* Hapless Opposition Politicians Trifle with National Security Decisions
Twenty three persons were yesterday killed in a village in Zamfara State by people suspected to be Hausa/Fulani cattle herdsmen. The killing took place in Lingyado village yesterday and was said to have been carried out by about 150 gunmen, bearing assault rifles Lingyado is a village of Hausa-Fulani settlers. Survivors said the attackers staged a doorto- door brutal attack, posing as visitors before shooting and stabbing the victims. According to the police, about 150 attackers surrounded the village and roamed between its compounds, shooting residents who came out to greet them. An elderly villager, Husaini Dansadau, explained that survivors of the attack were mostly those who could flee into nearby cornfields when the shooting began. Another elderly villager, Ahmad Tsauri Lingyado, who corroborated the story, alleged that some of the gunmen threatened to rape any of the women they found.
The attackers were said to have used Kalashnikov rifles and machetes in the attack and were said to have stolen money and valuables from their victims before fleeing into the darkness. Zamfara State police spokesman, Mr. Sunusi Amiru, confirmed that at least 23 people died in the assault. Seven others were wounded, including women and children. Amiru said the police were now guarding the village.
A detachment of soldiers from Gusau, the state capital, took over the town yesterday, but occasional gunshots could still be heard by residents of the area. Some residents told journalists that it appeared the attack was a reprisal for another village attack in August. Meanwhile, two former governors, Alhaji Balarabe Musa of Kaduna State and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of Edo State, yesterday carpeted the Federal Government over the shifting of the country’s 51st independence anniversary celebration from its usual Eagle Square venue to the Presidential Villa at Aso Rock.
They said it was an indication that President Jonathan Goodluck had totally lost control of Nigeria’s security situation. Musa and Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke yesterday with National Mirror, noted that shifting the venue of the celebration amounted to conceding victory to Boko Haram and Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) insurgencies. Musa added the government could only hide but could not run away from the fact that the last- minute decision was out of the fear of the Boko Haram sect and the MEND.
He said: “The move is not just a sign of surrender of the country’s sovereignty to some groups, but it smacks of betrayal of the Nigerian nation.” He also criticised the Jonathan’s Independence Day broadcast and his recent admission that the institutional and governance framework of the country had collapsed, saying the President only lamented Nigeria’s problems but failed to explain the steps he would take to steer the ship of state. He said: “Consequently, Nigerians do not even know where and how to come in and contribute their quota,” said the former governor.
“The President said everything about the state of the nation but what we need to know is what he can do so that we Nigerians can also decide on what we can do to help. “He said government has failed. That shows the weakness of the government. That shows what we have always said that the state of the nation is negative. “That also means that the government is not in control of the security situation.
Imagine, they could not commemorate the anniversary at Eagle Square and even when it held, it was behind closed-doors and with heavy security. So, there is no question of linking up with the people over the matter. The whole thing was restricted to government officials. This is another display of weakness. “You also know that when the President made his 51st anniversary speech in a closed-door, he was unable to link the speech with what he said about the collapse of government institutions. Now, since the President said government institutions have collapsed and he was making a historical speech, he ought to mention that fundamental aspect which he did three days before then.
“It means the issue of insecurity, particularly as it relates to MEND and Boko Haram who already made promises about what they could do if the anniversary was celebrated; it means that they scared the president.” Musa also took a swipe at President Jonathan for failing to resolve the issue of insecurity up till now, saying the President had the opportunity of exploring either the military or diplomatic option in resolving the situation.
“The President had two options but he could not undertake either. The first option was to go militarily and pursue them and the other option was to dialogue with them. He dialogued with MEND but he could not dialogue with Boko Haram and a section of MEND. “He could not do any of the two, instead he surrendered by not holding the anniversary in a public place and mark it with the Nigerian people,” Musa added. Odigie-Oyegun said: “Well, it is very, very sad that the anniversary venue has to be shifted. What it means is that we have conceded victory to Boko Haram insurgency.
This is because it is because of them that the venue was shifted. We have admitted that we cannot organize security to protect national event. “I am totally sad. I felt it so much. You are a newsman. You must have heard that the usual National Youth Service passing out parade too has been cancelled nationwide. All because of this security challenge. This is one of the saddest things that has happened in this country.
“I had thought that whatever the cost, we should have been able to do our national day. I mean the monetary cost should not be a barrier. It is a sad capitulation.. It is very sad. I don’t know how we are going to recover. They have succeeded in disrupting our national life. it is so sad,” he said. Meanwhile, members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect has restated their determination to continue to unleash terror on government and its security forces, should the federal government refused to meet their earlier demands. Spokesman of the group, Abu Qaqa made this known in an email messages sent to newsmen, and copied to our correspondent in Hausa Language on Sunday evening.
Qaqa said that the group is not satisfied with the members of the Gaji Galtimari led committee on possible negotiation with the federal government, adding that they were even surprised for the committee to tell the world that they have had meeting with the sect during the cause of their investigation, insisting that no committee ever sat with the group. Qaqa also maintained that, the country would not have peace unless 100 percent strict Sharia law is implemented as enshrined in the holy Quran, as well as immediate release of all their members who were detained and in the custody of security agencies for no just cause.
He further stressed that, those who are agitating for government to involve the Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Bauchi or a renowned Islamic cleric in Kebbi State, Sheikh Abubakar Giro are doing so at their own peril, as according to the group, all these people have no respect from the sect members, not to even said, they would mediate for them.