“One fact that must sink in our memory is this,Terrorism has no friend, it is an enemy of all. Terrorists are no friends to anyone, they could kill anyone. They could kill their parents, may kill their friends and could even kill themselves. Live has no meaning to them, they are enemies of all, including to themselves. In fact, they are enemies of live.”
When ever a bomb explode in any part of Nigeria, it is more like a blast in my heart. It is usually disheartening and regrettable that such an endless act of wickedness could be taking place in our dear nation.
However, anytime I read reports of any explosion, I feel the effect of such blast in my heart. It is usually as if the bombing took place right inside of me. I feel pain and unending sorry.
In recent times, the occurrences of such explosion had gone out of proportion. From Jos to Borno, Adamawa to Yobe,Gombe to kaduna and even Abuja to Lagos. Bomb blast could occur in any part of Nigeria as we speak and anyone could be victim.
According to Carsten Bockstette, George C. Marshall of Center for European Security Studies. Terrorism is defined as political violence in an asymmetrical conflict that is designed to induce terror and psychic fear (sometimes indiscriminate) through the violent victimization and destruction of noncombatant targets (sometimes iconic symbols). Such acts are meant to send a message from an illicit clandestine organization.
If this definition could be considered, I could say I am already a victim of terror since I have been terrorized and at the moment,I am scared for myself and my fellow country men who are likely to be victim of further attacks. I am scared because my fellow humans are dying,fellow Nigerians have been affected, women and children have been lost, Muslim and Christians are not safe and even northerners and southerners are not left out, who is left unaffected? I couldn’t see anyone.
In just one blast, countless of lives are lost, properties worth millions are destroyed,hope’s are dashed, dreams are shattered and bitterness plus endless grieve are ensured. Loved one’s are gone, able are turned disabled,children lost their parents and parents also lost their children. Even right now, I can still hear the crying voice of the dying victims and the grief of their families in my heart. Indeed, I am a victim of terror.
While we are crying,grieving and traumatized by such ugly experience in our national life, some are acquiring billions under the guise of security, while others are laughing, making calculations of the next political agenda. To them, it is all about politics and making money. The same people claim to be protecting the citizens, but when bomb explode and people are lost, they are the first to climb the podium dancing azonto while campaigning for next election. So unfortunate I must confess.
Most importantly, While we express our grieve on our social media pages seeking to get reasonable response from the authorities to prevent further lost, their political foot soldiers waste no time in bombing us even on the social media. To them, every call to reason is unwanted, every different opinion must be attacked and every sorrowful expression must be mocked.
Therefore, the dead are recklessly mocked and blamed for their death, their grieving friends and families are made a laughing stock carelessly, while our national sorrow is added with insult and bitter words capable of making every sane mind wonder if those who spite these mockery in the face of death and such DE-humanizing conditions are also humans.
To further establish the fact that these terror are closer to us than we think, the recent bomb blast which occurred in Gombe State happened right in front of my friends house, their building was seriously affected. We ought to praised the almighty because their was no one at home during the suicide mission.
However, a gallant Nigerian Soldier who himself had been complaining about the attitude of the authorities was lost in the blast. May his soul rest in peace.
In view of this recent development, we must all understand one thing, the next victim of bomb blast could be you, it could be me, it could be anybody. Therefore, If we fail to reason like the next target feeling we are safe in our room while mocking others, we may be affected and be the next to be mocked.
If we fail to stand on the path of truth, we may never get justice when we are affected. If we fail to desist from mocking the victims, the same people who mocked others with us may be the same to mock us.
Those who died in the latest Abuja bomb blast in Emmab plaza never believed it could happen in their vicinity (Wuse II). To them, it could only happen in the outskirt of Abuja. Some of them might have argued in favor of the oppressors, some probably mocked the victims of Nyanyan blast on the social media while supporting their political choices, yet today, they are also victims
Let me restate that, One fact that must sink in our memory is this,Terrorism has no friend, it is an enemy of all. Terrorists are no friends to anyone, they could kill anyone. They could kill their parents, may kill their friends and could even kill themselves. Live has no meaning to them, they are enemies of all, including to themselves. In fact, they are enemies of live.
Although, corruption has been aiding terrorism in Nigeria in no small way, however,the greatest support terrorism enjoy in this part of the world is the undue politicization of terror by the ruling government, which couldn’t only set the country ablaze, but could also breeds a very dangerous omen which if not discontinued could pitch our citizens against each other.
A situation where the rulling political party release press statements blaming the opposition party for every bomb blast that exploded without any concrete evidence to back up such claim is not only an unforgivable sin,but a crime that must be properly documented in history and adequately punished in due time. The officers releasing such statement must be well documented in case anything happens,they must be held responsible.
It is my believe that, while many are needed to aid a cause, one man can drive a dream to fruition. South Africa needed one man (Nelson Mandella) to end Apartheid. I am of the opinion that, If only one man died in any blast, probably, it could the man destined to accomplish a great task for Nigeria. If Nelson Mandella had died in a blast before South Africa was freed of Apartied, who would have ended Apartied? But in our case, not one man is lost in our countless blasts, countless are dying daily right in front of us and yet, we mock them under the guise of gaining political advantage.
Similarly, 6 suspects arrested in connection with the attempt to bomb winners chapel church in owerri, Imo state were said to have been released on bail.
According to the police, the 6 suspects comprise one Nigerian, two Tanzanian, one American and two Ugandans. It was reported on page 43 of leadership newspaper on June 26th,2014.
It is my concern that, If suspects who were arrested in the scene were released on bail simply because they are not northern,yet, over 483 northerners who were simply traveling in a bus were still held captive as suspects, how can such absurdity be justified?
It should be recalled that, as a result of the attempted bomb blast in a church, northerners in Imo state were asked to appear for profiling and documentation,which was a clear attempt at stigmatizing them as terrorists. Yet, those suspects caught in the scene were left to walk free simply because they were not northerners. This is a very bad development.
I am of the opinion that, if such impression is allowed to spread among the northern population, I fear for my southern brothers and sisters living in the north, as they may equally face similar stigma and even more.
The authorities must act fast to avoid setting the country ablaze. Though, people can be patient, but not for too long when they are pushed to the wall.
We must do justice even to our enemies.
______________________
Written By Abdulrazaq O. Hamzat
[email protected]
Disclaimer
It is the policy of Newswirengr not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party.
Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Newswirengr
