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Some Animals are More Equal Than Others By Babandi Gumel Militancy is militancy in whatever form or shape be it religious or cultural and whoever does it irrespective of his or her background is of course usually not tolerated but rather condemned and not condoned. Those engaged in such violence whoever they may be are normally confronted with full power of force so as to serve as deterrent for those wanting to engage in this sort of activities in future. The recent confrontation between the Nigerian Security forces and the Self –Styled Boko Haram served as a reminder to all but left many wonder as to why they could not take similar drastic measure against the Niger Delta militants who have been confronting the forces for months or even years. The unequal treatment the militants are getting called to question the sincerity and wise decision of the Authorities to quell the violence one with full power of force one with the kid’s globe type of approach. All these militants are seen as few individuals engaged in dubious activities at the expense of the peace loving majority citizens causing unnecessary untold hardship to those citizens. Those who are engaged in these nefarious activities especially those in the Niger Delta are seen as causing more harm than all other militants combined yet no serious drastic action is ever considered or taken against them. Instead they were given time to repent granting them amnesty thus encouraging them to eschew and renounce all kinds of violence within two month beginning from August. The Government has taken this wise and bold decision in order to forestall and avoid the continued violence emanating from the Region. While that was in the process yet another upsurge of violence erupted this time in the North. Most of these violence though they have some religious or cultural connotation yet many observers amplify and equate them to lack of economic prosperity due to poverty and degradation forcing the disgruntled youths to take law into their hands by indulging in violence confrontation with the Authorities. The recent unfortunate violence which engulfed four Northern States mainly seen in Borno and Bauchi and some parts of Kano and Katsina States caused by the self-styled new Boko Haram Sect the Anti Western Education Group has caused lots of concern and anxiety among all and sundry. Almost everyone including the President himself came out openly to condemn the violence as nobody would ever condone it. We are not supporting or condoning the havoc that might have been caused by the new group or condemning the steps taken to curve the situation but the high handedness of the security forces which led to the unnecessary killing of more than 700 people according to reports is causing grave concern. Imaging if the reports come to be true that only in Borno the number of people killed amounted to that number i.e. 700 or more people what excuses could the authorities give to justify such terrible mayhem described as unnecessary extra judicial killings of youngsters? It is like saying that spilling the blood of one militant group particularly those in the North is virtually halal or lawful while that of another group mainly in the South is sacrosanct therefore unlawful. Unfortunately the way the authorities rushed and dealt with the situation which led to the systematic killing of now reported more than 800 misguided citizens is uncalled for. Instead of arresting them and charged all of them before the court by allowing the security to become law unto themselves is causing unease among many people particularly the killing of the group leader Muhammed Yusuf who was said to have been captured alive. He was even said to have asked for leniency and mercy showing that he repented something which the authorities had wanted the Niger Delta militants to do and yet they went ahead to refuse him what he requested. We got contradictory statement as the Army were reported to have said they caught him alive while the police were saying he died in the gun battle after parading his body riddled with bullets. Well who should we believe of course anything done in a rash would unfortunately bring negative result. Though obviously no responsible government would sit down fold its arms seeing citizens going to the police station and ransacking that station or freeing prisoners from the prison. Although it happens in many countries but the way they dealt with the situation is entirely different from the way our security forces deal with certain intricacies as seen recently which is very unfortunate. As every one of us knew these were misguided youngsters brainwashed by few misguided elements who are not conversant with the real teachings of Islam. Carried away by emotion caused mainly by Poverty and degradation as seen in many parts of the Country the youngsters started gathering and listening to the their so called teachers preparing them to wage war in the belief that they would become martyrs. As they say the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the time when the security operatives who were monitoring the militants arrested some of their leaders which triggered the violence ending in the mayhem of the killing spree by the security probably never seen in history. As action always follows reaction these militants should have been given the amnesty of at least one week as the Niger Delta Militants are enjoying the same amnesty. They should have been told clearly to lay down their arms within certain period of time failure to do so would have resulted in serious violence i.e. force