Editorial
Still On Chibok Girls, Other Kidnap Victims
More than six years after the abduction of 276 students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School
(GGSS), Chibok, in Borno State, in April 2014, Ruth Ngladar Pogu, one of the abductees, returned home last year with two kids. Ruth and her husband were reported to have surrendered to Nigerian troops on July 28, 2021, at a location in Bama, Borno State.
Nigeria’s troops also found two kidnapped former Chibok schoolgirls, Mary Dauda and Hauwa Joseph. The two women each carried babies on their laps as they were introduced by the military. Major-General Christopher Musa, the military commander of the troops in the region, told journalists that the girls were discovered on 12 and 14 June at two different sites. During the 2015 abduction, 57 of the girls bolted, while 80 were freed in exchange for certain Boko Haram commanders detained after negotiations with the Nigerian government.
After the abduction in the Chibok School, jihadists executed several mass kidnappings and deadly incursions on schools in the North-East. In 2018, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters captured 110 students of Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, in Yobe State. All the schoolgirls were emancipated a month later, except for Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the girls, who was held in custody by the group for refusing to give up her faith.
President Muhammadu Buhari reacted to the Chibok abduction saga: “How can 219 girls be missing in our country, and our leader appears incapable of action?” He had asked in January 2015 while criticising then Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan over the abduction of the Chibok girls. Seven years later, five times as many students were kidnapped under Buhari’s watchful eyes, a blow to the goodwill on which he rode to power. Nigeria’s future is at stake, as children are not safe, even in their schools, and that is a major concern.
No fewer than 881 students have been kidnapped since the current administration assumed leadership in 2015, findings by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) have shown. Buhari had floundered to win the presidential seat three times until he eventually earned it in the 2015 presidential election. The thrust of his campaign to Nigerians was to tackle insecurity, apart from combating corruption and boosting the economy. Unfortunately, those promises proved unavailing.
According to a distinct report, at least 3,478 people were abducted across the country between December 2021 and June 15, 2022. The figures were encompassed in the daily incidents recorded by the Nigerian Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations, a United States think-tank, during the reporting period. The data captured included people extirpated by non-state actors like terrorists, bandits, armed men, armed robbers, cults and security agents, among others.
The data also demonstrated that as of December 2021, as many as 342 innocent Nigerians were exterminated and 397 kidnapped. Among the people annihilated that month were 45 farmers in Nasarawa State. As well, 34 women were abducted from Zamfara. In January, more than 844 persons were killed and 603 kidnapped by non-state actors. Incidents during the month included the bandit attack on communities in Zamfara, killing over 200 people. Besides, suspected bandits reportedly murdered 220 persons and kidnapped 200 others in Niger State.
In addition, last February, at least 495 people were gruesomely slaughtered, while 326 were kidnapped. Still within the month, bandits attacked a Zamfara community for failing to pay a N40 million levy and killed 33 victims. The terrorists also slaughtered 44 people and abducted 31 others in Niger State. In March, 606 innocent people were extinct and 450 were abducted. The incidents included the murder of 63 vigilantes in Kebbi State by terrorists and attacks by suspected herdsmen in reprisal which claimed over 26 lives in Taraba. The list is endless.
In the South-West and South-South, the perpetrators were identified as cultists, suspected herdsmen and gunmen, while in the South-East, the number of deaths and abductions was mostly imputed to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia wing, Eastern Security Network. Terrorist attacks, kidnappings and all forms of insecurity are on the rise and have abruptly become an appealing endeavour. Recent reports have revealed that from June 2011 to March 31, 2020, at least $18.34 million was paid to kidnappers as a ransom.
Even more bloodcurdling is that the larger segment of that figure – just below 11 million dollars – was paid out between January 2016 and March 2020, indicating that kidnapping is becoming more financially rewarding. In March, this year, hundreds of passengers were carried off, and several others were injured in Dutse, Kaduna State, by bandits who allegedly bombed an Abuja-Kaduna-bound train. About 970 passengers were reported to have been taken into the forest by the rampant bandits.
The failure of the government to rescue the remaining passengers of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train, months after their abduction, validates the growing enervation of the Nigerian state in the face of an existential challenge from non-state actors. Emboldened, the terrorists posted pictures and videos of their victims online, taunting family members of the kidnapped and the government. Buhari should acquiesce that the Nigerian state and its security forces have been exceedingly weakened and require radical reform.
Some inexorable facts glower Nigerians in the face – the security agencies are over-stretched, ill-motivated and uncoordinated. A number of agents are compromised. They cannot be used (as former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma said) to protect citizens against buccaneers. Secondly, Buhari’s modus operandi in dealing with insecurity has waned miserably. Dysfunctional and corrupt delinquency among political and general leaders keeps Nigeria infallibly on the path of state failure. An effective new counter-insurgency strategy is thus imperative.
While Buhari was issuing unavailing rescue orders and holding otiose meetings with security agency heads, the terrorists were sure-footed. Boko Haram acknowledged responsibility; the bandits issued glowing videos and photographs demanding ransom and threatening to kill the hostages. Covertly, they uploaded photos of a baby born in captivity by one of the two pregnant women amongst the captives. Nigeria has never had it so bad.
With less than a year left, Buhari must use the remainder of his term to assuage the pains of Nigerians on many fronts following poor governance. He must reverse “abnormal and deviant political practices” that keep preventing the nation from progressing. Importantly, he must ensure the release of all kidnapped persons across the country, in keeping with his 2015 election promise. Specifically, he should ensure the timely rescue of the remaining 51 passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train and Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl. That is the only way the President can guarantee a dignified exit.
The delay in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive for zero customs duty and value added tax on food imports is unacceptable and highlights a concerning lack of urgency within the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service. Over two months after the announcement, the policy remains stalled, despite the President’s clear intention for immediate enforcement. This prolonged delay, especially given the policy’s temporary nature (July – December), is inexplicable and detrimental to a hoi polloi already grappling with a severe economic crisis.
While the Comptroller-General of Customs attributes the delay to the Ministry of Finance finalising details, this explanation is insufficient. The dire need for food relief demands swift action, especially in the face of soaring fuel prices, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing food costs. The President’s promise of subsidised rice at N40,000 per 50kg bag remains elusive as well, pushing many Nigerians further into hardship. Accusations of deliberate slowdowns motivated by the government’s revenue goals are alarming and warrant serious investigation.
A circular from the Presidency has clarified the approved food items eligible for duty exemption, specifically maize, millet, rice, wheat, husked brown rice, grain sorghum, and beans. This strategic move aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers and enhance food security. Previously subjected to import duties between five and 30 per cent, these commodities will now be more accessible, potentially stabilising prices in the local market.
It seems the execution of the policy is encountering obstacles due to bureaucratic processes. If the government fails to address this crisis with comprehensive and effective measures, the consequences could be catastrophic. The simmering discontent amongst Nigerians could easily boil over into widespread protests and social unrest, further destabilising an already fragile nation. Ignoring the cries of its citizens and the looming threat of social upheaval would be a grave mistake with potentially devastating ramifications.
Public officials insulated by privilege and detached from the everyday struggles of the people, have fostered a dangerous disconnect. For too long, they have failed to truly understand the harsh realities faced by the majority of Nigerians, the daily grind of poverty, the constant battle for survival, and the crushing weight of economic hardship. However, the current multifaceted crisis, with its clear manifestation of suffering, should serve as a jarring wake-up call, even to the most arrogant and out-of-touch.
The government’s ill-conceived and draconian policies, implemented without adequate consideration for the people, have created an intolerable situation that can no longer be swept under the rug or dismissed with platitudes. The widespread suffering is a stark indictment of their negligence, demanding a fundamental shift in perspective and a renewed commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian people.
The recent #EndBadGovernance protests serve as an obvious reminder that disregarding the plight of the people is a dangerous gamble. When basic needs like food and security are unmet, and the cries for change are silenced, the simmering discontent inevitably boils over. Escalating hunger and desperation create a fertile ground for unrest, a truth tragically illustrated by the protests. If the government continues to turn a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens, more widespread and possibly violent demonstrations are not only likely, but inevitable.
Furthermore, attempting to quell dissent through intimidation and persecution of protesters is a recipe for disaster, as it only serves to further inflame tensions and breed resentment. The path to stability lies not in suppression, but in genuine engagement with the concerns of the people and a commitment to addressing the root causes of their suffering.
The Federal Ministry of Finance, led by Olawale Edun, has a crucial role to play in improving the image of this government. Minister Edun and Customs Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi, must prioritise the fight against hunger by expediting the zero duty policy. This policy will allow the importation of food at a reduced cost and ease the burden on struggling families.
