Nyanya residents in the shadow of death

The first bomb blast might have seemed surreal, but the second has undoubtedly pricked those who work and live at Nyanya to sordid reality.

The fear in the streets of Nyanya is palpable. Bus stations are near desolation. The popular Nyanya Market, which hitherto mustered a bubbling crowd of customers, is now scanty. Just as traders are kvetching about low patronage, commercial drivers have their tales of lamentation.

And obeying a “fear code”, some youths in some neighbourhoods have turned vigilantes, stopping anyone from parking their vehicles on their streets. Suspicion looms like a dark cloud in the town. Everyone is a “suspect” to everyone else. Do not talk to strangers; avoid busy places and gatherings; and most importantly, mind your business! That is how Nyanya is now. This is the state of a once-bubbly, vivacious, cordial and peaceful town.

TheCable interviewed common folks who live and work at the town, to sample their raw feelings on Boko Haram’s onslaughts. Some of the respondents expressed a lack of trust in the ability of security agencies to prevent similar attacks. All they can do is hope that God will shield them from minatory terror.

Isa, a NURTW worker, prays for the attacks to stop. He complains that since the attacks, he has witnessed a dwindling of his pittance, because passengers no longer come to the bus station where he works to board buses. “Everyone is afraid of the unknown,” he says. “The fear is so deep that people harass one another without reason.”

Abdullahi believes that prayers are what is needed to stop the attacks. He admits that he is afraid, and that the attacks have changed the way people relate to one another at Nyanya. Albeit unusual, he does not blame the government for the attacks. He thinks that God’s intervention is what is needed most, and not government’s intervention.

Abdullahi, a driver, wonders why the attacks are targeted at ordinary people who have no say in government. However, he prays that God gives Nigeria’s leaders the wisdom to fight terrorism. He also laments the cruelty of soldiers deployed to monitor the area. “I don dey do frog jump since morning because I park somewhere,” he moans. He also cries that the attacks have affected his business greatly, such that for he now, goes home to his wife and children without money.

Meanwhile, Sharon, a ticket officer at Nyanya Main Bus station, says tersely: “We don’t have anything like passengers. Everybody is afraid of entering the park. As you can see the place is dry.”

Segun states that everybody is afraid of what is happening — not only at Nyanya, but also all over Nigeria. He calls on the government to empower security agencies to monitor all the activities of people at Nyanya. He also states that the security agents and their vehicles should be checked properly, because some terrorist attacks are carried out by men in military uniforms.

Kayode laments that there is no security at Nyanya. “Everyone is afraid of what will happen next,” he says. “Government must provide adequate security for us because many people live here.”

Joseph, a trader, is unhappy about what is happening in the once-gregarious town. He appeals to the government to fortify security in the area. He also decries the frequent harassment of traders by soldiers at Nyanya market where he does his business, saying this will not stop the bombing.

Sunday, a businessman, commends security agencies for their efforts, but says sarcastically that “Boko Haram is on top of the situation.” He adds that he thought the first bomb blast would be the last, but has now been awakened to the dreadful reality of terrorism.

Pascal, a journalist, states emphatically that there may be another attack, because terrorism cannot be eradicated. “It can only be reduced”, he says. He condemns northern leaders for not mobilising their people to fight the menace, using the successful fight against armed robbery in the southeast of the country as an example. He argues that to reduce the frequency of attacks, government must emphasise intelligence-gathering, and that people must be ready to work in collaboration with security agencies. He advocates the use of naked force to crush Boko Haram.

The fears of these people are also shared by some people in the neighbouring town of Karu.

Ibrahim, a cleaner, is afraid that the next attack may be at Karu, since the site of the recent attack is very close to the town. He wonders why the attacks are not targeted at the government and “big men”, but poor, innocent people. “It is a hopeless situation, because the government cannot fight invisible people.”

Odia, a civil servant, has been having nightmares since news of the attack broke. He confesses that he is tired of living in the town, and predicts that they may be war in Nigeria next year. He is planning to leave the country this year, so that he will not be caught up in the war. He believes that the government is not responding actively to terrorism in the country.

A fear of an imminent attack has enveloped the city of Abuja. A message circulating now states: “Please stay away from Wuse Market, Garki Market, Utako Market and Shoprite for now, as it has been gathered that Boko Haram is targeting these places…”

However, Force Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who spoke with TheCable, dismissed the message as false. “There is nothing on the ground that lends credence to that story,” he says.