meeting force. Now the question people would be asking was why the authority did not care to give the group such opportunity as given to the Niger Delta militants at this time of general amnesty. As this would help give them the time to repent and come back to the path of peace and rectitude during this very opportune time when the militants in the Niger Delta are enjoying general amnesty of nearly three months. The authorities should have given the group an ultimatum to lay down their weapons within a week recanting and rectifying their misdeeds instead they preferred to engage in the killing spree as if they were not Citizens of the Country. They killed hundreds of them including one former Commissioner in Borno State and alleged follower of this unfortunate Sect. He was said to have been killed in his farm on the basis of the allegation of being alleged member of the Sect. The jungle justice summary killing the type seen during a mayhem unfortunately allegedly carried by the authorities even if it was true he should have been tried by the court not lynching or killing someone simply because he belonged to a certain Sect or cult. Going by the Rule of Law only the Courts can try a person even if he commits treasonable felony the highest offence not causing unnecessary mayhem as the one seen allowing security forces spilling hundreds of blood in the name of quelling violence. Human rights group including the Amnesty International have called for an investigation into the killings of the Sect Leader Yusuf and others. The comments made by the Minister of Information Dora Akunyili that the shooting of Yusuf was the best thing that could have happened to Nigeria is so unfortunate. I am sure she could not have made similar comments if it affected one of the militants of the notorious Niger Delta who are daily routinely kidnapping and causing unnecessary mayhem and crippling our economy and yet sitting and doing nothing much rather than watching in disbelief the drama unfolding daily. They are becoming notorious and nuisance and almost holding us to ransom with no one daring to speak against them. Whenever somebody dared come out openly to criticise them unfortunately those seen as colluding with them would come out quickly jumping the gun in their forceful defence. The typical example was the comment made by the Petroleum Minister Dr Rilwanu Lukman who only suggested that the Petroleum University in the Niger Delta be relocated to Kaduna due to the violence there which he was right. All the Governors from that Region threatened to withdraw their hands from the Amnesty suggested and even some Senators from the same Region dared to call for the sacking of Dr Lukman for his ranting. However the human right monitoring group coordinator Mr Olufemi Aduwo has exonerated the minister and charged the governors to take responsibility for the security failure in the region. The College of Petroleum Studies he said was established in 1995 in Kaduna to train the Senior staff of the Management of the NNPC and former President Obasanjo approved the upgrading of the Institute to a full pledged University in 2005 and therefore it is unfair to blame Dr Lukman calling for his head. Similarly he noted the National University Commission has approved that the Petroleum Training Institute Effurun which generated controversy recommended to be a degree awarding University with its own board members and Management .The Human Right Activist queried as to whether we want invest 14 billion Naira to establish University in the Region where the lives of the students be threatened becoming victims of kidnapping daily as unsafe. He said if peace cannot be attained in the Region which would make it difficult to attain any development therefore the Governors are insincere like crying over spilt milk. He said it is not true that PTI is relocated to Kaduna as they are two independent Institutions for anyone to verify. The Governors should take responsibility for the security failure in the Region making it unsafe for students and the Petroleum University who could be threatened becoming victims of daily kidnapping questioning the wisdom as not making sense. He said the Minister is blameless as the Governors should be responsible to ensure peace and security reigns in the Region before we talk of investing and establishing Petroleum University may be in Bayelsa . It is high time we stopped being too emotional sentimental and are time parochial not wanting face and accept the truth from wherever it comes especially when it goes against our inner-self and ego destroying our sense of justice forgetting that we are all Nigerians who should living in harmony together liking for others what we like for ourselves. Anybody who does something wrong should be unanimously and roundly condemned rather than condoned as we are fond of protecting our kith and kin. As they say all animals are equal but unfortunately the way the authorities deal with all militants, some sending them red signals like the killing of the followers of Boko Haram and the green signals sent to Niger Delta militants giving them amnesty shows the disparity in our justice system as if some animals are more equal than others which needed to be reviewed in the interest of peace stability justice and fairness treating everyone equally as Nigerians not giving preferential treatment for others at the same time ignoring the others. This may help bring peace and harmony among all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnicity religious and cultural background as fairness brings justice and they say justice delayed is justice denied. |