11-28-2018, 03:15 PM
KILLINGS: 17 times Buhari promised to bring perpetrators to book, secure lives of Nigerians…without results
November 27, 2018
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By Ebere Ndukwu
Over time, killings of Nigerians in different parts of the country seem to have become a recurring decimal, with government always mouthing promises of ending the killings and bringing perpetrators to book.
On at least 17 occasions, President Muhammadu Buhari, while reacting to such killings, had promised that killers of Nigerians, be it by the Boko Haram terrorist group, suspected herdsmen, during ethnic clashes, or other criminal elements would not escape the full wrath of the law for their actions.
Ripples Nigeria presents 17 instances the President had made these promises and reassured Nigerians of their security, most times after an attack, but missed the mark, while perpetrators of previous killings were yet to be apprehended, or punished according to the laws of the land.
March 16, 2016
After Boko Haram’s attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, left 20 people dead, President Buhari had said in a tweet through his spokesman, Garba Shehu, “I am dismayed by the news of a bomb attack on innocent worshipers in a mosque in Maiduguri this morning. This attack is yet another sign that Boko Haram is a mindless and godless group that in no way represents true Islam.
“I sympathize with all who lost family and loved ones in the attack, and with the government and people of Borno State. Nigerians should please not let down their guard. Vigilance should continue to be a priority, especially in public places. The government remains resolute in its commitment to securing Nigeria from terrorism and violence.”
June 25, 2018
Buhari, in his response to the reported killings of innocent people in Plateau, vowed that his administration would not rest until the murderers and sponsors are brought to justice.
In a statement on his Twitter handle; @MBuhari, he wrote: “The grievous loss of lives and property arising from the killing in Plateau … is painful and regrettable.
“My deepest condolences to the affected communities. We will not rest until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice.”
March 12, 2018
When Buhari visited Benue State for the first time after the January 1, attack by herdsmen that left no less than 70 people dead, the President had said: “I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks in Benue and we are doing everything to end them.”
June 25, 2018
The Police had claimed that 86 people were killed in attacks on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government.
Reacting, in a statement on his verified Twitter page, the presidency said “President Buhari has been briefed on the deeply unfortunate killings across a number of communities in Plateau State, today.
“The Nigerian Army and police are supporting the determined efforts of Governor Simon Lalong to end the attacks and bring relief to affected communities.
“President Buhari appeals for calm and assures that no efforts will be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice, and prevent a recurrence/reprisal attacks.”
February 16, 2018
Following attacks by suspected cattle rustlers in Zamfara where 18 persons were killed Buhari had said in a tweet on his personal Twitter handle @MBuhari: “The perpetrators of all of these senseless attacks on innocent and defenseless Nigerians, in all parts of the country, will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“We must and will bring the spilling of innocent blood to an end.”
October 2018
As a result of communal violence in Kasuwan Magani, Kaduna State, which left 55 persons dead, President Buhari had said on his Twitter handle, “The violence in Kaduna, which has resulted in the deaths of 55 innocent people, is condemnable.
“I am reassuring everyone that the Fed Govt will continue to do all within our power to protect not just humanitarian workers, but also everyone working or living in the North East.
“….The disregard for the sanctity of human life is unacceptable. Violence is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good”.
May 29, 2018
Buhari vowed that the rampaging killer herdsmen and other criminal elements terrorising all parts of the country will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He stated this while addressing guests during the Democracy Day Lecture held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja
“The unfortunate incidences of kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes in several communities which have led to higher number of fatalities and loss of properties across the country is being addressed and the identified culprits and their sponsors shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“All the three tiers of Government are presently engaged with communities and religious organizations to restore peaceful co-existence among Nigerians,” he said.
November 24, 2018
In reaction to the most recent killings of some soldiers by Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, President Buhari expressed deep shock over the incident.
In a statement in reaction to the attack he said, “No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens.
“Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat.
“In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.”
March 2, 2018
Boko Haram attacked UN workers in Rann, and killed soldiers, policemen and four UN aid workers.
Buhari had said in his response by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, “As I have always maintained, no true religion advocates hurting the innocent. To now further attack and kill those offering humanitarian aid is the height of bestiality. It is odious before both God and man”.
He had affirmed that such cowardly attacks can only bolster the determination of government to bring the Boko Haram insurgency to a decisive end, in the shortest possible time.
January 1, 2018
Herdsmen attack in Southern Kaduna had left many dead. In his reaction to the killings on January 5, 2018, in a statement by Shehu said Buhari “once again, sent condolences to the people of Southern Kaduna, who have lost loved ones in the recent violence”.
It added that the Nigerian army was in the process of setting up two battalions in Southern Kaduna while the military continues to carry out air surveillance across flash points of the area”.
