
Nigeria’s even deadlier pandemic: ARMED CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE
The Nigerian state is on the brink of collapse.
Things are falling apart so fast, the centre truly cannot hold. But the Nigerian Federal Government, despite the apparent instability and security challenges in all 36 states, insists it is still in control.
News media report stories of kidnappings, banditry, and insurgency.
Christians in the North Central states are claiming genocide, describing the Fulani herdsmen attacks and killings as part of an extremist Islamic agenda.
The South and East are taking up arms, calling for cessation every day. As the crisis escalates, the Nigerian legislative arm called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security and seek foreign help.
President Muhammadu Buhari urged the U.S. secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, to consider relocating the U.S. Africa Command headquarters to the African continent.
In a 312 page report, The International Committee of Nigeria found a 20-year long orchestrated silent slaughter of Nigerians in the North, mostly Christians. Between 2001 and 2020, more than 60, 000 Nigerians have been brutally killed. And no one is talking about it.
The report found current measures are not enough:
“Attacks by Fulani militants on local farming communities have become a major security question with potential global humanitarian repercussions: human trafficking, mass immigration and human rights violations. Indifference is no longer an option.”
Ola Adebayo is the executive director of African News Centre and host of “I can tell you about Africa” podcast.