It was a weekend of horror in Abuja, Borno, Plateau and Kaduna states following carnage unleashed by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram terrorists, and bandits in the three states and Federal Capital Territory.
A top official of the Kuje Area Council was murdered on his farm by suspected herdsmen when he allegedly confronted them as their cattle were ravaging his farm.
Emmanuel Auta, a former Social Mobilization Officer (SMO) of Kuje Area Council of FCT was the officer-in-charge (OIC) of Gaube Primary Health Care Centre in the Council.
An angry friend lamented of the late official, “can you help to call the attention of FCT administration to this sustained lunatic killing of human lives and wanton destruction of farms and properties in this particular area by this same group of people.”
In the same community, it was learnt that a would-be bride was abducted a week to her marriage which would have been last Saturday.
In Borno State on the same Saturday, at least 45 farmers were beheaded by suspected Boko Haram members in Zamarmari area of Jere local government area of Borno State. There are speculations that the number may be double of the official figure.
Not less than 10 women were said to have been abducted from the same area where the rice farmers were murdered.
In 11 years, not less than 30,000 have been mauled down in the north-east with another two million displaced.
In Kaduna, eight persons were confirmed dead, two children missing, while four houses were burnt down in Ungwan Bido village, Jama’a Local government Area of Kaduna State.
In Jos South Local Government Area, the Police confirmed the killing of two persons in a market.
Said Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ubah Ogaba, “Yes, the Command is aware of the case of culpable homicide where two persons were found dead at Kugiya Market.
“Immediately detectives and operational men of the Command were deployed to the scene to ensure that there is no break down of law and order.
”Investigation is on to unravel the circumstances behind the death. As we speak, the area is calm,”he said.
In Kaduna, the eight villagers were killed by suspected Fulani militia men early Sunday morning. The killers were said to be retaliating the attack and killing of an herder.
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has directed the State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to citizens whose houses were burnt as well as those injured in the attack.
In Borno, there was loud crying as the 45 farmers were buried, and Governor Babagana Zulum lamented the deaths and called for the recruitment of indigenes into security agencies to enhance security in the embattled state.
President Muhammadu Buhari, again expressed grief over the killings, describing the act as insane and prayed that the souls of the victims rest in peace.
A statement by his spokesman, Mr Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying, “I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace.”
The President said he had done what was was necessary to protect the populace.
But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not impressed with the President’s handling of security.
It condemns the gruesome killing the of farmers by the insurgents.
The party describes the act as extremely wicked, devilish and must not be left unaddressed.
The PDP notes with pain that the horrific killing adding that it “comes as yet another of the recurring horrid testament and badge of failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to secure our nation and guarantee the safety of lives and property in our country.”
It adds in a statement, “Indeed, our party is distressed by the escalated killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians by insurgents, bandits and marauders, who have continued to ravage and pillage our communities, while the lazy and lethargic Buhari administration continues with its lip service, rhetoric and false performance claims.
“The PDP is particularly disturbed because of the failure of the Buhari Presidency to take decisive action despite series of concerns raised by Borno state governor, Baba Gana Zulum, of security compromises in the state.
“The Buhari administration appears helpless while our national security structure under President Buhari seems to have collapsed. Our nation appears to be on auto pilot with no one in charge while the ship of state continues to drift.
“All our nation gets from the Buhari Presidency is that ‘Mr. President is shocked’, ‘Mr. President is saddened’, ‘Mr. President regrets’ and such lame responses without any decisive policy direction or directive to definitively tackle the situation at hand, leading to escalation of killings in our country.
“Such attitude by the Buhari administration has continued to embolden insurgents to the extent that they now attack military formations, convoys of state governors and engage in wanton beheading of our compatriots.
“It is distressing that despite this sorry situation, Mr. President, who promised to lead from the front, has receded into the safety of Aso Presidential villa and refused to act on the consistent demands of Nigerians to rejig the national security architecture and replace the service chiefs with more capable hands to affectively tackle our security challenges.
“The PDP charges President Buhari to stop his unhelpful rhetoric. He should sit up and take actions that will safeguard the lives of Nigerians who have been subjected to all manners of mental and physical torture under this incompetent administration.
“Mr. President should immediately move to Zabarmari in Borno state, empathize with the families of the victims and lead from the front in restoring security in the area.
“Our party commiserates with the government and people of Borno state and urge Nigerians to remain at alert particularly in providing useful information for our security agencies in this fight against insurgency in our land.”
Meanwhile, a farmer who escaped the Borno attack, Nasiru Usman, said the attackers also abducted seven farmers. Usman said trouble started after some farmers apprehended a Boko Haram insurgent who approached them with request for food.
“Unknowingly, he was accompanied by dozens of other militants who were hiding around the bush. So immediately they tied him and seized his guns, his other colleagues quickly stormed the scene, and opened fire on the farmers, while they took to their heels. At exactly 11am, the group declared a blanket killing against all the farmers harvesting their products.
“They began by abducting seven, then went on rampage and began killing every one in sight. So far, we have recovered up to 45 bodies. Our civilian JTF, police and Military are still searching for more bodies. We won’t know how many are missing so far for now since more bodies are still being found,” he said.
According to AFP, the victims were mostly labourers from Sokoto state in northwest Nigeria, who were contracted to harvest paddy in the rice fields.