August 21, 2017
Buhari, speaking to Nigerians for the first time after returning from a medical trip in London, said his government will step up its campaign against Islamic extremist rebels.
He said, “Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety,” said Buhari in a televised speech on Monday.
“Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets, kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes, in addition to ethnic violence fueled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all.”
October 30, 2018
President Buhari said his government will take “strongest measures” possible to punish perpetrators of the latest killings in Kaduna state.
During a visit to the state, Buhari expressed sadness at the loss of lives and property in Kasuwan Magani and the unrest around Kaduna metropolis, demanding an end to wanton killings.
“If in the past, they got away scot-free, we shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings”, Buhari said at a meeting with senior government officials, security chiefs, traditional rulers, religious, political and community leaders at the Musa Yar’Adua Sports Complex.
“It is unacceptable that criminal elements can visit on citizens the wanton killings recorded in the Kasuwan Magani incident of 18th October 2018 and the unrest around Kaduna metropolis a few days later. This must stop,” he added.
April 27, 2016
After being accused for keeping silent on herdsmen killings, Buhari broke his supposed silence and ordered the police and the military to “take all necessary action to stop the carnage”.
The directive followed the latest attack then in Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in Enugu State, where dozens of people were reportedly killed by heavily armed herdsmen. An earlier attack in Agatu, Benue State, in March, killed over 100 people, locals said.
But in a statement by Shehu, after the Nimbo attack, Buhari said stopping the violence was now a priority for his administration.
“Following continuing reports of attacks by ‘herdsmen’ on communities across the country, particularly Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, President Muhammadu Buhari assures all Nigerians, once again, of his administration’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country.
“President Buhari unreservedly condemns the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and other such acts of extreme violence against communities in other states of the Federation.
“Acting on the president’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of the nation’s other security agencies are already taking urgent steps to fully investigate the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
November 21, 2017
Responding through Shehu again on the Boko Haram attack in Mubi, Adamawa State, which left several dead, Buhari assured the people of Borno State that his government will do everything to protect them from the deadly Boko Haram attacks.
The statement by Shehu read in part, “President Buhari, while commiserating with families of the several victims, government and people of the state, assured that government would do everything required to secure the state from the deadly menace of Boko Haram.
June 27, 2018
Buhari was reported as calling on Nigerians to pray to God in response to killings.
He was quoted as making the call on the previous day when he visited Plateau State over the killings of over 150 persons by Fulani herdsmen in 11 communities of Barkin-Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state.
“There is nothing I can do to help the situation except to pray to God to help us out of the security challenges. What has happened is a very bad thing. The bottomline is that justice must be allowed to take its course.
“Fulani herdsmen are used to carrying sticks during grazing but the herders of these days carry AK 47. Anybody caught with weapon should be arrested,” he was quoted as saying.
October 1, 2018
In his national broadcast, Buhari reassured Nigerians of his government’s commitment to ending attacks by Boko Haram and making the North East “safe for all”.
In his speech marking the 58th anniversary of independence from British rule, he said “We know that the goals of the Boko Haram terrorists include capturing territories, destroying our democracy and denying our children the right to education. We will not allow them to succeed.”
October 19, 2018
When he hosted members of the Kannywood entertainment industry to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari also reassured that the brutal activities of the Boko Haram sect would soon become history.
“So, now we are confronting them and by the grace of God we will destroy them.’’
Buhari, during his inaugural speech where he said “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”, had also promised to fix the Boko Haram problem, vowing, “We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems”, he had said.
The promises to end Boko Haram attacks, make killer herdsmen, bandits and perpetrators of communal clashes face consequences of their actions by the current government continue without achieving expected results.
It has seemingly become a government ritual to offer condolences, and mouth promises of apprehending perpetrators whenever Nigerians are killed needlessly in any part of the country, yet nothing seems to happen, until the next report of killings, when it comes out again to perform the ritual.
There is no record, at least in the public domain, of government successfully prosecuting, and meting out appropriate punishment, on anyone, who has been involved in the needless killings of it’s citizens, since the coming of this administration.
The government however, in efforts to end the killings and criminalities has put in place, initiatives and structures in some geo political parts of the country to tackle the problems.
These include military operations like, Lafia Dole, Crocodile Smile, Egwu Eke (aka Python Dance), Operation Awatse, Operation Last Hold. There are ongoing military operations in at least 28 state’s of the country prompting comments that the large number of military deployments within the civilian populace is in itself a reflection of the level of insecurity in the land, which the regular police seems unable to handle.
So the herdsmen keep killing, Boko Haram continues it’s rampage, the banditry in Zamfara and other states are yet to be curtailed, and communal clashes in Kaduna and other places keep reoccurring despite government’s constant assurance of ensuring security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
By Ebere Ndukwu….
Ripples