In the last couple of days, there has been a national outcry over insecurity in our land. Surely when it was reported that hooded men pounced on a major road and shoot at commuters then it is something to worry about. Worry is one of the things that human beings are accustomed to, no matter how old or young. Consequently, when news filtered out about the death of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, eldest daughter of Pa Reuben Fasoranti last week, all manner of interpretations were given to the dastardly act. From the nonsensical to the divisive, interpretations were given. Politically exposed persons till now have continued to prey on the violent death of the 58-year-old to advance whatever economic or political advantage to their claims, even if not pronounced.
This has been a permanent feature in Nigeria’s turbulent history. Every crisis is used as an opportunity for political advantage. The same way it is for economic advancement for some. People find a way to talk up the issue as if the country will collapse. They pinch and punch holes on the country, threatening fire and brimstone for nothing other than trying to find advantage over the grave of people they don’t really love. Today, the cries around is that herdsmen want to take over peoples land in an attempt to foist a Fulani hegemony. This line of thought is popular in southern Nigeria for reasons of political advantage. It is disheartening when otherwise older people or even the academic sell this type of narrative to young people or those not sufficiently experienced and educated to understand the dynamics of modern state structure and in particular Nigeria.
There are cries of herdsmen now being the sole harbinger of criminality in Nigeria. This is false and it is unfair for the media to lend itself to this looming tragedy. There is no gain worth its name that will promote such nonsense. In the same vein it is simply irresponsible for the media, the mainstream media to continue to ascribe criminal activities to “Fulani” herdsmen when in fact other Nigerian tribes or ethnic groups are no less in criminality as compared to their Fulani counterparts. There appears a well ordered and funded campaign against the Fulani in Nigeria. You can see it in several whatsapp messages, facebook and twitter posts that try to criminalize a whole ethnic group. We are unwittingly promoting hatred against a people in their own country. it appears to be acceptable in many places including the media. One thing is certain, that is not the way to stem insecurity. In fact it will exacerbate it.
Also highlighting insecurity on the basis of who committed it or where it was committed is horrendous. There is no win by doing so. Between the road leading out of Port Harcourt to Yenegoa (a stretch of the popular East/West road) kidnapping occurs on a daily basis. Today, less and less buses ply that stretch of road because of criminal activities going on there. This week, former footballer and national team coach Samson Siasia’s mother was kidnapped. No outrage. The former President Goodluck Jonathan left the same Bayelsa that both the older Siasia lives and the former president to visit Fasonranti in AKure, Ondo State to commiserate with him over the gruesome murder of his daughter. Not a bad visit, but is it not because of the political relevance of the old man? Is it not obvious that we cry depending on who is involved? Neither the media nor the people have complained about the paddy-paddy kidnapping and other crimes that continue unabated. Yet people living in those parts of the country make more noise about herdsmen or killing in Ore.
While we expect the government to continue to find solutions to the killings in the country we should not lose sight of the triggers. The confusion and sense of insecurity that political operators are bent on foisting on the populace it is for a purpose! Yet government must be decisive. By now each police zonal offices should have a patrol helicopter. Police should also have single rotto drones to help out for reconnaissance; there should be toll gates back on our major roads. Police and DSS must triple their work and patriotism. Most of these officers are more interested in the bribe than the work they were employed to do. There are still no cameras on our roads. We still have a lot to do beyond fire-fighting and drafting the Army.