Officials must accord precedence to the well-being of citizens over bureaucratic processes. The current economic hardship is undeniable, and the callous indifference displayed by those in power, who seem shielded from the harsh realities ordinary Nigerians face, is deeply troubling. The government must act decisively to expedite this critical policy and provide the much-needed relief to a population struggling with hunger, poverty, and misery. Continued delay is a betrayal of Tinubu’s promise and a grim reminder of the disconnect between those in power and the suffering Nigerians.
The delay in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive for zero customs duty and value added tax on food imports is unacceptable and highlights a concerning lack of urgency within the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service. Over two months after the announcement, the policy remains stalled, despite the President’s clear intention for immediate enforcement. This prolonged delay, especially given the policy’s temporary nature (July – December), is inexplicable and detrimental to a hoi polloi already grappling with a severe economic crisis.
While the Comptroller-General of Customs attributes the delay to the Ministry of Finance finalising details, this explanation is insufficient. The dire need for food relief demands swift action, especially in the face of soaring fuel prices, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing food costs. The President’s promise of subsidised rice at N40,000 per 50kg bag remains elusive as well, pushing many Nigerians further into hardship. Accusations of deliberate slowdowns motivated by the government’s revenue goals are alarming and warrant serious investigation.
A circular from the Presidency has clarified the approved food items eligible for duty exemption, specifically maize, millet, rice, wheat, husked brown rice, grain sorghum, and beans. This strategic move aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers and enhance food security. Previously subjected to import duties between five and 30 per cent, these commodities will now be more accessible, potentially stabilising prices in the local market.
It seems the execution of the policy is encountering obstacles due to bureaucratic processes. If the government fails to address this crisis with comprehensive and effective measures, the consequences could be catastrophic. The simmering discontent amongst Nigerians could easily boil over into widespread protests and social unrest, further destabilising an already fragile nation. Ignoring the cries of its citizens and the looming threat of social upheaval would be a grave mistake with potentially devastating ramifications.
Public officials insulated by privilege and detached from the everyday struggles of the people, have fostered a dangerous disconnect. For too long, they have failed to truly understand the harsh realities faced by the majority of Nigerians, the daily grind of poverty, the constant battle for survival, and the crushing weight of economic hardship. However, the current multifaceted crisis, with its clear manifestation of suffering, should serve as a jarring wake-up call, even to the most arrogant and out-of-touch.
The government’s ill-conceived and draconian policies, implemented without adequate consideration for the people, have created an intolerable situation that can no longer be swept under the rug or dismissed with platitudes. The widespread suffering is a stark indictment of their negligence, demanding a fundamental shift in perspective and a renewed commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian people.
The recent #EndBadGovernance protests serve as an obvious reminder that disregarding the plight of the people is a dangerous gamble. When basic needs like food and security are unmet, and the cries for change are silenced, the simmering discontent inevitably boils over. Escalating hunger and desperation create a fertile ground for unrest, a truth tragically illustrated by the protests. If the government continues to turn a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens, more widespread and possibly violent demonstrations are not only likely, but inevitable.
Furthermore, attempting to quell dissent through intimidation and persecution of protesters is a recipe for disaster, as it only serves to further inflame tensions and breed resentment. The path to stability lies not in suppression, but in genuine engagement with the concerns of the people and a commitment to addressing the root causes of their suffering.
The Federal Ministry of Finance, led by Olawale Edun, has a crucial role to play in improving the image of this government. Minister Edun and Customs Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi, must prioritise the fight against hunger by expediting the zero duty policy. This policy will allow the importation of food at a reduced cost and ease the burden on struggling families.
Officials must accord precedence to the well-being of citizens over bureaucratic processes. The current economic hardship is undeniable, and the callous indifference displayed by those in power, who seem shielded from the harsh realities ordinary Nigerians face, is deeply troubling. The government must act decisively to expedite this critical policy and provide the much-needed relief to a population struggling with hunger, poverty, and misery. Continued delay is a betrayal of Tinubu’s promise and a grim reminder of the disconnect between those in power and the suffering Nigerians.
All looks set for the conduct of the Rivers State local government election scheduled to take place tomorrow in the 23 local government areas of the state. A total of 18 political parties will vie for various council positions in the polls to be conducted on Saturday. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had initially listed 19 political parties for the election, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) discontinued the contest. Chief Emeka Beke’s faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will participate in the ballot.
