Another View on The Southerner
Nigeria’s Army Chief told Nigerians few weeks ago, he was relocating to Benue state to take charge of the security situation, dismantle the terrorists and stop the unwarranted and brutal killings of hundreds of lives.
Nigerians hieved a sigh of relief. We expected a complete disappearance of these ‘boys’ from the streets of Benue because of the presence of Army’s highest command. We looked forward to a peaceful and bubbling state again.
But alas, we were wrong. It is either the Army Chief did not relocate or he was chased out by the terrorists. How could the Army highest command be in Benue and there was the kind of horrendous killings that occured Friday night and early hours of Saturday morning in some parts of the state?
Clearly the Army Chief has questions to answer. He should explain whether he did or did not relocate. If he did not relocate, why? If he was in Benue, what happened?
Is there some kind of sabotage somewhere? Is there a deliberate attempt to wipe out the indigenes of Benue? Did the security agencies possibly looked the other way, while the genocide took place?
Questions are coming from all angles. What is actually going on? Why can’t our military take these murderers out? Why is our President so mute on the ugly developments in Benue and Plateau states for months now? Must we play politics with even human lives?
The blood on the streets of Benue is overflowing. The blood of innocent children, unborn children, women, pregnant mothers, grandmas and grandpas. The blood on the streets of Benue has become dreadful, and crazy.
Mr. President does not need the international community to remind him to rise and do something. He is the Father of the country, his conscience should prick him to rise and quench the raging inferno.
The killings are getting out of hand. The reports are ugly and distasteful. So far, the response from the seat of Nigeria’s power, the Presidential Villa, is sickening and discouraging. Where is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Where is President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio? Where is the Speaker of the House of Representativess, Tajudeen Abass?
Where is the President’s party, the APC national officers in all these? There’s no comment from the national headquarters of the party on the killings? Is it that, the lives of Nigerians don’t matter as long as they are in power?
It is diplomatically wise to commiserate with India over their loss but it is more fatherly to be responsive to your people at home at this pressing moment.
That, our President comfortably had a meaningless political meeting with some politicians at the Villa on Saturday, few hours after the gruesome murder of hundreds of his citizens in a state in the country is the height of insensitivity. Very appalling.
While blood and smoke of burnt human lives were in all nooks and crannies of Yelwata community. When people were wailing at the death of their family members, the father of the country was busy discussing political permutations.
Mr. President can deal with this insecurity once and for all, if he decides. He has to reclaim the country from these vandals causing us this grievous pain. First, Mr President should suspend politics and concentrate on governance.
Let the truth be told, Mr. President seems more concerned about 2027 elections than the country’s insecurity and battered economy. Very sad indeed!
The meeting at the Villa on Saturday could have been put off immediately while Mr. President or a powerful delegation rushed to Benue to condole with the people and do on the spot assessment of the situation.
There and then he could have declared a state of emergency without obstructing the democratically elected leadership in the state.
Mr. President would have gone into an emergency meeting with the leaders, elders and security chiefs on the way forward and restoring normalcy in Benue state.
There’s nothing so difficult in resolving this insecurity wahala at the moment. Mr. President just needs to stamp his feet down. It is very possible. It is achievable.
In all these, where is the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu? Where is he? It appears he is not in control? He seems overwhelmed in this instance. Obviously, because, this is not an economic and financial crime, for which he gained reputation at tackling effectively.
Where is the Director of State Service, aDSS? The criminal elements who caused the havoc on Friday night didn’t just wake up and went into Yelwata community. They planned their action for weeks or more. Evidently, the DSS is not on a familiar terrain.
President Tinubu’s complaint of his security chiefs sidelining his earlier directives is neither here nor there. Ignoring an order from a Commander in Chief is a serious offence and the President should not gloss over it. Such erring Security Chiefs should be sanctioned with immediate effect.
Tinubu as the Commander-in-Chief should be conscious of the powers he wields. In the military, orders must be obeyed and obeyed fully by officers and men. He should not allow such belligerent disobedience to just go.
Let President Tinubu know that since his assuming office two years ago, hundreds of Nigerians have been killed, maimed, displaced and their homes burnt.
We recall that Tinubu was up in arms against former President Goodluck Jonathan over the state of insecurity then, which was a far cry from the situation now. So, why has the President suddenly grown cold, weak and cowardly?
Mr. President must realize that he needs Nigeria to be president. If there is no Nigeria there will be no place to govern as president.
President Tinubu has to wake up. He should give firm instructions to the Security Chiefs to go after the sponsors and killers of the brutal Benue killings.
The killers must not be allowed to go free.These gruesome killings can’t continue. And, no part of Nigeria should be allowed to be a killing field. May God help Nigeria!
(Published by The Southerner on Saturday, June 21, 2025)
