History is stubborn, it can not be erased!
Just look back at these 10 intriguing headlines in the past and make an overview where we are now security-wise as a nation.
Can we make meaning out of them?
- Boko Haram picks Buhari to moderate talks with the government of Nigeria.
The Nation Newspaper, November 2, 2012.
https://thenationonlineng.net/boko-haram-picks-buhari-to-moderate-talks-with-govt/ - Stop killing Boko Haram members, Buhari tells FG.
PointBlank News, June 2, 2013
http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/stop-killing-boko-haram-members-buhari-tells-fg/ - Buhari faults clampdown on Boko Haram members.
The Nation, June 2, 2013
https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-faults-clampdown-on-boko-haram-members/ - Military Offensive Against Boko Haram, Anti-North – Buhari.
All Africa News, June 3, 2013.
https://allafrica.com/stories/201306030384.html - “How Buhari stopped us from fighting Boko Haram” – South African mercenaries.
The Guardian Newspaper, November 26, 2018.
https://allafrica.com/stories/201811270024.html - FG is setting our killers free – soldiers kick as 1,400 Boko Haram suspects are released.
The Cable, February 11, 2020
https://www.thecable.ng/fg-is-setting-our-killers-free-soldiers-kick-as-1400-boko-haram-suspects-are-released - Nigerian government to release 603 repentant Boko Haram terrorists back to society.
Sahara Reporters, June 11, 2020.
http://saharareporters.com/2020/06/11/nigerian-government-release-603-repentant-boko-haram-terrorists-back-society-july - 356 soldiers tender resignation to Buratai, cite loss of sincerity in Boko Haram War.
Punch, July 12, 2020.
https://punchng.com/356-soldiers-tender-resignation-to-buratai-cite-loss-of-interest/ - 601 ex-Boko Haram combatants graduate in Gombe.
The Nation, July 26, 2020.
https://thenationonlineng.net/601-ex-boko-haram-combatants-graduate-in-gombe/ - 601 repentant terrorists graduate, receive first payments.
Punch Newspaper, July 26, 2020.
https://punchng.com/601-repentant-terrorists-graduate-paid-n20000-each/
Oh God, have mercy on Nigerians
Boko Haram, ISWAP sponsors: Buhari’s govt accused of having ‘skeletons in cupboard’
The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of deliberately refusing to uncover names of Nigerians that are allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram, Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other terrorist groups in the country.
The Buhari-led government had on several occasions, announced the discovery of those allegedly financing terrorism and causing havoc in many parts of the country, particularly the Northeast.
President Buhari had on October 1, 2021, alleged that an unidentified member of the National Assembly and other individuals were sponsoring terrorism, even the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB was fingered in the accusations.
However, nine months later, the names of the alleged sponsors are yet to be made known to the general public despite calls by Nigerians, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the alleged financiers.
In February, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, during a press briefing in Abuja, said about 123 companies and 96 financiers of terrorism, particularly those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP have been uncovered.
Reacting, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubuko in an interview, accused the Buhari administration of deliberately withholding the names of the alleged sponsors.
HURIWA alleged that the Federal Government is not serious about ending the insecurity across the country, insisting that the government has the data of Nigerians and should be able to fish out the alleged financers.
He said, “The secrecy surrounding the unveiling of the identities of the terrorism sponsors is a pointer to the fact that some persons in government are into something that they don’t want Nigerians to know. Nigerians have the right to know those who have made life very unfortunate for them for more than a decade.
“The government has skeletons in its cupboard and that is why they keep violating the rights of Nigerians to know the sponsors of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. This is why they are after radio stations and other media platforms, trying to silence the voice of Nigerians.
“The attorney general of the federation once told Nigerians that they have compiled over 400 names of some terrorists and have charged them to court, where is that case and what is the status of that matter?”, Onwubiko asked
Recall that a former Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Ojukwu, had asked the federal government to stop making mere media announcements of the existence of sponsors of terrorism but have them arrested and prosecuted.
While featuring on Channels Television earlier in February, the ex-police boss said, “To finance terrorism is a criminal offence, the laws are there, activate the legal process and get them arrested”.
According to him, the FG should stop disturbing Nigerians with the news of discovery but should come up with the identities of the alleged sponsors.
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