By Bishop Chinedu Nwoye
Today (yesterday, August 9, 2021) many states in the south east observed a sit at home order. Prior to the call for a sit at home by IPOB to protest the detention of their leader, many Nigerians wonder why the federal government put great effort on extradition of MNK and determined to do same to Sunday Igboho but have no intelligence on how to hunt down the sponsors of killer squad of FULANI herdsmen and the so called foreign FULANI bandits. If indeed they are foreigners, why is the govt negotiating with them instead of deporting them?
It is on record that between January and June 2021, data of successful kidnap operation show 2400 victims with a total ransom demand of N1billion. This record is for the mass abductions and high profile kidnaps. It does not include the daily small change of usual below N2million that families pay as gate fees for their loved ones to escape hell camps setup by different kidnap groups all over the nation.
The record of killings, maiming, on our federal highways or the destruction by bandits and herders is alarming. Lately, young graduates going to NYSC camp were beheaded. With the rising spate of violence against innocent Nigerians while the federal govt seem silent or slow in tackling the menace, one must ask,
Do we need A regional sit at home or a national stand up against insecurity? When will Nigerians stand up against these nefarious criminals and take their country back from these foreign bandits?
It is a hard truth to say that the children who are victims of mass abductions may not recover from post traumatic disorder even in old age. They may have irrational fear of strangers, lonely places, darkness, even traveling or being stopped by fierce looking men in uniforms. It will be ugly episodes of traumatic recall leading to panic attacks. They need genuine help. What about those little children that were raped? What if they are now infected with HIV just for seeking girl education?
The truth remains unspoken. These people are not bandits kidnapping for money, they are under cover members of Islamic State of West Africa Province on a mission to raise money to buy more amunitions thru kidnapping, also induce many youths into crime as a lucrative business or express anger against irresponsible, insensitive leadership to rising hunger and youth hopelessness.
EndSARS protest will be child’s play to compare to anger in the hearts of Nigerian families who are forced to pay ransom for their children in the midst of rising poverty
Aba women riot was a protest against exploitation. Those who are more interested in 2023 may face the anger of women who will set ablaze govt institutions to protest attack on their under age girls
That day is not far. They will see mother hen attacking cobra to protect her chicks.
Pray for Nig against national unrest.
