Together, Nigerians shall win terrorism war

Writing on “The voiceless victims of the vicious violence of Boko Haram,” Nwachukwu Egbunike stated the fact of the state of Boko Haram insurgence in Nigeria. Said he, “About 10,000 lives have been grinded in Boko Haram blender since 2001. These innocents did not stand in the way of the vampires who have declared a hate war on the Nigerian state. They had each woken that morning with the ambitions filled with hope, to strive to lay food on the table, to seek for a better future but sometime during the day, they had been sent on – with a first class ticket – an early encounter in the void unknown. With time, the detonation of bombs became a daily icing that the living began referring to the dead as numbers. This was the situation before the declaration of a state of emergency by the government on the hotspots where Boko Haram had almost established sovereignty and wishes to continue its bloodbath. Unfortunately, this aspect has been missing in the national conversation since the President called the bluff of the terrorists and declared full military action. It is unfortunate that the lead on the discussion has been on the constitutionality or otherwise of the state of emergency. Others are making a needless hairsplitting on the efficacy of this move because Goodluck Jonathan did not sack the governors of the affected states (as though he was the one who elected them)?”

There can be no true peace without reconciliation. And reconciliation does not begin in a void but is rooted in justice – which means giving each one their due. Boko Haram insurgents need to be brought to book. And it makes no gain to oversimplify this as merely revenge. Hell no! As much as it is human to err and divine to forgive, however, we need not forget that to persist in evil is diabolical. While justice has to be tempered with mercy, on no account should mercy replace justice. It is about time someone granted justice to the victims of Boko Haram’s violation and protect others from falling into their grinder. I support the state of emergency, for never had any Nigerian President captured the inner essence of many in this country. It is worthwhile repeating the words of the President: “I want to reassure you all that those who are directly or indirectly encouraging any form of rebellion against the Nigerian state, and their collaborators; those insurgents and terrorists… whoever they may be, wherever they may go, we will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice. No matter what it takes, we will win this war against terror”. And so be it!

With the recent massacre of pupils in Yobe State, killings in Adamawa State and a continuous state of war killings in hundreds by Boko Haram in Borno State, need we say there is any hope in ending these senseless killings? Egbunike captured the situation aptly: “Boko Haram has won an exclusive franchise to violate Nigeria. It has opened up a fountain of blood, bullets, bombs, deaths and more deaths. It seems that we all wake up each morning with the dread of another Boko Haram bomb projectile. While some have maintained that the BH’s grievance is against the state, why in heaven’s name would their victims be innocent souls that only wish to worship their God within his sanctuary? Passions are high and restrain may be quite difficult. The ‘reprisals’ by Kaduna youths who took on Muslims after their kith were buttered is a case in point. In the end, Boko Haram would have achieved their aims – kill, mien and ignite a war. Violence has been deregulated for both Muslims and Christians!”

The fire that would decimate more has just been enkindled and no one seems to care. The downside of revenge is that it never ends. Parties to a fight always dream up more cruelty to surpass the last one. In the end it would take more effort to quench the blood thirst once the appetite has been cultivated. Boko Haram has hoisted confusion on our land. Gorier because charity is now interpreted as timidity or plain stupidity. However, what is more painful is that Boko Haram seems to have succeeded in redefining our perception of reality. With the bombs detonating like fire crackers, the deaths have added the unfortunate angle of numbness. In this case, not the pain of others dying – although it still remains – but sadly, we are beginning to view each death as one more occurrence. Each soul that goes is viewed from the compass of statistics – another number added to the hole of death. Our common humanity is on trial because these “numbers” are someone else father, mother, brother, sister, niece or nephew. How can we be indifferent to their wails of anguish? To the promises and plans that have been cut short? People are been killed, families are perpetually thrown into mourning.

Justice is the first step in creating an atmosphere of peace. These butchers and their sponsors have to be grilled for their offences. What is not so clear is whether the establishment is committed to putting a stop to the Boko Haram insurgents. This is no longer a situation that will be abetted by strong words; action is needed. The resolve for action is nowhere to be found. Nigeria is like a plane on autopilot, a battle ground between those who vowed to make the country “ungovernable” and a government that lacks the courage to put them behind bars. Little wonder, that the peace we all crave for may remain an illusion for quite some time. Meanwhile, let the affront on human dignity continue. Gloom, anarchy and doom: right? Viewing Nigeria through the lens of reality alone is like signing one’s death warrant. However, we cannot lose hope.

•Dr. Akpogena, an education management and media consultant, wrote in from Port Harcourt