By
Gbemiga Olakunle
We are watching with breathtaking amazement the level of
destruction of lives and property reportedly going on in Southern
Kaduna . The conflict in the area has claimed about 808 lives,
while about 57 persons suffered life threatening injuries in the hands of
suspected Fulani herdsmen. The body language of The Presidency on this
situation is troubling. President Muhammadu Buhari has not uttered any word of
condemnation on the reported mass killing that can be likened to genocide.
However, the Sultan
of Sokoto has reportedly frowned at the wanton destruction of lives and
property in the area. The respected traditional ruler and head of the Muslim
community in Nigeria
Rev. Father Paul
Jatau has, however, accused the governor of being complacent in his handling of
the contentious matter. In fact, the Rev. Father went ahead to allege that it
was the refusal of the Southern Kaduna
residents to turn their lands into grazing reserves for the Fulani herdsmen
that formed the bedrock of the crisis. About 808 human lives are reportedly
lost in a particular section of a Federating Unit within the Federal Republic
of Nigeria and yet the Presidency has not deemed it fit to utter a single word
or condemnation whether it means it or not!
We are talking of
human lives here and not those of chickens. Even if such lives belong to other
animals, what does it cost the authorities concerned to condemn such
unwarranted destruction in unmistaken terms before going ahead to investigate
the matter with a view to getting to its root and stopping it? Since the Sultan
of Sokoto and the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
(NSCIA) has strongly condemned the destruction and advised both the President
and the Governor of the affected State on what to do, there is no need to
further over-flog the matter.
The concerned
authorities have their own living consciences, too. Fulani herdsmen again?
Their issue has become a recurrent decimal in our National Security
discourse.It is either they are involved in the destruction of human lives and
property, the destruction of farmers crops, kidnapping for ransom and,
sometimes, armed robbery. We thank God that the Sultan of Sokoto- himself a foremost
Fulani man and scion of Othman Dan Fodio – has used several fora to condemn and
distance himself from the activities of these rampaging Fulani herdsmen. It was
revealed that these culprits are foreigners and not Nigerians. And if, indeed,
they are itinerant /migrant Fulani herdsmen from foreign lands, should the
government at whatever level continue to watch as they systematically disrupt
the peace of our nation or any part thereof?
This should be food
for thought for those concerned. In its own reaction to massacre, the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the Southern
Kaduna killings in the strongest terms. It also directed its
members through a statement credited to the General Secretary of the body that
Sunday January 8, 2017 should be observed as a day to identify with the
travails of the residents of Southern Kaduna
through prayers and a mourning mood. Black has also been recommended as the
dress code for the day to reflect the mood of the people.
The year 2016 might
be a wailing year with a lot of gory tales for the people of Southern Kaduna as
their loud cries and agonies were not considered loud enough to attract an
appropriate response from those that should be concerned, but they should rest
assured that the Heavens have noted their plight and will intervene on their
behalf by moving the hearts of those in authority to render the justice
due to them and their assailants “…Weeping
may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning”-Psalm 30:5(b), KJV.
Olakunle writes via gbemigaolakunle@yahoo.co.uk
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