• The military should identify unpatriotic Borno elders sabotaging the campaign against Boko Haram
Only a foolish man would chase a rat,” goes an African adage, “while his house is on fire.”
The disturbing news, that some prominent persons from Borno State — Borno, the epicentre of Boko Haram — are sabotaging the efforts of the army against the insurrection, leaves us wondering: are these elders the foolish people in that adage?
Still, if the elders choose to fool around with fire, then such foolishness undermines not only their locale, but the entire national security — which is why we urge all the relevant authorities to call those involved to order. But if they still persist in their unpatriotic ways, get them to account.
This news came from a statement credited to the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman: “The Nigerian army wishes to inform the public and send a very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups, who hail from Borno State in particular and North East generally, … on plans … to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country”
Indeed, if the so called prominent persons or groups are ignorant, let us remind them that insurgency or waging war against the country, is a treasonable felony; and that under our criminal laws, conspiracy and/or aiding and abetting treason, attract similar punishment as the principal offence.
So, let those who play with fire, be reminded that fire burns. Under our laws, the punishment for treason is death, and we wonder how those who claim to be elders, can choose to play with such a high offence, that attracts capital punishment.
It is even stranger that those involved in undermining the army, are also the primary beneficiaries of the war against insurgency. While the North East in particular, and most parts of the northern Nigeria, have been under the atrocious activities of Boko Haram, in the past two to three years, Borno State has had the unenviable record of being the epicentre of the armed insurgency.
Until recently, Boko Haram bandits had been roaming about, maiming innocent children, women and men, from Borno and other states, without any justification.
So, what could propel, possibly, the brothers, fathers and husbands of the victims of such callous acts, to join the enemy of the Nigerian state, to undermine government’s effort to save the members of their families?
Personal aggrandizement, the Army spokesman alleged. “It has come to our knowledge,” Colonel Usman said, “that they are employing all means to see that our operation does not succeed, in order for them to continue to enjoy certain benefits. People,” he added, “should place the interest of the nation above any personal gain or ambition”.
We recall that a similar complaint was laid against the Borno elders, in the past, by the previous commanders of the Nigerian Army. So, why are the elders persisting in their dangerous gambit?
If they have issues, they should raise it. Otherwise, we urge the army to rein in their intelligence, to find out those elders involved in this criminal conduct. Once they are able to isolate them, the federal government, should quickly bring them to face the law.
For now, we join the army to warn those concerned that this insurgency has caused Nigeria so much in man and material, and as such, the country would not spare any person cavorting with the enemies.
A word, they say, is enough for the wise.
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