THE MILITANTS AMONG US

 

 

Tension is epileptically dowsing and rising in our Nation as the Federal Government claims to be in discussions with the Niger Delta Militants on conditions for Amnesty orchestrated by Joint Task Force invasion on some communities of Niger Delta namely Gbaramatu axis; okerenkoko, oporoza, kurutie and kunukunuma.

 

It is good to know that the Houses of Senate and Representatives endorsed the Federal Government dispatched troop (JTF) to Niger Delta to invade the communities in an operation tagged ‘Operation Wipe Out Militants’.

Joint Task Force is a combination of Army, Air force, Navy and Police drafted to the area to keep a watchful eye on the activities of the Militants. Atmosphere in Niger Delta was mildly hostile until 18 soldiers were abducted by the Militants in chanomi creeks on May 13 and nothing has been heard about them till date, although it was reported that the bodies of the soldiers; two lieutenants and sixteen other ranks were discovered in a mass grave in camp 5 in Warri South West local Government area and one of the soldier’s uniform and a rifle found in a shrine in okerenkoko, all in Delta State.

 Therefore, the Government believing that they must have died vowed to wage unrelenting war against the militants until the region is rid of militants.

An option opened to the Government against the people, which right now attracting sympathy from within and outside Nigeria.

 

There was an account of 21 boats full of militants that were sunk by the JTF at the wake of this military action and since then more of civilians and destruction of communities, and people fleeing in confusion are being reported, so the tension has been mounting even as the militants make boast of their readiness to launch a full blown war against the Government. Whether it is an empty threat of a frustrated people time will tell especially when senior commanders of the militants like Ojomo Ogbomo (spokesman), General Boyloaf, Fara Dagogo and others denied being part of the Amnesty discussion going on with the Government and Tompolo (the commander) after the incarceration of Henry Okah, the leader, is at large soon after the bombardment of his residence.

 

For Ojomo, it is a ploy by Government and their Agents to embezzle the Fifty billion naira voted for Amnesty processes by giving bribes and incentives to persuade some militant groups to lay down weapons. He reassured the people of the region his continued willingness to fight until justice is obtained despite the efforts of the Governments and other Judases among the militants to embrace amnesty.

The entire episode is fallout of lack of government strong will to pursue an enduring solution to the problems of the region. A lot of committees were set up in the past to study the problems of the region and advice the government. All the billions voted at different times went down like Jonah in a fish belly into the belly of government’s agents’ facilitators without report seeing the daylight.

The most recent is the Technical committee on the Niger Delta headed by Barrister Ledun Mitee, the President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People( Mosop) seven months ago( Dec 2008), whose recommendation was for immediate implementation of report in order to avoid a dire consequence was neglected as usual by the government, which might be part of reason for striking by the militants. It could be that the government underestimated the damage the threat could cause or the powers that be want to capitalize on this opportunity.

 

Nevertheless, a number of questions have been begging for answers; should all the militant factions in Niger Delta unite do they have the capability to stand a full blown war on the region? Does government grant Amnesty to people who have not been charged to court nor convicted for a crime? How sincere is the Government in Keeping with the terms of Amnesty seeing that it is a known fact that our Government is a truce breaker? How ready is the Government to address the issue that led to militancy?

Militancy is the use of force to achieve a desired political, social and religious change. In the same way, to use force to resist change is as well militancy.

In Nigeria, it is a manifestation of neglect, unequal and unjust treatment meted upon a helpless people over the years. Militancy at all levels is hashed by a bad, selfish and insensitive Government. It appears Nigerian government understand the language of force than voice of peace.

Militants grew up couple of years ago, precisely 1999 in the Niger Delta region. Fingers have pointed at some political bigwigs in the area as brain behind the formations. The politicians formed and equipped these civilian armies against their opponents during the 1999 election that ushered in the Kangaroo kind of democracy in place today. Unfortunately, the use and dump politicians could not keep to terms of contract with their boys so things fell apart. The boys having been sensitized on how to make and use money through bunkering by top Politicians and Government functionaries could not hold back the lust for money. Therefore, a reason was found to struggle for the control of the natural resources which God endowed the Nation with after several proposals for increase on the percentage of derivation formula by oil producing states hit a brick wall during the manipulated one man government of Obasanjo and the oil becoming as it were a prerogative right of those in power, their families and mistresses while majority of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty.

 

Remember, there was no arm struggle, only a peaceful agitation to be given a fair consideration in the scheme of things in the polity before 1999, especially for a people whose lands and economic well being has been destroyed by pollution from oil and gas flaring. The request suffered a lot of political maneuvers with the death of two illustrious sons; Isaac Boro and Saro Wiwa , divide to rule strategy of the Government and settle the loudest noise maker. Since the government chose to do nothing over these years, now the boys have been empowered through political thug-grey, decision to take destiny into their hands was concluded and enhanced by the hypocritical governance of Obasanjo administration.

The climax of the militants’ pressure to prove to the government that a child that refuses the mother from sleeping will equally not sleep is when kidnapping was added to pipelines blow ups. Politicians and Relatives, government contractors and other rich men became targets of kidnaps for ransom. So, with the interest of these men being threatened a swift reaction is made, hence the position of things right now. Despite the wide criticism based on abducting of helpless and innocent relatives the militants have struck a mark that forced government to listen and come to a round table conference.

