Daily Trust (Saturday) of October 31, with a front cover entitled; “We Were Preyed Amidst #End Sars Protest- Northerners”, made a sad read.
It provided an insight nay bloody anarchy unleashed on the people of northern Nigeria who who reside in South-South and South West prior to the #EndSARS protests that turned awry. It was a tale of horror for these poor and helpless northerners. They became the victims of hoodlums who hijacked the protest and later unleashed mayhem on them which resulted in the loss of lives while properties worth millions of naira were also lost.
From Lagos to Rivers and Aba, northern communities were attacked and some of them killed by miscreants. 40 people were reportedly killed, 30 trucks and 12 vehicle burnt while properties worth N7 billion were lost in Aba.
It is sad how a peaceful protests became violent and took an ethnic and religioous dimensions. It was reported that many markets which northerners stayed and transacted their lawful businesses were attacked. Trucks loaded with livestock, beans and other items were burnt to ashes. The posers begging for answers are: What motivated the attacks? What has #EndSARS protest got to do with northerners who are also victims of police brutality?
Hardly a day passes without a report of extortion from truck drivers on transit to deliver goods, services or traders in the markets by the men in uniform. Indeed, the northern business men and women have a story to tell on police unwholesome practices. Surprisingly, in spite of these glaring evidences, their precious lives were not spared but instead cut short by thugs or mobs.
The perpetrators of these heinous crimes could not even stop and ponder on how their actions could fuel retaliation and set the country on fire.
The level of destruction visited on helpless northerners and their businesses should be investigated and compensation paid. While the vice president has directed state governors to constitute SARS panel, nobody cares about another panel for northerners or speaking on their behalf despite incurring incalculable losses during the #EndSARS madness. Yes, many northerners have lost their loved ones and means of livelihood. They need recognition and sympathy. Regrettably, it seems the government wants to temper justice with mercy for these criminals who killed and vandalized the properties of law abiding citizens in the name of protest, neglecting those whose only faults are the region they come from.
I think the federal government should quickly work with the affected states where northerners were attacked and gruesomely killed so as to provide lasting solutions. Let government set up a committee to verify the extent of damages done; provide succour for the families of the victims and immediately resettle them.
Recently, I have heard the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila assuring the protesters that he would not pass the 2021 budget unless government compensates the victims of EndSARS brutality. I expected this gesture will be extended to northerners who witnessed destructions during the protests and by extension victims of Boko Haram insurgents. The speaker neither said anything on that neither did our northern representatives. What a sad development! There is the need for government to beef up security around the Arewa or northern communities to avoid the repeat of the unfortunate carnage.
Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, writes from Kaduna State.
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