defence industry is moribund before we enrich arms manufacturers in other nations. Our being self sufficient should not be about rice alone.
Buratai asks for more funds
Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai justified the fund, saying it will boost the war against insurgency and other security challenges facing the country. He said the operational capability of the army presently depends on the “availability of requisite hardware, highly trained personnel and other essential resources.”
Speaking at the second Nigerian Army Procurement Seminar in Abuja last Thursday, the Army Chief said that there is an “acute need to strengthen the capacity of the army in meeting growing security challenges.”
According to General Buratai, “the security challenges facing our country manifest in the forms of terrorism, insurgency, separatist movements and banditry, among others.’’ He argued that the military’s capability will be improved in terms of the platforms that would be procured and in terms of the training that would be carried out. ‘’
Once this equipment is procured, it means further consolidating on other areas where there are challenges so that the troops will be able to use this equipment and operate very efficiently to be able to defeat all those criminals,’’ he promised.
President needs NASS approval – Hon Shawulu
However, in spite of the necessity of the fund, the Chairman of House Committee on Army, Hon Rima Shawulu, said the fund could not be released without the approval by the National Assembly.
Shawulu said the President does not have the sole power to approve money for arms procurement without the mandate of the legislature. According to him, ‘’there are processes for money coming into the federation account and for the money being used. And we must note that a lot of times, pronouncements are policy statements. It is not that when the announcement was made, the federation account was debited immediately.’’
Fund is necessary–Salisu
Significantly, a Kaduna-based public affairs commentator told Blueprint Weekend that the fund is necessary to confront the ogre of insurgency, in spite of the nation’s dwindling revenue. He pointed out that in the last three months, the north has been enmeshed with crises, from Benue to Plateau states, including Taraba and Zamfara states as well as the Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna state.
Right now, Special Forces have been deployed in several states but the killings have continued unabated. In the last two weeks, several lives have been lost to gunmen and Boko Haram. ‘’So, the president needs this quantum of money to buy the necessary military hardware,’’ he argued.
Zamfara killings
Last month, the notorious bandit, Tsoho Buhari, was been killed around March 9 but his death didn’t bring succor to the area. Tsoho, popularly known as Buharin Daji, had been terrorising Zamfara communities for several months but his deputy, Dogo Gide killed him
‘Buhari has to seek NASS approval’
However, on February 14, gunmen had turned Birane village, located 120 kilometres from Zurmi town, headquarters of Zurmi local government, into a killing field. A day earlier, some hunters had accosted a suspected rustler in the bush with cattle and sheep suspected to have been stolen.
The herder, the police said, abandoned the animals and fled and the hunters thought the matter had ended but unknown to the them, an orgy of blood letting would follow their action.
The suspect, according to reports, went to Isah local government area of neighboring Sokoto State, mobilized bandits and headed for Zurmi for an attack the next day.
Numbering about 600, the attackers came on 200 motorcycles, with three persons on each bike and all of them well-armed. According to the Emir, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the attackers were repelled by a 500 vigilantes and that was how Zurmi people were saved.
Unfortunately, the bandits turned their anger on travellers and other villagers on their way and Birani and other surrounding villages lost 41 people in cold blood. As at then, the police have arrested three principal suspects in connection with the killings and their names are Halilu Garba, (aka Mabushi); Zubairu Marafa, (aka Wakili); and Nafiu Badamasi. According to Jimoh Moshood, the Police spokesman, further investigation is ongoing.
On March 30, a woman and her child and over 30 persons lost their lives in Bawan Daji village of Anka local government area, following an attack on the village by armed bandits. According to members of the community, the bandits had earlier warned that no farming activities is going to take place in the village when the rainy season arrives. The bandits, according to reports, attacked the village when some members of the community gathered to proffer solution to the threat.
Liman Umar told journalists that the bandits had been attacking the people without let or hindrance. The Emir of Anka, Attahiru Ahmad, regretted the attack, saying the security situation in the area is inadequate.
Last Thursday, the Nigerian Army killed 21 armed bandits and recovered weapons in Tunga Daji, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara state.
However, the operation claimed the lives of two soldiers. In a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwu, said troops of 232 Battalion Zuru, encountered the armed bandits and ”neutralised 21 of them while on clearance patrol. According to him, many bandits also escaped with gunshot wounds and that ‘’the remains of the officer and soldier has been evacuated to Federal Medical Center Gusau,”
Birnin Gwari: Living in fear
For the people of Birnin Gwari and neighboring towns, the incessant attacks by bandits and armed gangs have become almost a way of life. Last February, six persons lost their lives in an attack by suspected militia at Gayam ward of Kaguru village in a midnight attack .
A resident said that the assailants stormed thevillage and started shooting into the air and at persons who came out of their houses. Afterwards, the gun men went round and released all the cows and led them into the bush. Thereafter, they set many houses ablaze and at the end of the raid, six lives were lost. In the morning, security personnel, including the police, army and other vigilante groups went to ascertain the extent of damage.
On March 22, a few days after his death, bandits loyal to Buharin Daji descended on a military post at Doka, a settlement between Funtua and Birnin Gwari towns, killing 11 soldiers in what seems like a reprisal . Earlier, the bandits had attacked Maganda District, injuring nine members of security volunteer group. Afterwards, the marauders moved toward Kampanin Doka at the junction road leading to Gwaska and Dansadau before re-launching another attack that lead to the death of the soldiers.
According to reports, a leader of security volunteer groups had notified Kaduna State government of strange movements in the Birnin Gwari, through Funtua-Dansadau axis, but no action was taken.
