About a week ago, 43 rice farmers were brutally killed while harvesting their crops in Zabarmari, Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram. Since the killings, many Nigerians have continued to condemn the gruesome attack on the villagers, calling for the sack of the Service Chiefs for failing to protect lives and properties in the country. BARBARA NEGBEJIE samples the views of some Nigerians. Excerpts
‘Groteque and heartless’
In the first place, massacre of rice farmers was a gory thing that could have happened in the history of Nigeria. It was grotesque and heartless. I still find it difficult that, this bizarre act took place in our country, Nigeria. Nigeria has become hellish due to recent unprecedented happenings. The government should rise up to the occasion, and bring the perpetrators of this evil act to book. This is going to cause a massive shortage of supply of rice to our local markets. Really, it’s saddening. Come to think of it if the government was serious and from what was rumoured that the security agents were pulled out shortly before the attack, this brings to mind some kind of conspiracy theory going on we don’t understand. And if we are to go with the quote of late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha that says if terrorism last more than 24hrs then we have the hand of government in it, we ought to have ended the issue of Boko Haram long before now. Though the families of the slain farmers were compensated that will not bring back the dead and the pain will last for a very long time to come.
‘To confront it, start from the root cause’
The killing of 43 farmers by Boko Haram in Zabamari, Borno state is a wakeup call to us that the fight against insurgency is more of an ideological one than a rebellion. To effectively confront it we need to start from the root cause which is indoctrination. Members of the group have been brainwashed with false Islamic doctrines and ideas and there hasn’t been any counteractive ideology to it by the authorities and this has left a huge vacuum which has left the impression that the Nigerian government doesn’t care about them leaving Boko Haram as the only option.
‘Another indices of clueless government’
The massacre of the Borno rice farmers is another indices of our clueless government and security agencies. On daily basis we were told Boko Haram has been defeated and that no territory is occupied by this terrorist demonic group, yet daily we hear official and unofficial reckless killings by them. That Boko Haram continues to have upper hand against our military is an indication that our army is compromised and a clandestine manipulation of the Government to allow the group continue in the bloodshed. Tell me how big is Sambisa forest that the daily bombardment by our military has not been able to place Boko Haram in oblivion except their claims is another propaganda as promised during the campaign of the present government. Unfortunately there is surreptitious evidence that the government knows their sponsors, but are handicapped because they were also the government sponsors. The wicked politicians may appear hidden but with time they will be exposed as the blood of the innocent shed will cry for vengeance and the Lord in His wrath will not spare this evil people, their supporters, actors and sponsors. It is just a matter of time the truth must prevail.
‘Incessant killings order of the day’
The public has lost faith in the security apparatus of the Federal Government of Nigeria as the incessant killings have become the order of the day by Boko Haram, bandits and killer herdsmen with impunity. Their audacious attitude towards human lives calls for great concern. One question in the mind of every Nigerian is why a government which has failed in protecting the lives and properties of her citizens, has bluntly refused to change its methods, even when they are clearly not working. When a government constantly does the same thing or sustains the same unreliable security chiefs and expects different results, there is colossal damage to the confidence of members of the public, and a possible likeness that the lives of every citizen is in serious danger, which is why it is a great cause for alarm. The system should allow and guarantee a consistent platform where information can safely be divulged to expose the sinister killers lurking in these communities, so as to avert further attacks by the marauding monsters killing innocent citizens on a daily basis.
‘Governor Zulum said they are better off under Buhari
Babagana Zulu their Governor said they are better off under Buhari despite the killings. So Let’s leave them to their situation and fate. The people it affected said they are okay, therefore no consequences attached. More so, one of them said it’s justified since they did not take permission from security agents before going to their farms. I rest my case
•Maureen Chinwuba
‘Time to act’
The incident has thrown spotlight on the state of insecurity in the country which in turn could lead to food shortages around the country thereby increasing poverty. The time to act is now.
