One week, many tragedies

The week ending March and starting April was one that came with many tragedies for Nigerians. It was a period terrorism reigned supreme in Kaduna state, leaving many including the government and security agencies bewildered.

On Monday, March 28, terrorists attacked a moving train, bombed it to a halt, hijacked the situation, killed many, maimed and injured some, kidnapped many, and left others traumatised. Information had it that the DSS had intel of the planned attack and did nothing to prevent it, but that is a story for another day. I have often talked about Nigerian security agencies growing up from running after what is left of an attack to preventing them or arresting the situation while it is ongoing, but we are not ready for that conversation.

Kidnappers always make contact with their victim’s family using a telephone number, yet these criminals have never been clamped down on. Even after Isa Pantami asked all sim cards to be registered and linked to NIN, the essence of that exercise is still for the fun of it and has not yielded any result in preventing crimes and improving the terrible security situation across the country.

During the past week, I was under the weather, and recovering from malaria and typhoid, but the news coming in from left and right was not palatable at all. As if that Monday attack was not enough, these terrorists confidently carried out many other operations across Kaduna state with complete disregard for the police, military or any security agency at that. While the family of victims was mourning their loss including that of Doctor Chinelo Megafu Nwando on Monday, these terrorists were carrying out fresh attacks in other places within the same state.

Young and vibrant Chinelo had served at the Kaduna State Dental Centre and worked with St Gerrard’s Hospital, Kakuri before boarding the ill-fated train. While on the train, under attack and in pain from gunshot wounds, she cried for help to the world in a tweet that reads: “I’m in the train, I have been shot. Please pray for me.” Perhaps she was thinking that Nigeria and the security agencies are like her who will rush to a patient in distress and help them reduce their pain. Or perhaps she already knew the country she was in but just wanted to try her luck if she would make it out alive. We all know how it ended, Nigeria failed her, she died and her career came to an abrupt end.

These terrorists made a mess of the Nigerian security system, rubbished the effort of the state government, if there was any, and successfully carried out their assignment unhindered. Attacks on travellers are now their new strategy, and the aim is crystal clear — create fear and establish the fact that they can operate any day, any time, and anywhere they like, as well as how long they want the operations to last. What a shame.

The Monday attack happened just after a similar attack was carried out at the Kaduna International Airport, after which another train station was attacked. Also during the week, bandits caused panic on the Kaduna-Abuja highway. We have lost count of the number of attacks and casualties in Kaduna in just one week.

In an attempt to end the slaughter in Kada, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, disappointed with security agencies, said he will hire foreign mercenaries to help fight terrorists if the Nigerian army is unable to do so. “Why is it that up till now, the security has not gone to kill them? Where are our soldiers? Why have they not done it? That is why I have come to see Mr. President. And also I have said that if these actions are not taken, it becomes a must for us as governors to take measures to protect our citizens, even if it means we will import mercenaries from outside the country to do it. If our soldiers fail, I swear to God, we will do that. This issue has gotten to an alarming state,” he said. But this is not the first time we will hear statements of this kind, and at the end of the day, it will go back to business as usual.

As I began another regiment of medications, adding typhoid medicine to my arsenal, I was looking forward to the Super Eagles performing a miracle by booking a World Cup ticket ahead of Ghana to boost my demoralised spirit, at least a little. Though I wasn’t too expectant judging from the result of the first leg where I thought Nigeria would at least record a draw. But since that wasn’t the outcome in Kumasi, I only hoped for a miracle in the return leg.

The bad part is that the Black Stars weren’t even spectacular at all. What they played in Kumasi was way better than that of Abuja, but ironically, it was in Abuja that they got the needed result. Ghana was strong, purposeful, and attacking in the first leg, but that return leg was a direct opposite of the Black Stars team we saw four days earlier. Except for Thomas Partey and that single shot that beat goalkeeper Francis Uzoho hands down, nothing else could be said of Ghana on that day. They were just a team who was scared of their opponent and careful not to concede.

The worst part was that Nigeria was a far terrible team. No team play, no individual skill, no plan, no pattern, nothing. Absolutely nothing. All I saw was an Osimhen bullying defenders without getting a clear chance at goal. All I saw were midfielders who just ran around the field but could not hold the ball to distribute clear passes, all I saw was a technical crew with no depth, no direction, and no desire for success. The only player that stood out was Joe Aribo, holding the ball and trying to dribble one or two players and making attempts on goal. He was the only player that seemed to know why he was on the pitch and what was at stake.

Most of the players looked clueless like their coach, against a Ghana side that appeared to have surrendered emotionally after the equaliser. The Super Eagles could have held the ball more, win freekicks and corners or even more penalties, and the rest would have been history, but they chose to cause me and millions of Nigerians severe disappointment.

I even saw a video of a clueless NFF President Amaju Pinnick bragging and loud-mouthing that Nigeria and Qatar have too many bilateral relationships for the Super Eagles not to qualify for the World Cup. Shebi your eyes don clear now?

If you want to talk about bilateral relationships in Africa, no country has it with Qatar like Egypt, yet the Pharaohs will not be in Qatar for the World Cup. This is a clear indication that Pinnick was talking from the side of pride and ignorance, and now he has fallen, the Super Eagles have fallen yakata. Just like he has disbanded the coaching crew, he should also disband any thoughts of a third term in that position — no way. We cannot have a whole Super Eagles not qualify for an AFCON quarter-final, and weeks later, fail to qualify for World Cup, and then Pinnick will return for a third term. No way, we need fresh hands who can do the job.

As if the failure to qualify was not painful enough, a CAF and FIFA official, Joseph Kabungo, lost his precious life while on duty during the game in Abuja. The NFF is now running around doing damage control with Ademola Olajire sending press releases up and down.

I am hopeful that this new week will not bring tragedy to the Nigerian people. I hope that someday in the nearest future, our security agencies will be in a good position and in the right spirit to combat crimes and insecurity swiftly. I hope that someday, the lives of every Nigerian will matter and be protected.

Ojoko is a Nigerian journalist and can be reached via [email protected]