Similarly, a new bride and 10 others were abducted at gun point by bandits around Birnin Gwari, about 8pm on April 1. The bride, after the wedding, was being conveyed to her husband’s house by her friends and relatives when gunmen stopped the vehicle and took them away, throwing the town in confusion.
According to a former chairman of the local government, the gunmen ‘’ simply stopped a bus that was conveying the bride to her husband’s house with her relatives and friends, numbering about 10. The incident took place about 55 kilometres from Birnin Gwari main town.’’ He reiterated that “the Funtua road is now a danger zone because at any point, they (bandits) can strike. They operate with impunity along that highway because it’s bordering Birnin Gwari and Katsina.
Similarly, two young men riding a motorcycle were also abducted along Uduwa community and they demanded a N3 million ransom.
In September 2017, gunmen had abducted Assistant Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Adeniyi and three of his family members. Adeniyi, who was Officer-in-Charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Zamfara State Police Command, was going back to his base from Kaduna when the incident occurred. According to reports, gun-trotting men had flagged down their Toyota Hilux and afterwards, the victims were whisked away in another vehicle.
Apart from the ACP and his family, another police officer and three others were abducted the same day along that road.
A harvest of deaths in Benue
Significantly, unknown gunmen struck around 10 am, when the people of Logo local government were preparing to go to celebrate, killing people indiscriminately at Ayilamo, Turan and Gambe-tiev villages on New day. The gunmen, according to reports, killed, maimed and burnt houses without let till 3am on Tuesday. Thereafter, they moved to Guma local government areas, Governor Ortom’s council of origin, and unleashed death on Tomatar, Ako and Umenger residents on Tuesday. The gunmen, within 24 hours, had left more than 50 people dead, several burnt houses and many injured victims in the two local governments.
Narrating the incident, Mr Terver Verlumun who survived the attack at Ako, has described the gunmen as beasts. According to him, ‘’they came and attacked our village, they would enter a particular compound, kick the door open, capture the people inside and slaughter them, they spared nobody, they kill even children and the elderly.’’
In addition, he told Blueprint Weekend that he escaped with his family ‘’because I was awake and when I started hearing screams, I quickly packed them on my motorcycle and took them to a safe place. ‘’ As at last Thursday, Ako has been deserted as the people have either been killed or they had fled to safety, Verlumun told our correspondent.
Last Thursday, Members of the House of Representatives from Benue State had raised the alarm over fresh killings in the state. The lawmakers, who spoke at the National Assembly in Abuja, demanded full military presence in Benue communities as against ad hoc operations like the current Operation Cat Race. The law makers said that 24 persons have been killed between April 2 and 4, in renewed attacks.
Significantly, the four members, including Mr. Dickson Takighir; Mr. Mark Terseer-Gbillah; Mr. Samuel Udende; and Mr. John Dyegh, who spoke on behalf of the Benue Caucus, alleged that some of the killings took place and security agents looked the other way. Hon Takighir, while giving the details of the killings, said the ‘’ attacks have occurred in Ikyon and Agasha on April 3 and April 4; in Semaka, Asom, Babanruwa on April 3 and in Udei and Umenger on April 2.’’ According to him, the killers ‘’are right now stationed at Nzorov council ward, ready to attack Gbajimba in the Guma local government.
There are others in Nasarawa, ready to attack Udei and Daudu with over 14 people killed in the last four days.’’
Last Thursday, the gunmen struck at night and yesterday, the Benue Police Command says it has recovered 10 corpses in Tse-Audu and Enger villages in Gwer West local government Area of the state.
In a statement issued in Makurdi, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu said the bodies were found by the mobile police contingent deployed to Naka, the headquarters of the local government council. However, the police spokesman had assured residents of their safety as a detachment of counter insurgency team had been deployed to the area.
Terrible deaths in Taraba
On March 5, about 20 persons were killed and 300 cows stolen, following a fresh outbreak of ethnic violence on the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State. A fleeing resident, Saadu Mogoggo, who said his house was attacked at Leme suburb of Gembu, said two of his brothers were killed and their cattle rustled by a group he identified as the Mambilla Militia.
According to him, ‘’the ethnic militias attacked our residence in Leme, where they killed our father last month. During this attack, the Mambillas took away over 100 cows. My two younger brothers reported the matter to a nearby military base and a soldier was attached as escort to retrieve the stolen cows. Unfortunately, in the process, my younger brothers were both killed while the soldier fled with injury.”
Abdu Gagarau, another resident of the area, said that the burning and killing of herdsmen continued unabated. “Since last Thursday they have been attacking our settlements and over 20 people killed. Some were buried and over 300 cattle stolen by the militias. “The Mambila ethnic group is known for attacking other tribes. They attacked the Panso in 1982, the Fulani in 2002 and in 2017. When eventually we retaliate, the normal shouts of herdsmen will start. Let government be proactive and come to our rescue.”
Governor Darius Ishaku, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Emmanuel Bello, called for an end to the violence. “Anyone who takes any life, irrespective of religion or tribe, is a criminal; whether it is on the summits of Mambilla or the plains of Southern Taraba and anywhere in this state. And we shall deal with them as criminals. We are committed to an amicable resolution of the crisis in the state and peaceful co-existence of all ethnic nationalities.’’ Significantly, the governor had attributed crisis to “disagreement between two ethnic groups.” Police spokesperson David Misal said that that four people were confirmed killed from both sides of the ethnic groups.
Given the high toll of lives and property that the activities of gun men, kidnappers and Boko Haram insurgents have cost Nigeria, $1 billion is not too much a price to pay for peace, provided it is not diverted.
