By Chima Christian
1,336 — that’s the number of human beings that were killed by terrorists in Plateau State alone between December 2023 and February 2024.
These are not just numbers, they are people’s parents, children, siblings, aunties, cousins, grandparents. These are one thousand three hundred and thirty-six unique individuals — all with different stories and different aspirations.
Not only has Nigeria failed as a state, Nigerians, by not demanding enough, are collectively failing in this regard. How many thousand deaths should we get to before we collectively tell the government that it’s enough! What’s the threshold? Do we even have a limit?
Our best chance at fighting this criminality is by banding together and FORCING the government to put a stop to it. No region in Nigeria should consider itself exempt from these killings. Beyond the Middle-Belt, these killings now happen in the South-East, South-South, South-West, North-East and North-West.
By refusing to engage these heinous crimes as acts of terrorism, the Federal Government of Nigeria has not only become irresponsible, but they may also be technically aiding and abetting terrorism. But it’s not too late for Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation to invoke Section 48 of Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 to call this wild dog its proper name.
Weeping may endure for the night.
Africa’s morning is at hand.
Reprinted with permission of Chima Christian.
Chima Christian is a policy advisor, good government advocate and opinion journalist at the Boqer School of Government. He is the featured voice at the podcast, Mending INTERCONNECTEDNESS, With Chima Christian
