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Four Kilometres from Maiduguri

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By Joseph Rotimi

In the past 48 hours the people of Dalori and Walori villages, about four kilometres from Maiduguri have borne the fury of a supposedly ‘technically’ defeated group called Boko Haram or ISIL in Nigeria. The context has become all too familiar and the result predictable. First, there is a ‘surprise’ but well coordinated and flagrant attack by the hired terrorists. The terrorists follow their invasion with bloodcurdling atrocities on citizens of the Nigerian state for hours on end, sometimes wiping out entire settlements. And just as suddenly as they appeared, the mercenaries simply melt away into the dark recesses of a failed state and our collective consciousness. At this time, it would be disingenuous to confuse these mercenaries with the Mohammed Yusuf group because things have moved beyond that. Survivors are left to pick up the pieces of their lives by a state and federal government adept at mouthing platitudes after failing its citizens.

Predictably, Buhari was quoted as saying; “I urge all citizens wherever they live to own the war against terror and to be part of the fight because it is the only way we can finish the remaining work that needs to be done to make our country safe again,” All citizens? How do we own the war? No sir, you swore to end the war and no one is going to own it for you! PMB goes on further in reference to the terrorists by saying; “Having lost the war, they are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society. They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc [Really?]. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets.” Please Mr. President, where did you banish them to in the first place and who lost the war? Killing more than a hundred people and destroying an entire settlement near the heart of your so-called command center in a well-coordinated invasion does not sound like you won the war sir. As for embarrassment, the government has already done much of that to itself.

If I remember correctly, Borno State is supposed to be under a state of emergency [don’t know if it has been lifted] and the current federal government moved the command center for fighting the terrorists to Maiduguri. This means that Maiduguri and environs should have strategic military outposts with topnotch security gathering and timely utilization propensities. That all these military outposts and intelligence units failed to stop an attack so close to the state capital is simply unconscionable and to allow it go on for hours was criminal. This is because the attack was not just by suicide bombers but a convoy of trucks, motorcycles, and according to some reports, light armoured tanks. Quoting Saharareporters: “…The militants who operated unchallenged were said to have stormed the town in 10 Hilux vans and motorcycles dressed in army uniforms as they took their time to raze down houses in Dalori village also livestock were burnt after they had looted and carted away foodstuffs. Several civilians were burnt beyond recognition.”

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I wrote elsewhere that the so-called Boko Haram insurgency is an inside job with a lot of outside help and coordination. Fighting the insurgency would ultimately not depend on how powerful our military and intelligence units are, but how intelligent and patriotic they are. Unfortunately, there appears to be a conspiracy to turn Nigeria into a theatre of war by unidentified entities (whose aim remains obscure), located both within and outside the country. Former President Jonathan once said that members of Boko Haram occupy some of the highest levels of leadership in the country, but for some reason he did not expose them – he was scared of something. The present government of PMB has been acting as if Boko Haram was essentially defeated and has not acknowledged the possibility of quislings within the military and political class.

Some simple questions need to be asked; a) where did the convoy of terrorists originate from, b) how did they pass through checkpoints along the way to get to within four kilometres of the seat of power, c) why were they allowed to operate for hours? The military is giving us casualty figures and the fact that there was ‘heavy fighting’, but precisely what happened during the exchange would remain obscure until another attack. In other climes, something of this magnitude demands an hourly press conference to tell Nigerians what is going on.

It is obvious that the average Nigerian owes the government nothing, since he or she is guaranteed nothing by the state – not even the right to be born. There is no guarantee of getting a good education, job, healthcare, safety or infrastructural amenities. For seven years, Nigerians have borne dehumanizing attacks at the hands of foreign mercenaries and internal collaborators. The people are the first to bear the brunt of economic, social and physical terrorism but the last to enjoy the fruits of their labour – yet, we are told to ‘own’ a war we did not start.

The security agents are no different from the disillusioned Nigerian that is ready to brave the Mediterranean Sea waves to escape a living hell. With reports of mutinies, substandard or lack of equipment, sheer lack of professionalism and patriotism in the army, it is only a matter of time before the Nigerian state comes to terms with the real aims of Boko Haram – whatever the hidden puppeteers determine such aims to be.

But for the people of Dalori and Walori it does not matter, heaven and hell are the same. For other Nigerians, the battle against Boko Haram is still on and everyone is a target.

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