By Kemi Asemota
The gruesome murder of scores of labourers, both men and women, on a rice field in Koshebe Village near Maiduguri-Borno state has again brought home the security concern and the fact that death is becoming even cheaper in Africa’s most populous country-Nigeria.
Though, different figures were branded by the Nigeria government and the United Nations (UN) over the November 28, 2020 attack, what is obvious is that multiple labourers, who were simply out to fend for themselves and put food on the tables of their family, were killed in cold blood.
While the Federal Government said 43 people were slaughtered, the UN put the figure at 110, but were forced to issue another statement few days to the effect that “tens of civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded” in the “brutal” assault that was led by men on motorcycles.
Local vigilante said they recovered 43 bodies after the attack and more bodies still missing. One account reportedly said the attackers tied up the men and women harvesting crops and slit their throats.
In a statement, Edward Kallon, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, also cited “reports that several women may have been kidnapped” and called for their immediate release and return to safety. And it is very depressing to note that the restiveness and killings have come with another serious problem, that of poverty.
According to the World Bank and the United Nations World Food Programme, Nigeria’s unemployment and poverty levels are climbing daily. Coupled with the global pandemic, the unemployment rate was forecast to rise to 33.5% by 2021 , and more Nigerians will be unable to afford food.
In reality, abject poverty has become a common sight on the streets with more child beggars and social miscreants springing up in both rural and urban settings in the country.
The effect is catastrophic and it seemed PMB cannot see things the way ordinary people in Nigeria feel it. If farmers can no longer go to their farms, what will they eat and where will they get money to cater for basic necessities of life? The immediate effect is that more people will lose their job and income and more children and youth will be pushed to the streets- a breeding ground for terrorists, drug addicts and miscreants.
It means that Nigeria is losing its mind and soul and the long term effect is a country that cannot fend for itself and going deeper into the dark abyss of violence, terrorism, chaos, killing and destructions.
It is worrisome that President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and those in government are not seeing the potential time bomb and they keep ignoring the signs, even when the attacks are under their noses
On December 11, 2020, PMB’s home Katsina was the epicenter of the attack as over 300 school boys of Kankara were taken away by unknown bandits-whose manner of operation resembled that of Boko Haram.
It was reported that a gang of gunmen on motorcycles attacked the Government Science Secondary School, where more than 800 pupils reside, for more than an hour without security operatives anywhere on sight.
Even though the FG quickly effected the return of these boys after money exchanged hands, this incidence among many is a pointer to the fact that abductions of children, youths, men and women are going on unabated in different parts of country.
This government has indeed failed Nigerians and the honourable thing to do is for PMB to resign , though I sincerely doubt he would. The clamour for PMB’s resignation is getting louder. One can only hope that he resigns honorably.
