The unending spate of violent clashes between local communities in Nasarawa as well as in other states of the federation is sadly compounding the insecurity in the country. This is worrisome because despite their frequency, news about these clashes has been dwarfed by reports of the Boko Haram insurgency. It is unfortunate that a killing field is the catch-all phrase with which Nasarawa is now easily described. And just when that description appears to cull the blood, the state lives up to it in spectacular fashion. Renewed communal clash between the Eggon and Gwandere ethnic nationalities last week claimed 45 lives. These clashes occur with precision and immediacy; they are very fatal and merciless, and often escalate into ethnic and religious crises. This is unacceptable in a country with a government and the killings must stop. Nasarawa must not be allowed to descend into anarchy and chaos.
Nasarawa has become a poster sign of the alarming level of violence to which some parts of Nigeria have sunk in recent times as inter-communal clashes and killings by audacious cult groups have held the state to ransom. Although the latest communal clash is said to be over a piece of land, pundits alleged political undertones, given the insistence of the former Minister of State for the federal capital territory, Senator Solomon Ewuga, an Eggon; that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Gwandere extraction, should shelve his second term ambition, and respect the “gentleman’s agreement” having promised to rotate the 2015 governorship to the Eggon people in exchange for their massive support in 2011. The Governor has denied making any such promise, and the ensuing political schism saw Senator Ewuga decamped from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party with his supporters.
Nasarawa, regrettably, mirrors the general insecurity across the country, though more prevalent in the northern parts. Somehow, the endless savagery calls to question the capacity of the security agencies to contain social discontents and to tame extremists who try to recreate values by wedging a bar between the law-abiding citizens and peace. Whatever is the undeclared motive of the violence, the government has the moral duty to protect its citizens every time and in all circumstances. Relevant authorities must, therefore, stamp their commanding presence in the troubled areas before the country is saddled with another conflagration, akin to the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed close to 10,000 lives since its emergence in 2009.
Although these clashes did not start today, the latest incident was brought to the spotlight because Governor Al-Makura has been accused of playing ethnic politics, alien to the people of the state, hence the series of crises recorded within his tenure. The Governor, at the time, was in Abuja on national assignment, and just as he has reacted, this is a very disturbing situation considering the volatility of the state over the national question. The air is rank with tension, there is disenchantment everywhere, and people are easily provoked to violence by the slightest animosity. The situation has been compounded by the activities of cultists and marauding bands of criminals.
Indeed, the Ombatse cult group, reputed for the carnage in Nasarawa and environs, and other militia groups currently terrorizing the state should be stopped before they grow out of hand. Within a short period, a lot of atrocities have been linked to cult groups, in particular the Ombatse, which proponents described as a cultural group (but lately being used as a militant cover by the youths of one ethnic group). Its recent violent and deadly activities have prompted the question of what exactly it wants.
In May last year, about 70 security personnel sent to maintain peace in Nasarawa were ambushed by the cult members between the state capital, Lafia, and Lakyo village, considered as the hotbed of the crisis. Curiously, none of the sect members has been arrested or brought to justice notwithstanding the judicial enquiry into the incident raised by the state government. This was followed by one of the most gruesome and gory desecration of human lives; exemplified by the dug-up car and the makeshift grave of the Managing Director of Police Microfinance Bank, Alhaji Hassan Gidado, branch manager Tunde Banwo and their driver who were all killed by the cultists. Apparently, the men had been ambushed, killed, burned with the car and eventually buried in the dugout – an aftermath of a clash between the Tundun Adamu and Assakio groups in Lafia area. This is horrendous and unacceptable.
These killings are not only too many; the cruelty of method is increasing in alarming proportion. The killers show no mercy, just as they do not discriminate on account of gender, status or age of victims. Sorrow, tears and blood are the hallmarks of their visits on innocent citizens especially students in hostels in the dead of night. Security men have in almost all cases been left chasing shadows. This descent into bestiality in Nasarawa must be arrested. Nigerians do not deserve this kind of hellish life. So, the authorities must wake up to their responsibilities and restore order, peace and good governance at whatever cost. Citizens must be reassured of safety and peaceful life in their country.
Insecurity in the country is generally rooted in the failure of intelligence, the state and leadership at all levels, in particular. For instance, the planned swoop on Ombatse by policemen and operatives of the Directorate of State Security (which resulted in tens of official fatalities in an ambush by the cult) might not have failed but for moles in these agencies. The menace must be thoroughly investigated and addressed if there would be any respite. It is worrisome that the security operatives failed to take proactive measures to nip the attack in the bud. That was an unpardonable negligence on their part.
Ombatse members and other culprits of the violence must be brought to justice. The group’s self-styled spiritual leader still moves around arrogantly and has yet to face questioning. Such perceived timidity of the authorities can only embolden the group to more dastardly acts. To allow ethnic militancy reign unhindered is to invite anarchy upon the country. When citizens’ inalienable rights to live within the ambit of the law are threatened by miscreants and government at all levels fail in their duty to protect citizens from harm, then there is nothing left to live for!
The massacre in Nasarawa has been going on for too long and has become almost intractable. The socio-economic impact on the inhabitants has been enormously immeasurable. The magnitude and endurance of the carnage is an indictment of both the Federal and State governments. All efforts by both governments have been futile. Somehow, government appears overwhelmed and helpless on how to manage the situation. But there should be no relenting in effort until peace is restored. The Federal and Nasarawa State governments should take a hard look at the persistent destruction of lives and property with a view to stopping it.
