The Execution Of General Musa Uba, Insecurity And State Negligence -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

The news of the abduction and execution of Brigadier General Musa Uba, a general in the Nigerian army, and his men the penultimate week by the members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) militia seems to have simmered down following the conviction of the Nnamdi Kanu the controversial leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but the implication of the killing of a Nigerian army general by a gang of terrorists seems to be staring us squarely in the face. Some argued that the hasty and controversial judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was diversionary; to divert attention from the real threat of the religious fundamentalist groups that have waged war against the state, that has attracted the attention of the White House, and to make people believe that the IPOB group earlier labeled a terrorist group and proscribed by Buhari are part of the nation’s security problems too that should be tackled headlong.

Be that as it may, there is no gainsaying that the security situation in Nigeria currently is deplorable. No part of the country is safe. Incidences of killing and wanton destruction of lives and property by terrorists have become commonplace. Kidnapping for ransom is growing in leaps and bounds. On our highways and villages these daredevil bandits operate unhindered while the government play politics with it. It is estimated that between 2023 and 2025 over 15,000 thousand Nigerians have met their untimely death in the hands of the terrorist while scores are kidnapped on daily basis for ransom. Unfortunately, Tinubu government seems helpless or nonchalant about the whole security debacle making many wonder if the government is using security as a weapon of governance.

Without doubt, the level of insecurity in Nigeria is more than enough to make the president resign his position. He has shown gross incompetence and lack of will power to tackle insecurity in the land. The primary function of the government is to protect lives and property and improve the well-being of the citizenry but Tinubu has failed woefully in this and other areas of national life. Every year trillions of tax payers’ money is budgeted for defense but what we get from it is insecurity. Sometimes we have security operatives molesting citizens in the streets instead of battling terrorists and bandits. Worse still, nobody is tried; nobody is punished for the collapse of the nation’s security architecture. And, it is insinuated in some quarters that the promoters and sponsors of terrorists in Nigeria are known and yet no arrests has been made but government seems concerned about hunting protesters and agitators.

The capture and execution of Brigadier General Musa Uba and that of other high ranking officers in recent time clearly demonstrates the rot in the Nigeria armed forces and security structure. It shows that Nigeria is not just the poverty capital of the world but also, the most dangerous place to live on earth right now. It appears that Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen are safer to inhabit than Nigeria now.

Many are of the opinion that the slain general was a victim of set-up within the military hierarchy. I don’t what exactly happen but it is suspicious that such a high-ranking officer of his status could be so easily captured and slaughtered by the insurgents. We are aware that the army is already polluted and infiltrated by the Bokoharam insurgents following Mohammadu Buhari’s dangerous policy of recruiting the so-called repented Bokoharam militants into the Nigerian Army. It is believed that these Bokoharam sympathizers in the army are the ones sabotaging troop operation giving vital information about troop’s movement, making it possible for the terrorists to ambush troops and attack them.

Secondly, the APC government has been grossly negligent about fighting terrorism. The reason ranges from ethnicity, politics to religion. It is on record that the former president, Mohammadu Buhari was reluctant to fight Bokoharam and criticized Goodluck Jonathan for doing so. To him fighting Bokoharam is like declaring war against the North.  And evidently, it is like Tinubu lacks the political will to fight Bokoharam too in order not to anger the almighty North, his eyes fixed on the 2027 presidential election.

If the government want to fight insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria, it must first fish out the sponsors and then cut off their source of funds and supplies. The government should identify and flush out of the army the sympathizers of Bokoharam especially the ones recruited by Buhari.

Again, the government should genuinely seek collaborative effort with other nations especially in the Sahel Region to share intelligence and for joint operation. The government can approach some western countries for assistance instead of playing the ostrich.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK