NEWS: Amotekun commander, three others killed in fresh Igangan attack
NEWS: NBC warns television, radio stations against glamourising insecurity
Reports had it that suspected Fulani herdsmen on Friday invaded Igangan, Oyo State and killed 4 people, including an Amotekun Commander identified as Muri.
The reports said the lawless cowards came earlier to the border community but were repelled. On their return in the night, they allegedly came in Customs and military camouflage, thereby hoodwinked the people who took them for state security operatives.
With the worsening level of insecurity across Nigeria, it would have been fair to assume that the people of Igangan were also victims of a nationwide security meltdown. But this has a more alarming ring to it.
For quite a while now, there has been growing insinuations in Southern Nigeria that some state security operatives have been aiding criminal herdsmen to perpetuate injustice against the people.
I have not read reports where government promptly and firmly addressed these concerns and assured the people that it exists to guarantee the inalienable rights of all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.
A farmer tending his farm quietly and peacefully needs to be assured of his protection just like a Fulani herdsman who is shepherding his flock peacefully needs to be assured of his protection.
That farmer should have the confidence that if a killer herdsman attacks him, the state will rise stoutly to defend him. Unfortunately, that is not the feeling right now in the South. The feeling is that if there is a clash, he is tragically exposed.
That feeling of hopelessness is spiralling out of control pretty fast and government must not only defend hapless Nigerians, it must be seen to be fair to all. Remember a recent viral video where the Akwa Ibom State Governor UDOM Emmanuel expressed his frustrations about the observed preferential treatment in the crime management process.
That was what gave birth to the likes of SUNDAY IGBOHO and hundreds of other Igbohos.
It’s against this hostile backdrop that a lot of people view with suspicion the directive by the National Broadcasting Commission warning television and radio stations against giving details that could amplify the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers and bandits. #NBC also warned against glamourising insecurity or pitching one section of the country against another.
Even if the government has the best of intentions but fails to take swift and concrete steps to assuage the fears of the people of the South, the people will see this type of NBC directive as cover-up theatrics; an attempt to gag the media and block credible reportage.
