Date Published: 07/28/09

Dear Sir,

The Talibans in Nigeria

It is unfortunate that we are gradually drifting to bad situations that may turn out difficult to curb. We have been talking of the militants in the Niger Delta, the scourge of new-found business called kidnapping, and now the Talibans in the heart of the northern parts of Nigeria – Maiduguri, Bauchi, Potiskum, Wudil, etc.

For sure, the State governors at the state level and the President at the federal level are all chief security officers in their respective jurisdiction. In Bauchi a repeat of what happened not quite long ago has occured. Both Yuguda and his father-in-law, Umaru Yar’Adua, have more serious evolving security problems in their hands and so also Borno governor Alli Sherrif for toying with the Taliban group in his state.

Who is “Boko Haram” and who is Muhammed Yusuf has been left to talibanize Nigeria gradually? The other time in Bauchi it was Muslim versus Muslim sects that started the trouble but Christians suffered the brunt; and now is Muslim Talibans versus the security agents and the genuine Islamic sect.

The State governments of Bauchi and Borno should be held responsible for condoning these militants who if allowed to grow would make this country ungovernable because there is difference between resource control agitation militants and Islamic (negative) fundamentalists. The former can be curbed but the latter can be deadly. 

The President and all concerned should not waste time in acting rightly.

Barnabas Osuanlele,

198 Ikpoba Road,

Benin City,

Edo State,

Nigeria.

barnabasosuanlele@yahoo.com