Just imagine if Badoo cultists were in Rivers state
*Suspected Badoo members being paraded at the Lagos State Police Command
(Nigeria) By Simeon Nwakaudu
Reports had it that a budding comedian, Chinedu Paul alias
Think Twice was lynched and burnt to death
by a mob. He was lynched alongside two of his friends on the suspicion that they
were members of the badoo cult.
Badoo cult group has been killing with reckless abandon in
Ikorodu and other suburbs of Lagos. It was even reported that residents of
Ikorodu, owning machetes and whistles have become necessities.
The residents have resorted to self help because the security agencies have failed them. They
have formed armed vigilance groups,
which have bypassed the criminal justice system, dispensing justice on the street as it pleases them. Without thinking twice, they sent MC Think Twice and his friends to untimely graves. Some many other cases
abound.
Before the advent of Badoo Cult boys, deadly kidnappers had taken firm hold of Lagos. They kidnapped
landlords, teachers, students, traders
and other residents at will. They appear
to have overwhelmed the security
agencies. There was a time when the
military bombed their supposed hideouts. But when kidnapping did not
abate, the military went into
voice mail.
Notorious Evans was
arrested in his posh residence in a highbrow
residential area in Lagos. Since
kidnapping is yet to abate in Lagos, we
can safely assume that other "Evanses" are holding sway in
different parts of Lagos.
As I penned down this
piece, I read online the deadly robbery attack that claimed four lives in Ajah. A movie like
gun battle between the Military and the robbers. We cannot begin to discuss the
horrible trend of robbery in Lagos. If we do, we will lose track of the essence
of this intervention.
Now the essence of this piece. It is to draw the attention of Nigerians to the nature of reportage of one of the
worst security crisis in modern times. This is happening in Lagos which plays host to majority of national print and electronic media. It is happening in Lagos, an APC State, with a friendly relationship
with the Federal Security agencies. Yet the crisis has claimed several
lives.
It is hardly
reported with front page banner
headlines. It is hardly included
amongst the main news items of any major electronic media.
When it is reported at all, it is done to protect the
economy and political framework of Lagos
State. It is reported like the street
"two fighting", to give an impression that all is well.
Before Governor Wike used his internationally recognised Amnesty programme to resolve the pockets of security
challenges in Rivers State, these media
organisations, especially those with APC connection, embarrassed journalism
profession by their style of reportage.
Headlines like "Rivers of Blood" , "Five Die
in Rivers Community " and "Rivers APC
blame Governor Wike for
Insecurity " were recycled on a
regular basis. The editors of the
pro-APC deliberately neglected
their professional responsibilities to the society and descended into the murky arena of politics.
Even where no security
infraction took place, they relied on Rivers APC to issue damning statements, which they gave
front page attention or primetime
coverage.
Hosts of television programmes feasted on these false
reports to create a negative security
impression about Rivers State. Today,
Rivers State is the safest state in the country, while their host state
ranks amongst the most insecure.
Has anybody seen a
headline: "Lagos of Blood" on the front page of any national newspaper?
Instead, the reporters localise tne deadly crisis to Ikorodu and
Ajegunle.
Has anyone seen Gbenga Aruleba invite a PDP leader to his programme to rain insults
on Ambode? Has anyone read in The Nation
or Punch where an editorial was written placing the blame squarely on the
doorstep of Ambode? Where are the paid
columnists whose intelligence is at the
peak when concocted stories are
published on Rivers State?
Nobody is gloating
over the security misfortune of
Lagos State, but the truth remains that
the media cannot afford to be agents of
destruction as has played out in recent times. Like Governor Wike continues to
declare, we cannot afford to politicise security. The media cannot afford to be
in the vanguard of APC'S plot to
de-market Rivers State.
This unfortunate
security crisis in Lagos State
affords the mainstream media the
opportunity to reflect on her
professional failures. What is good for Lagos, is good for Rivers State.
Today, CNN is battling for her credibility because of its political inclination during the last American election. Here in
Nigeria, the media as controlled by the APC
spinned all manner of lies against
immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan. That lack of objectivity has crippled the
nation.
The United States of America has several major cities thriving and supporting that country's
economy. It is foolhardy for the APC
controlled media to think that it will
be profitable to undo Rivers State, so
that Lagos State can stand alone. The
consequences will be too grave
to imagine.
God strategically
placed Governor Wike in Rivers
State at this time to serve as the conscience of the nation. He is here to serve as the required stabilising factor for the sustenance of true democracy. Therefore, he
should be allowed to continue to provide
the alternative platform through
his outstanding roll out of projects and programmes.
I cringe when I imagine what the headlines would be if Badoo
Cult boys were killing people with
reckless abandon in Rivers State. I am
horribly frightened to think of the manner
of men Gbenga Aruleba would be discussing with in his Focus APC
studio. Even in times of peace, Aruleba invites murder suspects to lampoon Rivers State. The Lagos Deadly Security
Crisis is a wake up call for the
media to retrace her steps. This is the time to jettison Pro-APC reportage and embrace the tenets of objective journalism.
As I conclude, I must state categorically that in the strict
sense, once a governor has provided logistics, funded security operations and
supported the welfare of security agents
in his state, he has performed
his obligations. The reason is simple: In the flawed federalism practiced today, the police, DSS, Armed
Forces, Para Military and quasi-security agencies are strictly under the
control of the Federal Government. There is no governor who dishes out orders to
the Police Commissioner or Military
Commanders in his state.
It is even worse for opposition states like Rivers, where
the security agencies are subtly instructed
to undermine the state government for political reasons. Governor
Wike has bent backwards, employed
intelligent strategies and tactics to keep Rivers State safe for investments.
Over the last two years, Governor Wike initiated and signed into law the
anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism law passed by the Rivers State House of
Assembly. The law gave the security agencies the legal instrument to tackle
kidnappers and cultists.
To strengthen the
security architecture of the state;
Governor Wike in the course of the last two years, has distributed over
150 security vans to all the
security agencies in the state to fight crime.
The Wike administration has also procured six armoured
personnel carriers, while 50 broken down
armoured personnel carriers have been rehabilitated by the Rivers State
Government for use of security agencies. Eight gunboats were donated to the
Nigerian Navy, while another 13 have been ordered for further distribution
to security agencies.
It is clear that the APC controlled media are afraid to hold
the Federal Government responsible for
the failures of the politically tainted
security agencies. But the truth is known to all.
In Rivers State, Governor Wike remains focused
to protect lives and property. His overwhelming success is premised on the fact that he is not moved by negative
propaganda as sponsored by the APC . The Lagos tragedy is a reminder
of the inadequacies of every
conspiracy.
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