For those not following the horrid story, here is a quick recap. Last week Friday, terrorists invaded Zhidi, a community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, and went straight to the home businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu. Obviously, they were acting on information, because Shuaibu is one of the richest men in the community. The bastards broke into the victim’s home and abducted Shuaibu and his two daughters. One of the abducted girls is a 200-level university student.
Shuaibu and his daughters are, today, seven days old in the dungeon of the abductors. The terrorists are asking for N100 million ransom. Shuaibu’s family, friends and associates are confused. They have been running trying to raise the ransom. Today, I am challenging the Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun, to secure freedom for Shuaibu and his daughters. The terrorists look determined to kill them if the ransom is delayed. The Nigerian army should also swiftly step in to save Shuaibu and his girls. They are in hell.
No doubt, terrorism stories out of Nigeria are still unending, despite President Bola Tinubu’s May 29, 2023 pledge to tame terrorists. Daily, scores of Nigerians are still being sent to early graves by these bastards. For example, many in Maru town (Maru LGA), Zamfara State are struggling to recover from the October 5 attack in the town. The bastards, during the attack, killed a newly married man, Mohammed Sani and kidnapped his new bride, along with seven other persons. As at press time, the terrorists had not contacted families of those abducted. Late Mohammed Sani’s bride is still with the criminals. I am challenging our security agencies to step in.
Today, in beloved Nigeria, Kirawa in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, is a ghost town, no thanks to Boko Haram terrorists. Almost everybody in this town fled to neighbouring Cameroon after an attack on September 30 by Boko Haram devastated the community. The terrorists invaded Kirawa, killing and maiming. They killed two people, burnt Kirawa’s monarch’s palace, and dozens of other buildings in the town. A military post in the town was also attacked and burnt by the terrorists unhindered. No fewer than 5000 residents had no other choice than to relocate to Cameroon for safety. Others moved to Maiduguri.
In this Borno State, many communities in 20 LGAs remain vulnerable to raids by terrorists. Some LGAs are fully under the control of the terrorists. Border communities such as Kirawa, Wilgo, Baga, Damasak, and Malamfatori are controlled by Boko Haram. Mr. President pretends to be unaware. That was why I was so depressed when President Tinubu, while addressing some Christian leaders in Jos, last weekend, said he was making progress in the war against terrorists. Tinubu declared: “We are defeating bandits, and we will defeat them. We will deal with them and combat the farmers-herders clashes.”
Enough of rhetoric Mr. President. You are making little progress in this war against terrorists. The situation is still very bad in Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto and Kebbi states. Our security chiefs have also been economical with the truth. They must raise their games against terrorists. I am particularly pained by the trickery led by our National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who is always talking about improved security in Borno State and other ugly spots in Nigeria, amid ongoing battle with terrorists across multiple theatres of violence across this country. Despite repeated claims of degrading terrorists, security agencies continue to grapple with attacks, ambushes and bombings. Just on October 4, four soldiers were killed following an ambush by ISWAP along the Gwoza–Bitta Road in Gwoza LGA.
President Tinubu must end insecurity. He must fulfill the commitments he made to Nigerians in his May 29 2023 inaugural address “to frontally and courageously tackle insecurity.” Tinubu must provide a leadership that will swiftly end the slaughtering of innocent Nigerians across our cities, towns and villages. Only the truth can set Nigeria free from the servitude of terrorists.