Bring back the check-points on our high-ways

By Mike  Omotunde
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These are indeed perilous times in this country occasioned by the inability of the citizens from safely accessing their towns and villages or venturing out of their domains to other towns of interest for fear of the murderous Fulani-herdsmen and other men of the underworld. My own worry really is whether those who rule us from the mighty seats of power in Abuja hardly appreciate the enormity of this menace at all. I am saying this for  two reasons ; last week, the Vice  President, Yemi Osinbajo spoke to Nigerians resident in far-away New-York (USA) that the reports of the atrocities  of the herdsmen are  exaggerated.

To me this kind of statement is  disastrous and a serious embarrassment to Osinbajo’s people in the South-West. Similarly, a repot on the NTA/AIT some two days ago credited the president as saying that he would do something about the farmers-herdsmen clashes very soon! If the repot is true, then, the president must be behind time because the problem  between farmers and the herdsmen has graduated from mere clashed to dangerous dimension of kidnapping for ransom, murder, rape and armed robbery severely unleashed on the citizenry across the country sparing only the core-North. The core-north is however facing another form  of terrorism apart from Boko-Haram in the activities of bandits of Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina States, God, have mercy.

The president cannot pretend not to know the present status of his kinsmen in the country, the viciousness of which has reached alarming proportions. But who are we to complain when even governors talk with their tongues in their chicks, so as, not to offend their pay master in Abuja. The situation is as bad. But, where are we and what do we do before we all perish as the people elected to protect us have gotten their hands tied somehow, so to say.

I am aware of the efforts of the South-West Leaders and that of the Gani-Adam’s group. But are these not mere rhetoric’s in the face  of daunting challenges which are nearly consuming us all. Can we do much without the   fire power of the army or police?  I understand that the Ibadan parley has recommended state policing. If I may ask, when will that take-off?

In my own view, I would appeal to the governors of the South-West to jointly cry-out to the COAS and the IGP to urgently return the soldiers and policemen  to the old road blocks for new stop and search operations. This is our safest option for now. It is true that this dangerous men have basis in the bushes from where they suddenly emerge to “Operate” on the roads, but they also use the roads too and that is where they will meet their waterloo in the hands of our vigilant and dedicated armed men at the road blocks, the  officers commanding the various army units from where the men will be drawn and the state commissioners  of police will do us the favour of selecting responsible an d well trained personnel for the new check-points. It will not be business as usual at this point in time and never should the new check-points be turned into private Toll-gates again.

In the past, the presence of army or police check-points, despite their shortcomings, put peoples’ minds at rest and they moved freely and safely around the country. We will be eternally grateful if this suggestion can be looked into with the urgency  it deserves.

The resolution about state police is very apt for the country now but not an immediate option. After securing our highways, then the battle should be carried to the forests where the hoodlums are hiding. Intelligence should be properly deployed to track them with drones or whatever and ground troops will finally move in to  silence them for ever.

The Fulani-herdsmen are no more the gently, easy going, stick-carrying nomads that we  used to know. They have joined the men of darkness to torment the children of  light which majority of Nigerians are. Since light and darkness cannot co-exist, one must give way. As to the one to give way, your guess is  as good  as mine.