Presidential Fleet Attack by Bandits: No One Is Safe Now
By Ishaq Abdullahi
On Tuesday 5th July 2022, two tragedies befell Nigeria, which reveal how poor the security architecture of the country is and the vulnerability of the populace against attacks by terrorists or bandits.
Firstly, Kuje prison in Abuja was attacked and all the Boko Haram militants were freed. The militants operated unhindered for hours. And secondly, the advance party of the presidential convoy that consisted of DSS, Military and Journalists was attacked by bandits on their way to Buhari’s hometown Daura on the road to Dutsinma Local Government’ Area of Katsina State.
If the presidential convoy is not spared from bandit attacks, then nobody is safe in this country. The locals have since abandoned that dangerous road going through Dutsinma despite its short distance due to incessant attack on motorists by the bandits because of the proximity of that road to a forest that stretched up to some villages in Zamfara State which provide a safe shelter for the bandits.
The president spokesperson, Garba Shehu, confirmed the attack and described it as a sad event. Garba said the military in the convoy repelled the attack as some personnel who sustained minor injuries are receiving medical attention.
The terrorist attacks started from the Northeast Boko Haram which gradually permeated into the Northwest using the name Bandits to unleash violent attacks against unarmed citizens, killings, kidnapping, destruction of properties and displacement of people leading to a huge burden of refugee crisis in the region.
Government reactionary measures against the monsters has failed the people who are left at the mercy of the terrorists and has dampened their hopes of bringing to an end the menace of insecurities.
The Zamfara State governor has asked its citizens to arm themselves against terrorists, and a similar call was made not long ago by Katsina State governor but retracted as such calls may lead to anarchy. These measures have amplified the overwhelming situation of insecurities for the law enforcement agencies to handle.
Even the military were not immune from the terrorists’ attacks when recently; Shiroro military base was attacked in Niger State and many soldiers were killed, including civilians; the Kaduna train attack with some kidnapped victims still in captivity; the attacks on schools and the daily attacks on motorists flying Abuja-Kaduna road. The atrocities are on-going with no-sight for its ending.
People are no more giggling with the monotony of ineffective, toothless barking of President Buhari’s matching orders to the law enforcement agencies to rescue kidnapped victims alive and flush-out the criminals.
Government of the APC must review its present security structure to immediately address these daunting security challenges in the country, so that democracy and the 2023 elections will be safeguarded.
Presidential Fleet Attack by Bandits: No One Is Safe Now!
