IMPLICATIONS ON THE POLITY
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) has observed with grave concern the current state of insecurity in the country. We are worried that this dangerous trend is gradually assuming a new dimension with the spate of bombings in some parts of the country including the Nation’s capital. We therefore call for urgent increased intervention by the government and relevant stakeholders.
Our society has become a hotbed of violent crimes committed, not only against the State, but also on Nigerians. These have come in the form assassinations, kidnappings, armed robbery and arson. Prior to the recent bombings, the Nation has been subjected to a spate of violence in the form of ethnic and religious conflicts in some parts of the North Eastern and North Central axis of the country, a burning example being the repeated violence in Jos and other parts of the Plateau State. This was followed by incessant kidnappings in the South East, South-South and South Western parts of the country and the assassinations of political figures, particularly during the just concluded general elections. The elections itself was almost marred by violence in some northern parts of the country culminating in the loss of lives including that of Youth Corps members.
Lamentably, these nefarious groups and individuals have added (suicide) bombings to the fray: the October 1, 2010 bombing when the nation was marking her 50th anniversary; the bombing of the Mami market, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja; the Suleja bombings; the bombing of the Police Headquarters, Abuja; and the United Nations Offices in Abuja. These have been executed side-by-side with the bombings in Bauchi and Maiduguri. While the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta was fingered in the 1 October 2010 bombing, the radical Islamic sect, otherwise referred to as Boko Haram, has largely been accused of, and has indeed claimed responsibility for, subsequent bombings and attacks. This goes to show that the group is fully operational in the country and committed to these acts of violence.
The mass deployment of the military to Borno State, though necessary in view of the persistence in the violent acts, has unfortunately shown to be counter-productive as it has led to an upsurge in violence through reprisal and counter attacks from both sides. Also, the social and economic life in Maiduguri has ground to a halt as result of this. These have necessitated calls from some quarters that the military be withdrawn forthwith from the area. There have been further calls urging the government to grant amnesty to members of the group and for dialogue to be adopted rather than the current violence-for-violence stance. NAS firmly supports these positions as it is the duty of the government to rise up and tackle this hydra-headed monster headlong, but in a less primitive manner.
NAS is particularly worried that despite the countless number of violent criminal activities across the country, our security agencies are yet to unravel and bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes. In civilized and modern societies, there would have been swift and reasoned response from the security agencies.
NAS is also of the opinion that the resort to violence to settle scores or to send messages to the government or perceived opponents as displayed by these groups leads to insecurity and creates untold sorrow and hardship to families whose breadwinners have been caught in the line of fire. This culture of violence and impunity is totally unacceptable to us and must be arrested. We strongly believe that violence, at the level it is being played out, is an affront not only on the state of individual well-being, but also on the sovereignty of the polity and must be treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
It is for the above reasons, therefore, that the National Association of Seadogs offers the following solutions:
i. That the government step up its current efforts by putting in place the necessary contemporary security measures across the country to tackle all forms and acts of violence.
ii. That the police and other relevant security agencies be equipped with modern crime fighting facilities to enable them withstand the growing challenges from criminal groups and elements they now encounter on daily basis. Training of personnel on modern trends of security should also be of top priority.
iii. That a comprehensive investigation into the causes (both remote and otherwise) of the bombings should be undertaken in order to find lasting solutions.
iv. That dialogue, as recommended by some persons in the case of Boko Haram, should be considered by the government. Investigations into the activities of Boko Haram in the past few years should be undertaken to reveal the genuine intentions or otherwise of the sect in a bid to granting amnesty (if need be) to the deserving members, while those found to have engaged in criminal acts including murder through bombings and shootings be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
v. That efforts be made to bring to book all those connected, remotely or otherwise, to the extrajudicial murder of the presumed leader of the Boko Haram sect and some of their members. Nigerians have a right to know the faces behind the masks, and why they wanted the sect leader silenced.
vi. The operations of the military in Maiduguri should be streamlined to check abuses. The military must act within the confines of the law and not be seen to be carrying out vendetta against perceived enemies.
vii. The government should speed up the process of governance in order to deliver the expected gains of democracy. Growing unemployment in the country has to be checked as this appears to be one of the major factors responsible for the proliferation of criminal activities.
The National Association of Seadogs call on all those involved in these violent acts to lay down their arms and seek the path of dialogue. We also commiserate with all Nigerians who have lost loved ones and properties as a result of this unfortunate trend of events. The responsibility to stamp out violence in our society is a collective one, therefore we enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to pull together to stop the carnage.
OSCAR EGWONWU
Pyrates Cap’n
National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity)
