Benue and Zamfara killings: The pains, the agony and the mystery, by Dahiru Hassan Kera

 

We live in a country where human blood could be seen as ordinary running water, heaps of death bodies could be seen as normal deposits. We live in a nation where leaders elected to safeguard the lives and property of their hapless citizens play dirty politics with such opportunities. Even in death Nigerians can play cheap politics to the disservice of bereaved and mourning families. Unfortunately, this is happening in a most advanced and civilized century that should be devoid of crudity and barbarism.
In Nigeria today, a death in one tribal and ethno-cycle could be seen as nonissue to others in spite of the momentousness and severity of the catastrophe and the integer behind the casualties. It further worsens the situation when deaths and disasters are reported by the media with brazen irrationality and prejudice instincts to simply serve one’s or regional interest. In fact, the culture of fairness and unbiasedness as encapsulated in the canons and practices of journalism is fading away and growing dimmer by the day, and the role and posture of journalists as promoters of peace, advocates of good governance, and voices of the voiceless is diminishing. However, we still have few that toe the line of professionalism amidst political interferences and do their job diligently.
It started from the killings in Benue state and reprisals that had consumed many innocent lives while the leaders are dancing on the victims’ graves, issuing further inciting comments and political gain statements with media providing them latitudes and availing platforms to perpetuate such. It’s unfortunate the herdsmen and farmers catchphrases are today created by selfless and unpatriotic politicians but promoted by the falling hook, line and sinker media organizations.
One can imagine the attention given to the Benue killings that had further steamed up the political atmosphere by the media and the little silence on the massacres in Zamfara, the conspiracy can easily be pick up here and motives are no longer hidden. You could see how apprehensive I could be with state police in the hands of our bloodsucking and desperate politicians who can go to any length to actualize their selfish dreams by bamboozling the despondent citizens.
It’s intriguing that a governor who could not pay workers’ salaries and other entitlements can comes out to tell Nigerians and his people that he’s defending their interest and lives while the only visible project he had to showcase was to brandish sizeable number wheelbarrows as achievements. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state should know that civilizations have advantageously brought so many avenues of empowerments than turning youths to be garage boys and hooligans. I vehemently opposed state police and security guard service in the hands of people like Governor Ortom.
In the spirit of national cohesion and unity, some governors and various delegations were in Benue state to console with the people of the state on the recent killings of over 200 lives. But in another state where killings and cleansing of local villages were happening at intervals there wasn’t much attention by both the leaders who had sworn to protect life and property and the media which is the watch dog of society.
Dr Nura Alkali, a public affairs commentator had revealed that in Zamfara state over 748 innocent people have been mercilessly killed at different times and locations from 2011 to the February 14 massacre where 40 villagers were attacked and killed by gunmen who later burned the vehicle conveying the victims. This could be normal to abnormal people. Since we’ve different idiosyncrasies we look at things in divergence. Beyond Boko Haram and the Benue killings that attracted international attention, Zamfara killings is another issue of concern and a national tragedy that should be given the required attention by government and other relevant agencies. The figures and the frequencies of the killings are quite alarming. And the conspiracy is worth investigating.
Sadly, the people of Zamfara state, particularly those living in neighbouring villages, are living in agony but the mystery is why government and security agencies kept mute on Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa’s allegation of conspiracy on the killings. This is weighty and should be investigated, especially from someone representing the affected people in the upper chamber.
That it took Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara state, who was in Abuja when the last incident happened, over 24 hours to visit his state, also calls for investigation. American President Donald Trump, who has very poor rating, visited Florida on the spur of the moment to console and share the sorrow on the 17 victims of the Parkland Shooting.
Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi state had to cut short his busy schedules in Abuja to visit Misau over the death of 23 students. He also went to Kano to visit the two only survivors of the accident who are receiving treatment at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. In contrast, Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara state was busy and gleefully taking pictures with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina state at a time we’re mourning the reckless and barbaric killings of 40 villagers in his state.
To Yari, Daura visit is more important than the killing of those innocent people. There is no better time to thoroughly investigate the allegation of the governor’s complicity on the killings than now; his halfhearted attitude on the tragedy is questionable while Marafa’s allegations are too weighty to disregard. A government that fails to protect its citizenry is a failed government and what is worth doing, is worth doing well and timely.

Kera is a communication strategist and public affairs commentator

 

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