Emergency rule and agony of residents

[PeoplesDaily]

Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

It was not for nothing that not a few individuals and organizations had voiced their opposition when it filtered out that President Goodluck Jonathan was planning to declare a state of emergency in states that were under serious security challenge. The opposition political parties and the Northern Elders Forum, among others were opposed to it. Even those in support, it was a guarded one laced with caution. But even without the state of emergency condition, many innocent citizens in those places exposed to the security challenges had fatally fallen victims of the overzealousness of security operatives and many more ended up wrongly arrested, detained and tortured, even as yet more were rendered homeless, in the government's efforts to address the security challenges with brute force. This is even against the counsel of US and other Western nations, who, as it were, have taken the so called war against terrorism to a questionable level. Indeed, there have been widespread allegations of extra judicial killings and other atrocities leveled against the security agencies operating in those places, notably Borno and Yobe states, the home base of the insurgent Boko Haram group, which is presumed to be at the back of most of the killings, bomb attacks and other criminal activities in those states and beyond. To be sure, some human rights groups have even threatened to drag the security agencies before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crime against humanity following the demolition of Baga town by the military after the alleged killing of one soldier by the insurgents. Indeed, human rights groups and other activists have severally accused the military and other security agencies of extrajudicial killings and wrongful arrests ever since the beginning of the Boko Haram crisis when their leader, Mohammed Yusuf and his father in law were allegedly extra-judicially executed by the police in 2009 during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua.

Indeed, few people outside the Jonathan government gave their imprimatur when the President eventually declared a state of emergency on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states exactly a week ago today.

But this was not the first time a state of emergency was declared by the Jonathan administration in the north to address security challenges. In January last year, a state of emergency was imposed on parts of Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger states shortly after the 2011 Christmas Day bomb attack at Saint Theresa's Catholic Church in Suleja, Niger state, which left more than 40 people dead and many more injured.

Few days after last week's declaration of the state of emergency, the Army shut down parts of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in a 24-hour curfew following the detonating of a bomb on Saturday by Boko Haram insurgents, which led to the death of two Maiduguri residents. The curfew was only relaxed yesterday after taking its toll on the people of the affected communities.

Spokesman for the JTF, Lt- Colonel Sagir Musa, announced the curfew in a terse statement at the weekend. According to the statement, "The task force, in order to sustain the ongoing special operation in the face of recent Boko Haram attacks in some areas within Maiduguri metropolis, is imposing 24 hours curfew with effect from Saturday".

Expectedly, as the 'war' rages between the military, which has deployed thousands of troops to the affected states, and the Boko Haram insurgents, innocent residents have have continued to bear the brunt of the conflict, more so in the light of the imposition of the round the clock curfew. Already, over 2000 Nigerians have reportedly fled their homes in Abadam local government area in Borno North Senatorial District on machines, cars and bicycles and others on foot and crossed over into Niger Republic. Just as disturbing is the fact that not only are residents fast running out of basic necessities such as food, water and medicines, even those falling sick cannot seek medical attention in hospitals as the curfew has condemned all but a few to remain at home. While the living are caught in a state of siege, even those fatally caught in the crossfire are not allowed to rest in peace, as getting their corpses to the cemetery or mortuary have become problematic under the curfew.

According to reports, over 50 trucks and trailers conveying food items, toiletries, firewood, petrol and other items to border towns were at the weekend prevented from leaving Maiduguri. Also, many trucks and trailers conveying similar items were stopped in other areas that link border towns, like Gamboru Ngala Road in Custom area.

One of the drivers the trucks, Goni Alkali lamented "My vehicle has been here since Friday afternoon. I am supposed to convey these items (toiletries) to Monguno, but to my surprise, I was stopped here by soldiers who said they would not allow me to pass."

Most affected areas are Gamboru, Mairi Kuwait, Bakin Kogi, Kasuwan Shanu, Ruwan Zafi, 202 Quarters, Dikwa Quarters, Low-Cost, Sinimari, 505 Housing Estate, Chad Basin Area, 303 Housing Estate and Baga Road.

A resident of 505 Housing Estate, who managed to move out of Maiduguri lamented that people in the curfew areas were in distress.

"Borehole operators cannot pump out water for the people and community markets where vegetables and cereals are sold have been closed which makes it difficult for families to get anything," he said.

He said people were taken unawares, and so they did not have chance to stockpile any food.

"Most of them live hand-to-mouth and their breadwinners have to go out and look for what to give their families every day. Now that everybody is at home, you can imagine the trauma they are passing through," he said.

He said residents of the densely populated Kwanar Yobe area rely on the few households with water reservoirs to get water.

Without doubt, such state of affairs is only to be expected, especially under a 'war' condition in which only one of the combating sides is visible. Collateral damage therefore is an inevitability that can only be minimised.

In that regard, leading Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana warned the security operatives against using extra judicial measures in the execution of their assignment during the campaign, saying that any person who participates in such crimes should be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

"Anybody that is found liable in the situation that is going on will definitely be taken to the Hague [for] trial," he warned, adding that "That's why we have warned the JTF operatives to watch out and to be very careful."

The post Emergency rule and agony of residents appeared first on Peoples Daily Newspaper, Nigeria.

Peoples Daily Newspaper