For a very long time, there appeared to be a veil of sadness and despondency over the country as nothing seemed to be going well.
In moments like this, one of the things that brings all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion together, and elicits feelings of happiness, is sports. Even that didn’t seem to be working this time.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons ended the WAFCON 2022 without a medal. The girls, who are 9 times winners and defending champions, in spite their above average performance and determination, lost the 3rd place match to Zambia, who clinched the bronze medal.
While Nigerians were still ruing the loss, the news broke of Tobi Amusan, who had become a hero in faraway Oregon, USA.
Tobi set a world record with her 12:12 time in women’s 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championship, becoming Nigeria’s first-ever world record holder in athletics.
It was an emotional moment for many Nigerians who watched Tobi sing along as the country’s national anthem was played when she mounted the stage to receive her medal and money prize. Many could not hold back their tears as they cried tears of joy alongside the athletic champion.
Behind those tears, which were interspersed with smiles, one could tell that there was a feeling of fulfilment and pride in oneself.
It is little wonder, Tobi Amusan trended the whole of Monday as she dominated online searches.
Let’s talk about the bad.
Nigerians woke on Sunday to a disturbing video wherein terrorists were seen mercilessly flogging victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
It was a gory sight to behold as the victims wailed as the whips descended on them.
Expectedly, the video was met with outrage.
Ever since the Kaduna bound passengers were kidnapped on March 28, the terrorists have made several demands from the government, including the release of 15 terrorist commanders, including their children detained by the military and an undisclosed amount of cash.
One of the terrorists in the video vowed to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru el-Rufai, senators and other prominent Nigerians, including governors, and destabilise the country if their demands were not met.
The terrorists also threatened to kill and sell off some of the abductees as slaves.
They appear to be making good their threat with the recent happenings in and around Abuja.
Abuja used to be one of the safest places to live in Nigeria. It is the seat of government so not less was expected anyway.
The same cannot be said of this once peaceful city. Now, even in the day time, residents are super vigilant as they go about their business.
The terrorists have closed in on us, they now live and operate from among the people.
This is evidenced by the recent surge in crime and cases of kidnap. From a few isolated cases here and there, kidnapping and armed banditry are fast becoming daily occurrences in this city that hosts the Police and Defence headquarters as well as headquarters of the SSS, NIA, NSCDC and other military and paramilitary formations.
This heightened level of insecurity and fear of attacks is happening just weeks after security at the Kuje Custodial Centre was breached, leading to the escape of some terrorists, one of who was boasting in that gory video.
A friend was visiting on Saturday and was telling me about her farm in one of the Bwari villages. She was supposed to send some money to one of the locals but he had yet to visit an agent banking spot in Bwari town and send an account number for the money to be paid, as was their practice.
While we were still talking, she got a call from the said man and he told her he was making the call from the bush as they had to flee their homes, following an attack on the community by bandits the previous night. According to him, he had fled alongside his aged mother but he didn’t know where she was at that moment.
The story didn’t sound believable so she made up her mind to go find out things for herself on Monday. By Monday, it had become obvious that Abuja was under siege of terrorists and bandits and whatever sense of security we felt living in the city was false.
Between Saturday and Tuesday, there have been reported attacks on villages around the Law School in Bwari and a foiled attack on the Law School. Officers and men of the Elite Guards Brigade were said to have been killed in this attack.
To put in perspective, the Guards Brigade is a military unit directly responsible for the security of the president and his residence.
To hear that members of this formation were ambushed and killed right in the federal capital territory leaves one with a sense of hopelessness and helplessness, a kind of feeling that says it is only a matter of time before they break through the seeming impregnable security around the president and once they get him, the rest of us are mince meat.
In the last 72 hours, the authorities have had to order the immediate closure of all schools in Abuja after an attack on Sheda village, Kwali bordering the Federal Government College Kwali, and necessitating the abrupt closure of the school.
On Tuesday night, there were reports of shooting between the police and touts around Area 1, Garki part of Abuja.
Residents have reported the presence and movement of strange people in their neighbourhoods but no one took those reports seriously.
Now, everything has come full circle.
However, it will appear that only the citizens are incensed by this affront and threat to the peace Abuja has enjoyed over the years.
With the number of security breaches in Abuja, one would have expected heads to be rolling by now amidst high level security meetings but it appears the country is now on autopilot and our hopes of peaceful existence are on God as the people in charge are either overwhelmed, have run out of ideas or simply do not care.
The level of complacence and mediocrity is terrible.
Maybe now that the president’s security is threatened, we will see some action but even this is nothing to bet on.
President Buhari seems to be such a good guy that wants to offend no one so everyone around him does what they want and gets away with it. If not, how do you continue to keep people who have failed in doing the very jobs for which they were employed?
Someone close to the president should tell him that this is not the time to be aloof or play the good guy.
The current situation calls for decisive action and if tackling insecurity in the remaining part of his administration by all means is the legacy the Buhari-led administration will leave, they will be remembered for it.
Those in charge of security must also bear in mind that if they acted this way in the past and got away with it, while hiding in a safe bubble, that bubble has since been burst with recent happenings and it’ll only be a matter of time before the unthinkable happens.
God forbid!
