ITS TIME FOR SOBER REFLECTION; DALUNG

The gruesome massacre of lives by criminals in the North under whatever nomenclature is unacceptable. These evil is flourishing because as a people we rationalised callousness, because we do not learn lessons? Boko haram started with bombing of churches but ended with a caliphate in the North East. It started with farmers/herders crisis in North Central that is now banditry and kidnapping in the North West.

What is the difference between the lives of innocent people celebrating wedding in Southern Kaduna and those of gallant frontline heroes ambushed in Katsina state? Or the lives of people who were raided under the cover of darkness in Plateau State or the lives of Humanitarian workers captured in active services and executed by wicked elements? 

Is there any difference whether those killed are either Christians or Muslims? Does it actually matter whether they are hausa-fulani or kagoma or berom? Is human life not the same or is there alternative interpretation of humanity?

Indeed our problem is attitunal which is corrupted by bigotry that is demeaning to humanity. Our reaction to calamity is measured by either religious or ethnic sentiments, why? That human beings created by God were murdered in cold blood while celebrating a wedding can be explained by those responsible calls for serious concerns. That a community is attacked, women are raped openly in the presence of families by bandits yet our reaction is merely condemnation is sickening?

The looming security situation is  scary because of the lack of unity in the North. Religion has been employed to divide us so much that evil is eliminating us one after the others. Those who survived boko haram will not escape bandits, those who survived herders attack will not escape kidnappers, those who survived the above because of exceptional privileges has covid to face, either way humanity is under ambushed.

The solution is unity, love, peace and justice. There's is so much injustices all over the North. Its either Islam versus Christianity, politics or ethnicity. Even within the minorities the level of injustice is mind blowing. How can peace be found in this type of environment? 

It is not enough to blame leadership or but let's search our conscience well, have we treated other human beings fairly? Do we have respect for human lives or for only those that are the same faith or tribe with us? Even though the failure of government to deal with the situation decisively has dampen the moral of community partnerships. Nonetheless, the option opens to the North is to sincerely purge itself of all these divisiveness, embrace its diversity, mobilise all without creed or tribe and deal with this ugly situation, otherwise we shall all be consumed by evil.

My heart is with the families of all those killed in Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Borno and Plateau States. May God grant the families the fortitude to overcome this difficult moment of grief. May their souls rest in perfect peace amen.