Boko Haram: Unnecesary burden

“ the heart of man to man.

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”

Civilian: Have you heard the latest news?

Neighbour: What is the news? I hope it has to do with the economy because l am getting tired of this country, Mr Civilian , l beg gist me the latest news .

Civilian: l did not manufacture the news if that is what is in your mind. It is from the office of the spokesman to the Chief of Army staff .

Neighbour: That office sef, they like being in the news every time as if they are politician. Have they finished fighting the Boko boys?

Civilian: You almost removed the food from my mouth.

Neighbour: You don’t mean it, so the gist must be hot.

Civilian: it was disclosed to newsmen , by the Defence Headquarters, that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are presently undergoing deradicalization programs .

Neighbour: Waahoo! , these Boko boys are like soldier ants continuously multiplying and stressing and overwhelming our soldiers..

Civilian: (cuts in) ) l don’t think so, l think the government and our security agencies like the intelligence community, especially the police and the secret service, are culpable in this Boko Haram holaballo.

Neighbour: ( burst into laughter) you want to show me that you just came back from Cambridge , well, the truth of the matter is that, if the government refuses to put on their thinking cap, we may all start saying UHURU . Can you imagine what those residents along the fringes of our boarders would have been passing through , economically, insecurity, and otherwise. What surprises me is that, why are they quick to disclose the causality figure of the repentant terrorists but would keep mute when civilians are killed. Is this not hypocritical?

Civilian: I am more surprised than you after ruminating over all the attrocities perpetrated by these heartless bloodthirsty terrorists known as Boko Haram boys .. Most painful is this surprise chameleonic display of being repentant fellows. yet the government swallowed all the pretentious moves ,hook ,line, and sinker as if there is no one that is thimking through these pretentious falsehood.

Neighbour:lam also flagabasted and seriously worried each time the military announces that these terrorists have repented and my response had always been, “why cant they repemt to God their creator after they must have been dispatched to hell”.

Civilian: That was sound reasoning except the United Nations would view such action as against international law, which frowns at the killing of surrendering war criminals . Unfortunately, many countries don’t comply with such obnoxious law. After obtaining firearms illegally and rendering innocent people homeless and even killing them, thereby turning many into orphans and widows , my friend that international law seems like a tall order. No womder many countries even the so call foreign countries, hardly obey the law.

Neighbour: That was the reason why the United States created an island where war criminals are dumped . Nigeria used to have such an island known as Snake Island. l think such a place is necessary for these so-called “Repentant terrorists”. Have you noticed that, when they want to downplay their attrocities, they are described as just Boko Haram criminals but when they want the public to see them as they are, then, they are described as terrorists. The truth is that they are unnecessary and burdened to the country. A burden that we would have disposed of from the beginning of the insurgency . If we had empowered the mobile police force to root them out of MAIDUGURI before they festered like cancer. A burden that has brought destruction to families and the country an unquntifiable destruction

Olopa: Good point, my friend, l have been listening to both of you, and l believe this is the appropriate place for me to interject and contribute my opinion. As a retired mobile officer, we were trained to be fearless and confront any situation headon no matter the situation. So, the government failed from the onset by not allowing the mobile police squad to be drafted to the embattled state. By not drafting the mobile police further escalated the insurgency . By deploying the military to quell the insurgency, it further exacerbated the situation. In fact, this is why war mongers were able to hijack the war, and the government became overwhelmed.

Civilian: Famtastic analysis, except that you forgot to mention that the unending drama of Boko Haram boys and girls’ suspicious surrender that had always made the front page headlines is turning the action into a laughable agenda.

Olopa: (Cuts in ) l was going to ask some fundamental questions. How were they able to communicate their intentions to the military when they the terrorists were scattered . Also, why are security journalists not carried along by allowing them to interview these terrorists once they claim to have repented and surrender. Also, why is their interrogation not thourough by digging into the identities of their sponsors and those behind the supply and financing of illegal firearms.

Neighbour: The way we are going, our patriotic zeal can push us into asking why they embrace the agenda and philosophy of the evil sect. Don’t also forget that these so described “repentant “ terrorists were the same suspects the last administration cried to high heaven, that they know who their sponsors are, yet, till date , not even a fly had been charged to court.

Olopa: Tell me something about my neighbour. What a forgetful people. We carry on as if nothing is happening . Do you want me to cry by recounting why l left the police? I know that my colleagues are now state command commissioner. However, l don’t regret bowing out honourably. Do you know the total number of repentant Boko Haram members as of today? , that is discussion for another day.

Civilian: It’s very painful, my friend OLOPA. What can be the solution to these repentant surrender Bo,o Haram members? Have you noticed that they count innocent children to be among the total repentant members? So, what could little children who can not spell the word “ BOKO “ ,be added to the number , if not to swell the number, and give the impression that they are working. We know when they are truly working. Even the president acknowledge their patriotism and always encourages their leaders.

Olopa: (cuts in ) if for no other action, I love the way the Commander In Chief used to encourage the military, My take in all of these, is that, l want to see the end of this menace call BOKO HARAM.

Civilian: I just want to know who is responsible for their welfare? So, after killing innocent people, they now pretended to have repented ,so that they can be served free food while millions of Nigerians are going to bed in their empty stomach, l think this should stop. They should be allocated with farm land for them to farm what they would eat with their families.

Olopa: I totally subscribe to that reasoning. If you take public opinion, you will be surprise what would be going on in the minds of many people against these so described repentant Boko Haram members. It’s time for prayer. Gentlemen, I am off, see you next week.