Will the Nigerian government do the right thing to either release #JonesAbiri unconditionally or charge him to court TODAY? Two years in detention without trial is a travesty of democracy, that's if #Nigeria is still a democracy?
Our silence is the ONLY reason why Nigerian leaders feel they can do whatever they want, even if it is against the law. Today, it is #JonesAbiri, tomorrow it can be you, or me again? The #Nigerianmedia must come out of its shell and speak against this abuse of power.
#JonesAbiri is detained for II yrs without trial, yet the @NGRPresident & his lieutenants had the audacity to attend #IPIWoCo ceremony, claiming they encouraged liberal media? There is no crime that warrants a person to be confined for II yrs without trial. #FreeJonesAbiri now.
This is not a capture. Nearly every village or town ISWAP attacked has a military facility. Meanwhile, as attention has shifted to #ISWAP, #Bokoharam may recuperate, this was how ISWAP became what they are and the factions have given up killing themselves. Read between the lines.
The insurgents no longer have the resources to capture and hold new territories. They are more secure in the limited areas they held and maintained from start. They are using the raining season to build up arms before the dry season, when air and ground troops are hard-hitting.
The insurgents have no doubt embraced the global jihad movements and are now regarded as important players, with growing ties, but the war strategy is local, to confront it requires street knowledge, which internationals don't know about and the govt seems to ignore at its peril.
There is a silent emergency on a long standing human rights violations and abuse in Northeast #Nigeria, where, even security officials estimated the number of those detained or executed for the crime of guilt by association to over THREE THOUSAND in the past 8 to 9 years.
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Hundreds of young men and some women were picked up after a suspected terrorist calls them even once. It doesn't matter what the call is all about or who the caller is to the recipient. The implication can be dreadful to those involved and their families.
Idris Ali was arrested by the DSS in 2013 and remained in custody till date. His 'crime,' a childhood friend of his, got his number and placed a call to him, and because the caller was being trailed by officials, Ali and brother were arrested remained in custody since then.
In January I published an article on the militia in Benue state, where I publicly profiled one of the militia leaders, Aliyu Tashaku. The insights I provided changed the narrative to an extent & mounted pressure on the Governor, leading to arrests. salkida.com/the-nigerian-k…
The report that Benue is host to self-help militias, where a self-confessed member of BH; Tashaku, was recognised by the state as a leader of a vigilante group that hacked and killed scores, under the guise of protecting the people of the state against armed Fulani herdsmen.
I did not seek the approval of anyone or security agencies to write that report, I'm not an employee of any security agency, I'm a journalist. My report is targeted at helping ordinary pple in the streets and those handling the problem or shaping policy, to accurate information.
Whether we like it or not, the so-called R-APC can't be discounted. They are part of the system and if we see realignments of parties like in 2014, they may win and Nigeria will, once again, be set back decades behind any serious country. I am not happy, just stating the fact.
Again, there is nothing like a single northern bloc, the minorities in N/Nigeria had suffered enough. And this time round, there is growing interest for ppl to get PVC and vote out a govt, they feel does not only marginalized them, but has shown zero interest in their well-being.
Another thing that may play into the hands of the opposition is, military campaigns against #BH is reduced to more than 70% in the raining season and there has been a steady surge in attacks in Dec. Jan. Feb. in the last four yrs. This season, coincides with campaigns elections?
Growing up as a child between #Biu and #Maiduguri in the 80's and 90's left me with vivid memories. There were clear memories of affinity, of love, of trust, of sharing and good neighbourliness. #Maiduguri, to me, is the only place I want to retire to.
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Today, the epitaph - home of peace, mock the state, its citizenry and govt. A crisis we all saw coming and I, in particular, wrote articles and reports in the New Sentinel and the Daily Trust, alerting the state of an impending threat to law and order, long before it occurred.
The official lines, then, was, the crisis "would fizzle out soon." Today, officials are pushing the same narrative. This is the wish of every well meaning citizen, but wishes are not horses. The evidence in Borno, especially rural areas, contrast sharply with official lines.
If there is anything that is clear is, how this government has failed the test of adhering to the rule of law. The current government holds a record number of contempt of court that is unmatched by any administration since 1999. #Nigeria
In 1999 I was 24, I'm mindful of political events since then. I'v never experienced this level of impunity by the state, and citizens have now resorted to 'self help' bcz no confidence in the justice system. Leaders disregard the same laws they want ordinary citizens to abide by.
The citizens that were rounded up, arrested and detained in the northeast alone are in their thousands, not hundreds, majority were NEVER taken to court, hundreds were either summarily executed or died in detention. No one cared because they are mostly poor villagers.