In the past week, at least 239 people were killed and 44 others kidnapped in separate violent incidents across Nigeria mostly by the heavily armed terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Twenty-seven boys and their teachers were taken from a school in Kagara, Niger state. At least 20 students and three staff members of Greenfield University, a private academic institution in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, 3 were killed last week and 2 more killed yesterday. Gunmen invaded the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, and abducted an undisclosed number of students as confirmed by the institution confirmed on Monday, April 26, 2021. Since December 2020, around 730 students have been abducted, disrupting the studies of more than five million children, UN agency UNICEF said.
Across the nation, the tension has extended into different states. No fewer than nine people were killed on Monday when hoodlums invaded Ukpomachi community, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria. Over 3,000 people have been displaced following an attack on the Kauri Community of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State where the Boko Haram terrorists have hoisted their flag. 4 military men and 5 policemen have also been killed by unnamed gunmen in Rivers and Imo state respectively
Although President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the killings on Saturday in a statement. “Banditry, kidnapping, and the politics of murders will be fought with all the resources available to our country,” Buhari said, describing the recurring incidents of kidnappings and killings as “barbaric terror attacks”, very little has been done to take control of the nation from these bandits.
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) also known as the Pirates Confraternity, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to be courageous enough to admit that his government was overwhelmed by the worsening security situation in the country. Nobel Laureate and elder statesman, Prof Wole Soyinka also reacted to the recent killing of Greenfield University students stating emphatically to the government, ” Seek Help. Stop Improvising with Human Lives. Youth – that is, the future – should not serve as Ritual Offering on the altar of a failing State”