If the oil pipelines, the cash cow for many politicians past and present and some Army generals and chiefs were not blown up plunging the national income to the lowest ebb and business activities paralyzed the government would still be slumbering and playing the hide and seek games.

The same houses that endorsed the operation wipe out the militants and put death sentence on any Kidnapper caught closed their ears on the wailing of hapless Nigerians calling for emancipation from the rampage of ritualists.

 

Though respite might be underway as Leader of MEND, Henry Okah, is been released from detention as one of the conditions laid down by the faction to sit down with government to discuss on amnesty, it can last only if government would be sincere.

While observing a temporal cease fire for sixty days as advocated by MEND to enable a negotiation with the government a surprising package was handed over to Nigerians on the night of Sunday 12^th July when everyone woke up with the news of bombing of Atlas Cove Jetty, a strategic oil installation in Lagos by the same MEND killing some Naval personnel on duty. The militant spokesman, Jomo Ogbomo claimed responsibility of the attack and further boasted that soon attack will be extended to non oil facilities built with oil money like bridges across the nation if his group should come under attack of JTF and by so doing a full blown war would be assumed declared. This has left us with confusion and to question which way Nigeria?

The action like other previous ones has been heavily criticized by Nigerians and more by the Yoruba tribe who has interpreted the action an invitation to tribal war.

The Yoruba tribe has started regrouping their militant groups; Oodua Peoples congress and others waiting for reprisal attack should MEND venture into western states again.

While no patriotic citizen is happy about the turnout of events in the country, we all should know that it is a costly price for accumulated injustice, shielding of corrupt rulers for years on ethnic sentiments. It is not certain what will remain of Nigeria by the end of the year should destructions continue in quick succession unabated.

Already the Federal government has rejected every other condition except the release of Henry Okah and offered to pay #65,000.00 monthly to the militants who are willing to surrender their weapons to the government. Ironically MEND is flexing muscles with the government on who will bend for the other which is a signal of evil days ahead of this country.

 

Now if there be militants, first of all Peoples Democratic Party led government is the number one on the list. With the force of arm they foist their government on the Nigerian people through rigging of elections, hacking down of perceived oppositions and carried on harassment and intimidations, and by force of the Force continued to stay in power despite the bad government contrary to the wish of Nigeria majority to the point that a zealot of their party bragged that PDP will rule the country for the next hundred years.

 

When Tompolo’s house was raided after the bombardment, JTF told Nigerians that they got list of sponsors of the militants among whom are top politicians, both serving people, which will in no doubt have PDP as majority, foreign companies and nations that buy the crude oil from the militants. The promise to make the list public by the President after few days of announcement has been strangled notwithstanding the pressure from the Public to publish the names of the culprits for all to read.

 

The Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra emerged as non violent movement the government did all she could to rope it in as carrying guns but when this effort failed took the shoot at sight alternative. She played deaf to the agitation of this movement instead went on to gun down anybody suspected to be a member of the movement. For a state to take up arms against armless civilians on peaceful protest for what the group perceived as unjust operation is more than militancy.

 

What can be said of Islamic militants from the North who have made it a yearly ritual to waste lives of non Moslems in the North? The much heard was some arrests made, no other thing was heard about their prosecution, imprisonment or hanging as the case may be. With guns, arrows, dagger, knives these group force people to accept Islamic religion or leave the North. Their reign of terror always lead to break down of law and order and activities in the area for the number of weeks it will last.

Federal government have not endorsed operation wipe out the religious militants.

 

Almost every section of the country has a militant group formation secretly or openly operating waiting for the doomsday, Nigeria doomsday because it is obvious that this entity will not last any more considering the fact that the government has not shown any zeal in fixing the problems of this country. And since every action is narrowed to tribal interpretation total change would hardly come by, therefore, disintegration looms ahead. Unfortunately, the law makers are not sensitive to roll out laws that will outlaw or check the activities of militants anywhere rather fascinated with dollars and pound sterling shared as trip allowances abroad.

Government should not close their eyes on other militants because of seeming latency soon the country will become ungovernable and overrun.

 

The Ritualists who by diabolic powers hypnotize people and slaughter them are militants in a way because the victims surrender unwillingly to the ritualists knives under a spell.

 

Petroleum marketers and bus drivers forcefully extort money from Nigerians based on the fact that our society is an oil based economy. Prices of fuel and fares change at random with short or no notice thereby altering frequently the standard of living forcing people to go out of budget abruptly. In Lagos, price of transports can change two times before the end of the day. A hold up, rainfall and anything can trigger increase in transport fares and the Agboro boys ready to literally fight any one who insists to pay a normal fare.

 

Police with threat of arms extort money from bus drivers forcefully and many who resisted have fallen to bullet shots, some maimed and others framed and slammed behind bars.

Writers choose the force of pen because a change is greatly needed in the society. Writers for change are equally militants because in some societies pen is stronger and forceful than gun and bars of ebony.