The Death Of 43 Farmers in The North East: Matters Arising

The news came as a bombshell; against the background of several news publications that the terrorist group ravaging the North East region has been “decimated” or “neutralized” and then this; definitely, demoralization is bound to set in and the people gripped by fear. How could 43 persons said to be Rice Farmers be so gruesomely killed without any security presence? The story was that a Boko Haram terrorist approached one of the rice farmers with the intention to beg for food; he was then disarmed unknown to the farmers that his other colleagues were hiding somewhere in the bush. And then, as the story goes, on seeing their colleagues apprehended, they rushed out and began the process of slaughtering every rice farmer within the vicinity. Since then, the only reaction from the government is to condemn the killing with nobody resigning his job or being held accountable. Several key heads of the nation’s security apparatus are from that region, yet that is not enough to bring peace. The steep rise in wild killings cannot be sustained for too long; the violations of human life is unbecoming of the state Nigerians now find themselves in. The regular sight of burial ceremonies is arguably offensive and debasing. The task before the government is not to condemn the killings but to wake up to its responsibilities. What is expected is not for the government to look for scapegoats but to hold people accountable. The silence from prominent Northern intelligentsia is also worrisome, especially against the mounting violence and bloodshed. It is appalling that a people so besieged and traumatized cannot rely on their elected rulers.  They ought to do more than paying lip service to the tragic developments occurring routinely. This has gone beyond playing politics. Without preserving human life how would they sustain their politicking? You may want to ask: whose interest are they serving? That of the people or themselves?  This is the time to wake up. The Boko Haram insurgents should not be allowed such privilege of killing without instant retribution. This is a matter of life—not politics