Gbum, Gbum, tata tata, this has been the unpleasant musical chess that Maiduguri and its environs have been subjected to or entertained with for about a month now, no thanks to Boko Haram insurgents who are again on the prowl. They come with impunity and cocksure-audacity, with suicide bombing, gunshot assaults in tow.
Even the eve of the recent acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s official visit to Maiduguri was heralded with the sect’s attack on the state capital, but it was repelled by the federal troops. Nevertheless, the acting President landed in Maiduguri as scheduled and launched the first phase of the Federal Government mass distribution of foodstuff to the Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) in the affected areas, marking the gradual relocation of the IDPs to their respective communities.
Whether the attack by the insurgents on the state capital on the eve of the acting President’s arrival in Maiduguri was a deliberate attempt by these demons to force the acting President to shelve his visit to Maiduguri or the sect was making a statement to the effect that it is still a force worthy of reckon.
The emerging ravaging attacks by the insurgents on the state capital, its neighbouring villages as well some parts of Borno that have lately been persistent are baffling, to say the least. This is worrisome more so that there is this makebelieve or already held notion that Boko Haram has been routed to the extent that it no longer controls any territory anywhere and that only some pockets of bomb attacks can be traced to a few disgruntled elements.
However, with the current large-scale suicide bombing and gun assault by these sons of Satan without commensurate or decisive response from the Nigerian military, the recent euphoria that greeted the assault on Camp Zero in Sambisa forest by the Nigerian soldiers and the successes already recorded in the war against insurgency are fast evaporating.
In addition, the confidence of the people on the capacity and capability of the Federal Government to protect its citizens and preserve the territorial integrity is gradually waning.
Indeed, the situation is worrisome and heart-aching. As a matter of fact, the earlier decision by the Borno State Government to the effect that by May 30, 2017, all the IDPs currently in various camps in the state would have been relocated to their respective communities is now on hold on the ground of security challenges in some parts of the state.
Before now, with the proclamation by the state government that all the present IDPs camps in the state would be closed by May, 30, 2017, the government embarked through its Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation of the destroyed public infrastructure and residential quarters in various parts of the state in phases. The places affected so far include Benecheikh, Konduga, Bama and others.
To manifest its pledge of relocating the IDPs on planned schedule, the state government had in fact, relocated some of the IDPs to their permanent abode before the sudden U-turn of renewed attacks of the insurgents in some parts of Borno. This compelled the state government to announce the slowing down of the rehabilitation process with security implication as being responsible.
How true is the allegation that the military is not disposed to ending the insurgency for selfish purpose? Is it true that some politicians in particular, from Borno, are masterminding the prolonging of the insurgency for selfish reasons? Who are the sponsors of this deadly act that refuses to go?
For now, the relative peace which for months now was enjoyed by the people of Borno, especially those in the state capital, has been shattered. Maiduguri has now assumed the toga of insecurity where as one moves, you have to look across your shoulder to know what is amiss. With regards night times, the inhabitants of the capital city have now sleep with no eyes closed, expecting, any time, the intruders’ assault of the deafening noise familiar as ‘Gbum, gbum!’ The renewed attacks by the terrorists have claimed several lives, with the destruction of many property.
More disturbing is the fact they no one is telling the people the exact situation on ground, giving room to all sorts of rumour and insinuation, all complicating, rather than diffusing tension. Gone were the months when the Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Leo Irabor, along with his colleagues in the Air force would update the people through press conferences of the security situation in the state, the successes recorded, the challenges encountered and the way forward. Since the change of command in this Theater a month back, the people are in darkness as the chain of communication seems to have snapped.
As a result of unexpected renewed onslaughts of the insurgents on Borno, making some places a no-go area, the questions are: where is the fire power of the military? Who wants Borno singed or destroyed? Who wants to make Borno Afghanistan? How true is the allegation that the military is not disposed to ending the insurgency for selfish purpose? Is it true that some politicians in particular, from Borno, are masterminding the prolonging of the insurgency for selfish reasons? Who are the sponsors of this deadly act that refuses to go?
What the present assault of the terrorists has shown is that they are still very much around and capable of anything evil. After all, they only relocated from Camp Zero, their headquarters in Sambisa Forest with their men and weapons to elsewhere within or outside the forest. They were not vanquished in the forest. So the battle to save the soul of Nigeria from Boko Haram is a task that must be done, if the nation must live in peace and move forward.
The military must be proactive and the people must cooperate if we must get out of this mess.
*Izekor, a journalist and public affairs analyst, writes at thepointing.com
