By Obi Ebuka Onochie
This attack became the first recorded suicide bombing in the world. His action was not totally viewed as a cowardly act in the world as some people in some quarters viewed his assassination technique as noble and ultimate. Japan used suicide missions during the Second World War but the Arabs have made it part of global life.
Nigeria was once recognized as a country with the happiest people on earth and has never been a country known for suicide or terrorism. The insecurity in Nigeria has taking a dangerous dimension which if not tackled will frustrate all developmental efforts of the government. The present insecurity started in 60s through early 90s as ethno-religious crises and youth restiveness. The return to civilian rule in Nigeria came with it a big security problem that the ruling class has proven incompetent of handle. What we see in Nigeria today is no longer ethno-religious crises but pure terrorism orchestrated by forces within. Security in Nigeria in recent time supposed to be on top of government’s list of priority and not electricity. Electricity is important but we can’t over focus on it at the expense of our national security with the level of carnage going on weekly in Nigeria. Government has not shown any convincing action to the public in its commitment to solving this menace.
After the force Headquarters bombing, the police told the public that the bomber is a foreigner. Whether a Nigerian or not, it is still a security problem. If he is a foreigner according to the police, where was he from and how did he enter the country? Who and whom did he meet while in the country and for how long did he stay in the country before the attack? They should come up with concrete and believable information than feeding us with concocted information that always exposes their inability and unprofessionalism. For the fact that this kind of senseless bombing took place in security agency’s compound and one or two kilometers away from national assembly and As rock the seat of power shows the extent of weakness, loop hole and rot in our security system.
It can only be imagined what it will be like if Nigerian security is contending with insecurity threat posed directly by deadly terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and Taliban. Book Haram admires the Taliban and wants to replicate what the Taliban’s did in Afghanistan in Nigeria. The Taliban controlled Afghanistan with iron fist closer to totalitarianism where most aspects of Afghans’ lives were under their stiff control. If Book Haram should be putting a big and respected country like Nigeria to ridicule before the world and taking lives at will, what will happen if organizations like al-Qaeda develops interest in Nigeria? Some are arguing that Nigeria should be divided with the North going with Book Haram problem, the west with OPC problem, south south with MEND while east goes with MASSOB. In my view this is an unintelligent argument and isn’t an option at all. The problem of insecurity in Nigeria is not caused by our cooperate existence neither will it be solved by our division. The problem is with us as a people. The ruling class takes the lion share in the blame but we should not forget that the ruling class came from the masses except the police will tell us they are foreigners too.
We have cultivated the attitude of blaming external factors as the source of our problems and that is why we still blame the British as the source of problem Nigeria is facing after fifty years of independence. Countries like South Africa, Ghana, United States of America, India, Singapore, Canada, etc were all colonized by the British yet they have been able to move on with some of them greater than Britain herself. Nigerian newspapers have become crime watch tabloids as reports of insecurity and corruption take over 75% portions of newsprints. Suicide bombing is not a security joke as these miscreants savor the sight of public convergence and the thought of taking carnage of human lives along with them.
I don’t think any average Nigerian will welcome the idea of holidaying or going on business trip to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Before you think of yourself in Iraq or Afghanistan, think of how useless it will be running away from them when our social terrain is fast becoming theirs. Religious bigotry and political intolerance are all fuelling insecurity in Nigeria. Security outfits are no longer match to the secrecy and activities of these messengers of chaos, destruction and death. We are getting relaxed and used to insecurity, which is like sitting on a time bomb. I don’t think any country on the surface of the earth has succeeded politically, socially and economically in the midst of insecurity.
The rate of bombing in Nigeria since 1st January this year and security agency’s inability of arresting the situation could see this year beat 1996 as the year Nigeria recorded highest number of bomb explosions. If there is anytime Nigerian security agencies should work round the clock, it is now.
The president has said it himself that everybody is a target of suicide bombing and I thank God he knows but what I don’t know is if it was the nearness of the bombing that dawned the reality on him. Our president also said this is no time for lamentation but a time for transformation in his inaugural speech but we have been lamenting ever since. Some people have witnessed and used suicide mission individually or collectively and dropped it. It was once popular in Russia and Japan where it was used and dropped as soon as they don’t fancy its relevance again but Nigeria isn’t a country that forgoes negative concepts easily. If there is anything we hold tenaciously, it is indulgence in negativity owing to our polarized composition.
Obi Ebuka Onochie writes from University of Jos.
Mac_godson@yahoo.com
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