And MEND, Boko Haram Browbeat FG

The Federal Government sent a wrong signal to Nigerians by not celebrating the nation’s 51st Independence Anniversary at the Eagle Square in Abuja last Saturday. Although the government said the event was going to be low key, having elaborately celebrated the nation’s golden jubilee last year with all the fanfare and razzmatazz that accompanied it, Nigerians could hardly be convinced by such empty platitude.

The shifting of the venue from Eagle Square to the forecourt of the Aso Rock amounted to cowering before the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, and the Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalists who have been throwing bombs all over the place like confetti.

Hours before the anniversary, MEND had warned that it would detonate bombs at the Eagle Square, just as it did during last year’s golden jubilee celebration with devastating impact. Rather than take MEND head on by calling its bluff and going ahead to celebrate at Eagle Square, the Federal Government acquiesced to the threat and abandoned the traditional venue for such important event. That has, no doubt, dealt a big blow on the ego of the Federal Government and security agencies that ought to have taken up the gauntlet thrown down by MEND.

Although Boko Haram did not issue any threat before the anniversary celebration, the group will also be exultant that another group has equally terrified the Federal Government and security agencies on a day the government was expected to show its might.

Nigerians must have been so thoroughly disappointed that after President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the nation and assured that the government was on top of the security situation in the country, he withdrew into his shell by taking the 51st Independence Anniversary celebration to Aso Rock. It sent a wrong signal that the government scaled down the event because of the threat by MEND.

Why should a terrorist group dictate to government how and where to celebrate an important event such as the nation’s independence anniversary?

It was like throwing up its arms in total surrender to outlaws who appear to have assumed a position of superiority. This has been the case with Boko Haram which has refused to enter into any form of dialogue with the Federal Government in order to stop their bombing and killing spree. The terrorist group is doing things on its own terms as if it is running the show, while the Federal Government and security agencies appear to be helpless and clueless as to how to cut the group to size.

After the 26 August bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, which left 23 people dead and scores injured, Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, has been talking tough and has even carried out more daring attacks in the northern states of Borno and Bauchi. The group even had the effrontery to promise a N50 million reward for any member of the extremist sect that could kill Marilyn Ogar, an assistant director and spokesperson of the Department of State Security. Isn’t this a blistering slap on the Federal Government?

When government appears to be lily-livered, it gives outlaws and terrorists the lee way to hold everybody to ransom as MEND and Boko Haram are doing now. And this state of insecurity is having a serious negative effect on the country already.

In the wake of the bombing of the UN building, the world body has imposed travel restriction to Nigeria. The situation is so bleak that even on the day the president was addressing Nigerians and giving the impression that security agencies were up to the task of protecting Nigerians, at least 19 people were shot or hacked to death in a gruesome attack in a village in Zamfara State. Eyewitnesses said about 150 people raided the village of Lingyado, in Zamfara close to the border with Niger, with guns and machetes. The attackers were suspected to be Boko Haram members.

It is frightening that more than ever before, Nigerians now live in absolute fear of terrorist attacks by Boko Haram or being kidnapped or killed by armed robbers. How long will this continue?