The recent face-off between the Department of State Services (DSS) and Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Fire Ministries is unfortunate. Playing politics with religion is a combustible enterprise which security agencies and all well meaning citizens should be wary off, and condemn, wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. The fiery cleric was reported to have told his numerous followers that, as a response to the incessant killings of Christians, especially in Southern Kaduna, and some threats to his life, they should defend themselves.
While we do not support any resort to inciting statements, we are in no doubt that Apostle Suleiman’s statement is a fallout of the general anger and hopelessness in the country over herdsmen’s unending attacks on innocent citizens and the government’s failure to check them. In the absence of law and order, or the perceived government abdication of its responsibility to secure the lives and property of some segments of the population, it may not be totally unexpected that some people will resort to self-help in an attempt to protect themselves. That, indeed, will be a dangerous situation for any country that is serious about maintaining order and ensuring security in its domain.
It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has failed to win the confidence of many parts of the country on its efforts to check the rampaging herdsmen. This is partly why many Nigerians are wondering why the security agencies will go after those who make inflammatory statements, but leave those who are killing hundreds of Nigerians at will to continue their nefarious enterprise.
We are glad that both the DSS and Apostle Suleiman quickly adjusted their tactics upon realising the damage their initial positions and actions could cause. We, however, call for even-handedness in the handling of the herdsmen menace and those who are courageous enough to speak out against it. Failure to do this will pose a dangerous security threat to the entire nation and its continued well-being.
In this regard, the DSS should not limit its surveillance to people who speak out against herdsmen’s attacks. It must extend it to all clerics and other religious jingoists who repeatedly preach hateful and divisive messages to their audiences. Security agencies must recognise the danger that such actions pose and transparently nip them in the bud, while not neglecting the need to apprehend those who kill with impunity in the country.
Government, on the whole, should be more pro-active in guarding against situations like the present one. Government must accept that it has not been responsive enough to the many threats to security in the land, especially the one posed by Fulani herdsmen. It must not be seen to lend credence to many of the conspiracy theories that now permeate the land. The DSS and other relevant security agencies must exert more energy and resources on apprehending and bringing killers of all hues in the country to justice. Doing this is very essential to winning back the sagging confidence of many Nigerians on the commitment of the government to protecting them.
The herdsmen menace has seriously affected the lifestyles and livelihoods of many communities in the country. It is also now impacting negatively on agriculture, especially rural farming and employment. Many people have been displaced from their ancestral homes and are adding to the already very bad tally of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.
Is the government not worried about this ugly development and its many negative implications for the country? The times we presently live in are dangerous. We have the Boko Haram insurgency, rabid kidnappings and mindless militancy. We should not allow the herdsmen problem to worsen the insecurity in the country.
The excuse in some quarters that the herdsmen come from other countries does not mitigate the havoc they are wreaking in the country. It, in fact, makes it worse. We do not want a situation where the victims of these incessant and murderous herdsmen attacks resort to self-help in defence of their precious lives and property. That will be a direct invitation to anarchy and lawlessness, the consequences of which will be disastrous for the peace and unity of the country.