For over a decade, mindless terrorism has had more the pound of flesh and blood described in the Shakespearean book “Merchant of Venice” as millions have had to flee their homes and livelihoods to settle in internally displaced persons camps around Nigeria. The point is, today thousands have died as a result of the horrific criminal activities by terrorists groups, bandits, kidnappers, farmer/herder clashes which has now produce fresh ethnic-inspired tensions.
Clearly this infestation of insecurity and inability to guarantee public safety at any given time is a worry for the government who has looked for various ways to secure the country and the governed who feel more should be done to solve the issue because they are at the receiving end of devilish acts.
At this point many are lost in conversations about the lust for blood and destruction these criminal elements possess and are instead asking for lasting solutions to return the country to a position of relative tranquility. Some have suggested that the government finds the evildoers and crush them into smithereens with extreme prejudice, while others feel the country should explore the option of “the carrot and the stick” by rewarding and reintegrating “repentant terrorists” because some are victims of the current circumstance given them involuntarily by recent happenings.
The latter was recently buttressed by the now popular peacemaker and Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi who said the bandits need to be negotiated with, an opinion President Muhammadu Buhari already refuses to entertain. The Sheikh opines that granting amnesty will make it easier for total surrender and reintegration of the nomads who are now unfairly branded as criminals. In summary the bandits will not drop their arms if the federal government does not guarantee their safety. Has to be an irony to see that even troublemakers want to have peace after unleashing terror on the innocent. Quite interesting to say the least. However, the begging question still remains “what is the solution to the problem of insecurity in the country”. What should we do?
While citizens are aware of the brutal fight against terror in the Northeast, should the country really negotiate with terrorists like it has been accused of doing already even though the government has denied such ever happened at all?
Another thing of concern is how persons who have lost family members, relatives or friends would feel if the government goes ahead to negotiate like the Sheikh has suggested, when many are still angry that the federal government is doing something for “repentant terroist” in a country where the leadership is burdened with allegations of using brutal force against protesters who oppose them.
Should the government rain hell and brimstone on bandits or terrorists intelligently, minding that the likes of Leah sharibu and some Chibok girls are still in their custody?
Will negotiation or paying of ransom not encourage criminals to see their activities as economically viable business ventures with exciting rewards for killing innocent Nigerians as has been warned in different quarters?
Could a total wipe off of the culprits mean an end to a war partly inspired by wrong and false doctrines of religion? Would the death of these men mean the death of their ridiculous ideas? In the case of bandits, will answer the questions raised about those who sympathize with them for being treated badly in most communities?
Questions the federal government and the service chiefs need to answer as they look for new methods in engaging terror in Nigeria.
Whether we heed to the advise of negotiations like Sheikh Gumi has urged or we decide to continue fight the war like most Nigerians would prefer, our leaders must recognize that they are setting a precedence for future generations. It would be great for those who deserve justice to get it because banditry, kidnapping, terrorism cannot be made to look like the best means of expressing ones frustration in government in any society governed by law.
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