Ahead of tomorrow’s council election, various lawsuits have resulted in conflicting rulings about how the election should be conducted. A recent judgment by a Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters register to RSIEC and instructed the police to withdraw security for the ballot. Similarly, the court has barred RSIEC from getting the voters register from INEC. However, in a counter ruling, a High Court in Port Harcourt has mandated that the state electoral commission continues with the election, requiring INEC to hand over the voters register and ordering police protection for the event.
As voters in the state prepare to head to the polls tomorrow, the conflicting rulings and legal battles have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the election process. With INEC and RSIEC at odds over claims regarding the issuance of the voters register by the former and security arrangements for the ballot, there is a need for clarity and resolution to ensure a free and fair election. The conflicting court rulings have added further complications to an already challenging situation, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. As all stakeholders navigate these legal challenges, the focus remains on upholding the democratic principles and ensuring that voters are able to cast their ballots without interference.
Intense preparations have characterised Saturday’s polls. The election is expected to be conducted in line with the provisions of the Rivers State electoral laws. Speaking at a meeting with stakeholders, the RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), hinted that the commission had complied with relevant sections of the law in all its preparations for the task. He implored political parties and politicians to ignore acts that could jeopardise the electoral process.
While we wholeheartedly endorse the move to ensure that democratic practice, norms and values always prevail at the local government level, we are truly elated by the level of earnestness and commitment exhibited so far by the Justice Enebeli-led commission to conduct credible, free and fair election in the 23 local government councils. Indeed, RSIEC can execute credible elections if it resists pressures from different quarters.
Despite the Federal High Court order, the state electoral commission’s parley with security agencies, especially with the police, and other stakeholders is, to say the least, heart-warming and reassuring. We expect this cooperation and partnership to continue even after the election. Going by Enebeli’s antecedents, we strongly believe that the commission will not fail to provide a level playing ground for political parties and politicians to test their popularity in a free, fair and tension-free contest.
The state electoral body must, therefore, strive to adopt an open-door policy where complaints would be entertained on their merit during and after the election. As anticipated, we hope the commission embarked on massive voter education and training of electoral and ad hoc staff that would man the 23 local government areas. It is advised that adequate preparations should be made for the security of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials, particularly given the tensed atmosphere in the state.
RSIEC is reminded that the success or otherwise of any election depends largely on the authenticity of the updated voter’s register which the commission has reportedly obtained ahead of the election from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The news that as many as 18 political parties in the state will participate in the council polls is cheering. The parties are urged to support and cooperate with the commission in ensuring a smooth and credible election.
It is expedient that Governor Siminalayi Fubara releases all the funds appropriated for the conduct of the local government election to the commission and ensure that he does not interfere in the workings of the RSIEC, or even influence the outcome one way or the other. Members of the commission should work harder to uphold the law without fear or favour; let or hindrance.
Incidents of missing ballot or result sheets, late arrival of materials and other logistics will only serve to discourage the electorate who already entertain a deep mistrust for the electoral process in the country. The lack of confidence in the system is largely responsible for the attitude of most Nigerians refraining from playing an active role of either voting for candidates of their choice or vying for political office. RSIEC must guard against those lapses.
Politicians, on their part, must understand that irrespective of their party affiliations, the common goal is the provision of good governance for the people. An election should never be a ‘‘do or die affair’’ and no aspirant is worth spilling blood for. Political positions are a call to service, not personal enterprises motivated by profits or bloody sports for which violent and fatal competitions are means. Experience has shown that arms provided for political thugs during elections, end up being tools for robberies and kidnappings after the election.
The idea of security agents acting the script of political actors should no longer amount to something in our polity. The nation currently faces perhaps its worst security challenges, and the police as well as other security agencies need the trust of Rivers people to enable them to carry out their duties effectively throughout the polls.
Law enforcement agents must protect both voters and election materials because it is their constitutional role to do so. The recent #Endbadgovernance protest, along with the violence that ensued, is a manifestation of the dissatisfaction of Nigerians with police operations. These security agencies must learn to commit themselves to their constitutional obligation and oath in the sustenance of democracy, rather than to any government official.
We must realise that ultimate power rests with the people, and the best way to exercise this power is through the electoral process. Hence, Rivers people must own the electoral operation, first by acquiring their permanent voters’ card, turn out en masse tomorrow to vote for candidates of their choice, and guarantee that their votes count. They have to elect responsible and responsive persons whose utmost interest will be the security and welfare of the people.
