THE FACT NIGERIANS HAVE ABOUT THE MAMBILLA PLATEAU CRISIS IN TARABA STATE

The recent communal clash between the fulani and natives of the Mambilla plateau in Sardauna LG of Taraba State has been perceived to be a point of reference should the Federal Government not take the lives of every Nigerian to be worth protecting. The fact laid bare before the masses, and every patriotic Nigerian will agree to, is that the Federal Government is unfair in its response to similar and obviously more serious crisis in recent times.

Following the clash, the Fulani communities in the area on June 21 pleaded for the intervention of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in what they described as "genocide" being perpetrated against them and the Federal Government, in response to their call, swiftly deployed troops in the area. As part of the Federal Government’s rapid response to the crisis, it dispatched the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to the state.
We are in a day and age wherewith the destination and direction of our collective unity must be defined and cogent steps must be taken to address issues like National stakeholders, rule of law and the concept of nationhood.

No attacks in recent history has received so much attention and lopsided condemnation like the Mambilla upheaval (so called massacre) in Nigeria. Not even that of Southern Kaduna, Zaki Biam or Plateau in recent past, from scholars, politicians and religious leaders.

Is there a battle for supremacy that this ugly event seem to expose? Are some people more important than others? Is the life of any, other than the Fulanis less valuable?

Agitations seem to be brewing from all sides and we still sit to believe that the worst democratic government is better than the best military government (no incitement intended), when decorum and self-respect is at the brink of despondency?

Do we fold our arms and watch effortlessly the disintegration of hard earned independence? Do we sit in abject poverty in the hope that someday, someone from somewhere will emerge as our messiah without personal interest and agenda?

Are we looking up to a political party or rich mogul raised with stolen funds from taxpayers money or from some source we have no idea about rule us to oblivion?

Mambilla is the last untapped treasure of the North and milking her of her decades of peace is endangering Taraba and its environs to a war without end! There is a subtle agenda growing roots for decades and no one seems to be doing anything about it.

Groups, which commented on the Federal Government’s response to the Taraba state crisis, said it was glaring that the government was protecting the killer Fulani.

The President, National Council of Tiv Youths,  Dr. John Akperashi, alleged that the government had a way of rising up to the help of the Fulani whenever the herders appeared to be at the receiving end.

Akperashi added, “Anytime there is a clash with the Fulani herdsmen, especially whenever they are being defeated and over powered, you will see an immediate response from the government. This is what has taken place in the Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

“That is why you will know that there are certain interests beyond what we see with ordinary eyes. It might be due to religious inclination or for economic benefits. But whatever it is, there should be no preference for the lives of animals over that of human beings.”

The Publicity Secretary of the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, the Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, accused the government of pursuing an “apartheid policy” in favour of the rampaging herdsmen.

He said, “Welcome to apartheid Nigeria, where a group is superior to the others. We have had various attacks by Fulani herdsmen all over the country. Olu Falae, a former Secretary to Government of the Federation, was abducted by herdsmen.

“Cows are chasing children out of schools in Edo and Anambra states, there was no word from the Federal Government.

“But now that the herdsmen had come under attacks in Taraba, the government has deployed police and soldiers there and that tells you that a group is superior to others in Nigeria.”

The Campaign for Democracy and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights warned the Army not to take sides in its interventions in the crisis in the Sardauna LGA of Taraba State.

The CD President, Usman Abdul, who lamented that the military had been polarised along ethnic lines, said such disposition was a “bad omen” for national security.

Abdul stated, “Unless our military harps on its professionalism, we will continue to be in this situation. Our military has now been divided and polarised along ethnic and regional lines. And it is not a good omen in the fight against internal threats, not to talk of external aggressions.

“What is happening now in Taraba State is not a good omen. You will see that in some previous herdsmen attacks in Nasarawa, there are Army barracks around the communities – one in Lafia and another in Keffi – and also the Air Force base in Makurdi. But these attacks went on and you did not see rapid military responses. This is sad.

“As citizens of this country, we know that what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. The military must not be found sectionalising or regionalising. This would not go well with our security apparatus.”

The CDHR President, Malachy Ugwummadu, said, “The failure of the government to nip the perennial killings in these communities in the bud leaves a bad taste. This challenge will be compounded if there are noticeable breaches by otherwise professional bodies, such as the military.

“Whether in Taraba or other communities, the fact that some innocent lives can be hacked to death without any arrest made it a sad commentary for our country.”