“One fact that must sink in our memory is this,Terrorism has no
friend, it is an enemy of all. Terrorists are no friends to anyone,
they could kill anyone. They could kill their parents, may kill their
friends and could even kill themselves. Live has no meaning to them,
they are enemies of all, including to themselves. In fact, they are
enemies of live.”
When ever a bomb explode in any part of Nigeria, it is more like a
blast in my heart. It is usually disheartening and regrettable that
such an endless act of wickedness could be taking place in our dear
However, anytime I read reports of any explosion, I feel the effect of
such blast in my heart. It is usually as if the bombing took place
right inside of me. I feel pain and unending sorry.
In recent times, the occurrences of such explosion had gone out of
proportion. From Jos to Borno, Adamawa to Yobe,Gombe to kaduna and
even Abuja to Lagos. Bomb blast could occur in any part of Nigeria as
we speak and anyone could be victim.
According to Carsten Bockstette, George C. Marshall of Center for
European Security Studies. Terrorism is defined as political violence
in an asymmetrical conflict that is designed to induce terror and
psychic fear (sometimes indiscriminate) through the violent
victimization and destruction of noncombatant targets (sometimes
iconic symbols). Such acts are meant to send a message from an illicit
clandestine organization.
If this definition could be considered, I could say I am already a
victim of terror since I have been terrorized and at the moment,I am
scared for myself and my fellow country men who are likely to be
victim of further attacks. I am scared because my fellow humans are
dying,fellow Nigerians have been affected, women and children have
been lost, Muslim and Christians are not safe and even northerners and
southerners are not left out, who is left unaffected? I couldn’t see
In just one blast, countless of lives are lost, properties worth
millions are destroyed,hope’s are dashed, dreams are shattered and
bitterness plus endless grieve are ensured. Loved one’s are gone, able
are turned disabled,children lost their parents and parents also lost
their children.
Even right now, I can still hear the crying voice of the dying victims
and the grief of their families in my heart. Indeed, I am a victim of
While we are crying,grieving and traumatized by such ugly experience
in our national life, some are acquiring billions under the guise of
security, while others are laughing, making calculations of the next
political agenda. To them, it is all about politics and making money.
The same people claim to be protecting the citizens, but when bomb
explode and people are lost, they are the first to climb the podium
dancing azonto while campaigning for next election. So unfortunate I
must confess.
Most importantly, While we express our grieve on our social media
pages seeking to get reasonable response from the authorities to
prevent further lost, their political foot soldiers waste no time in
bombing us even on the social media. To them, every call to reason is
unwanted, every different opinion must be attacked and every sorrowful
expression must be mocked.
Therefore, the dead are recklessly mocked and blamed for their death,
their grieving friends and families are made a laughing stock
carelessly, while our national sorrow is added with insult and bitter
words capable of making every sane mind wonder if those who spite
these mockery in the face of death and such DE-humanizing conditions
are also humans.
To further establish the fact that these terror are closer to us than
we think, the recent bomb blast which occurred in Gombe State happened
right in front of my friends house, their building was seriously
affected. We ought to praised the almighty because their was no one at
home during the suicide mission.
However, a gallant Nigerian Soldier who himself had been complaining
about the attitude of the authorities was lost in the blast. May his
soul rest in peace.
In view of this recent development, we must all understand one thing,
the next victim of bomb blast could be you, it could be me, it could
be anybody. Therefore, If we fail to reason like the next target
feeling we are safe in our room while mocking others, we may be
affected and be the next to be mocked.
If we fail to stand on the path of truth, we may never get justice
when we are affected. If we fail to desist from mocking the victims,
the same people who mocked others with us may be the same to mock us.
Those who died in the latest Abuja bomb blast in Emmab plaza never
believed it could happen in their vicinity (Wuse II). To them, it
could only happen in the outskirt of Abuja. Some of them might have
argued in favor of the oppressors, some probably mocked the victims of
Nyanyan blast on the social media while supporting their political
choices, yet today, they are also victims
Let me restate that, One fact that must sink in our memory is
this,Terrorism has no friend, it is an enemy of all. Terrorists are no
friends to anyone, they could kill anyone. They could kill their
parents, may kill their friends and could even kill themselves. Live
has no meaning to them, they are enemies of all, including to
themselves. In fact, they are enemies of live.
Although, corruption has been aiding terrorism in Nigeria in no small
way, however,the greatest support terrorism enjoy in this part of the
world is the undue politicization of terror by the ruling government,
which couldn’t only set the country ablaze, but could also breeds a
very dangerous omen which if not discontinued could pitch our citizens
against each other.
A situation where the rulling political party release press statements
blaming the opposition party for every bomb blast that exploded
without any concrete evidence to back up such claim is not only an
unforgivable sin,but a crime that must be properly documented in
history and adequately punished in due time. The officers releasing
such statement must be well documented in case anything happens,they
must be held responsible.
It is my believe that, while many are needed to aid a cause, one man
can drive a dream to fruition. South Africa needed one man (Nelson
Mandella) to end Apartheid. I am of the opinion that, If only one man
died in any blast, probably, it could the man destined to accomplish a
great task for Nigeria. If Nelson Mandella had died in a blast before
South Africa was freed of Apartied, who would have ended Apartied? But
in our case, not one man is lost in our countless blasts, countless
are dying daily right in front of us and yet, we mock them under the
guise of gaining political advantage.
Similarly, 6 suspects arrested in connection with the attempt to bomb
winners chapel church in owerri, Imo state were said to have been
released on bail.
According to the police, the 6 suspects comprise one Nigerian, two
Tanzanian, one American and two Ugandans. It was reported on page 43
of leadership newspaper on June 26th,2014.
It is my concern that, If suspects who were arrested in the scene were
released on bail simply because they are not northern,yet, over 483
northerners who were simply traveling in a bus were still held captive
as suspects, how can such absurdity be justified?
It should be recalled that, as a result of the attempted bomb blast in
a church, northerners in Imo state were asked to appear for profiling
and documentation,which was a clear attempt at stigmatizing them as
terrorists. Yet, those suspects caught in the scene were left to walk
free simply because they were not northerners. This is a very bad
I am of the opinion that, if such impression is allowed to spread
among the northern population, I fear for my southern brothers and
sisters living in the north, as they may equally face similar stigma
and even more.
The authorities must act fast to avoid setting the country ablaze.
Though, people can be patient, but not for too long when they are
pushed to the wall.
We must do justice even to our enemies.
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat can be reached on discus4now@gmail.com
