Baga Killing: What Is Happening Nigeria?

It is all over the news the incident that happened in Baga, Borno State. Reports have it that about 185 people lost their lives in the massacre.

Residents of the town said the victims died during the clash, from Friday night to Saturday morning, between insurgents and the Nigerian Joint Task Force, JTF; with majority dying from a resulting fire that razed the community. While residents claim the fire was started by the soldiers, the JTF said the fire was caused by the Rocket Propelled Grenades used by the insurgents.

Apart from the people killed, about 2000 houses, 64 motorcycles and 40 vehicles were also burnt in the attack; even as the Nigerian Red Cross said the casualty is 187.

There have been claims and counter-claims. Who caused what? How many people died, how many did not die? Government has set up a committee to look into the incident. Anger and condemnation is coming from different quarters.

But is this killing not becoming one too much? Innocent lives been lost, properties destroyed and people's future been destroyed. The insecurity and fear among the people is palpable. The trust for the government and it capacity to bring result is plummeting. Where is Nigeria heading? What is happening Nigeria?

The attack by BH has crippled the economy of the north but the approach by the government does not seem to be helping matters. The use of force is been misdirected in my opinion. There have been reports of innocent lives been terminated by the Armed personnel sent to protect lives and fight the insurgents. 

Is their brief to use their weapons indiscriminately? Are there no rules of engagement in this assignment? Are the commanders not using their discretion? What is happening to intelligence gathering? Are the intelligence working at all or are their reports put aside until a committee can ascertain the report?

Now that the government has set up a committee, I hope that the report of the committee will be made public. I also hope that action will be taken instead of setting up another committee to look into the report of this committee. I am not in anyway satisfy with the activities of this government in terms of restoring security to the north in particular and Nigeria in general.

It is a shame that human lives are being treated without regard or respect. Nigerians' lives are just like the lives of goats and cows which can be snuffed out at will by anybody, soldier or BH. When a Nigerian is killed you can be sure that our government will not react in any way even after many calls from different quarters. US will never behave like that. In the recent Boston bombing, the US president said the culprits will be caught and, you know what, they have been arrested. 

In Nigeria, many bomb blasts have occurred and several lives lost, how many people have been arrested? In fact when the bomb blasts occurred the government did not give any categorical statement except to say that they are on top of the issue. They are on top of it and cannot pick the culprits, what a shame.

It is time our government woke up to their responsibility. Nigerians are tired of committees, we are tired of 'we are on top of the situation", we want to see action, we want to see arrests of the real culprits.We want the government to come out and tell us what they have done and the result they have achieved. Enough of the standstill, we need more of action. We are waiting even though we have waited enough.

God help Nigeria!

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel