Jump to navigation

Nigeria

Tinubu demands swift justice following soldier slaying

The president has vowed to punish the 'cowardly offenders'

A spate of murderous attacks and kidnappings is vying for President Bola Tinubu's attention alongside the continuing cost-of-living crisis (AC Vol 65 No 2, Abductions prompt security alert). Over the last month in Kaduna state alone, over 450 people have been abducted, including 287 students.

Many are comparing this wave of attacks by criminal gangs and jihadist groups to the kidnapping of 276 girl students at Chibok in Borno. The campaign to free the Chibok girls became an international cause and damaged President Goodluck Jonathan's government which lost national elections in the following year.

Most of the attacks have been in the northern states but recently more incidents are being reported in the south.

Clashes in Delta State in the south-south region have shown have how overstretched and poorly equipped Nigeria's security forces are. This week, 17 Nigerian soldiers were ambushed and killed on a mission to halt inter-communal clashes in Delta.

Tinubu has given carte blanche to Nigeria's security and defence authorities to pursue the killers. 'The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished,' he said.

The soldiers had been deployed to control clashes between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, stemming from disputes over land and fishing rights, but were reportedly ambushed by youth from one of the communities.

Violent disputes over land or compensation for oil spills by energy companies are a regular occurrence in many Delta State communities, but these latest killings are a serious escalation.

Any suggestion of heavy-handedness by the military in response could risk inflaming tensions. There are reports of homes being set ablaze in the villages close to where the attack took place, prompting villagers to flee amid fears of reprisal attacks from the military.

The tempo of attacks – launched by jihadist groups, criminal gangs and vigilante groups on rival communities – has risen over the past six months. Earlier this year, at least 30 people were killed in central Plateau State, following clashes between Muslim herders and Christian farming communities.

Atiku Abubakar, the People's Democratic Party candidate in the 2023 presidential polls, has attributed the spike in attacks and insecurity to rising levels of poverty and hunger. Both he and Labour Party leader Peter Obi, are now trying to use the twin crises to rebuild political support and profile.



Related Articles

Abductions prompt security alert

The reported deaths of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, who was kidnapped along with 22 others in the Bwari Area of Abuja, and 13-year-old Folasade Ariyo, who was abducted alongside eleven...


A government in a hurry

In just twelve months Acting President Jonathan’s team wants to fix the power crisis, reform the NEC and reorganise the state oil company

The mixture of military officers, bankers and feisty female politicians in Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s new cabinet has just over a year to make an impact in five...


Law suits unravel

The United States Supreme Court decided on 17 April to back a lower court’s refusal to hear a suit brought by Nigerians against Royal Dutch Shell ...


The oil economy breaks up

The architects of industry reform bid a long goodbye to oil and welcome the brave new world of gas for all

Energy companies, trades unions and politicians are beginning to get to grips with the prospect of wide-ranging reform of the oil and gas industry, the foundation of the...


Ogbeh walks out

The ruling party Chairman's resignation is upsetting plans for the election in 2007

President Olusegun Obasanjo is due to step down when his term ends in 2007. The succession that he is planning has been upset by a public falling out...