Living with the Monsters and the Civilian JTF

Civilian JTF 

Ahead of the 2010 national convention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pick its presidential candidate for the 2011 election, in which Goodluck Jonathan was evidently going to pick the party’s ticket,  a prominent politician from the north and one of the founders of the party, had threatened in October of that year that:  “The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President (Goodluck) Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy”.

Nigerians then did not take the warning seriously, as many saw it as the ravings of a politician desperately rooting for political power for his region. Again, no Nigerian then believed that the country could actually be made ungovernable!

Jonathan eventually emerged the party’s flag bearer and went ahead to win the election.  Barely 18 days after he took the oath of office, the first case of suicide bombing in the country was reported by the police as the then Inspector General of the Police, Hafiz Ringim, narrowly escaped what could have been an attack on his convoy that just drove into the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Five persons lost their lives in that attack while 33 vehicles were burnt beyond recognition and 40 damaged beyond repairs. The Building housing the Force Headquarters also known as Louis Edet House, was not spared the damages as many of its window glasses were shattered by the impact of the explosion. An insurgent group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attack. Two months later, the same group recorded a more devastating security breach in the same Abuja with the bombing of the UN Building in the Central Area of the capital city. 

Although several other dastardly attacks on places of worship, business premises, military and police establishments, among others, were carried out by the group, with thousands of persons killed in the process, most of the group’s operations have actually centred in the north-eastern part of the country, with more of the heat on the people of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The Boko Haram attacks, in spite of the hue and cry of Nigerians, went on with sophistication, impunity and gust inflicting pain and sorrow on both Nigerians and the economy of the northern region.

For too long, the Jonathan administration was clueless on how to tame the monster and their creators. While the monsters killed with glee, some highly placed Nigerians, standing on the grim altar of religion, tribe or ignorance, carried on justifying the group’s activities at every given opportunity and in the process emboldening them. 

Disturbingly, the government could not muster the political will to pick up any of the ‘big names’ being touted then, howbeit, in hushed tones and use them as an example. Except for the lame disclosure by the president that Boko Haram members were in his government, no concrete and visible steps were taken by him to reassure Nigerians that he was on top of the matter until his recent declaration of state of emergency on the three most affected states.

Enter the Civilian JTF
Perhaps, the declaration of state of emergency by the president was all the youths in Borno State had all the while been waiting for to take the heat back to their erstwhile hunters and their masterminds. With the formation of Civilian JTF (CJTF), the group was set to roll off a new form of revolution targeted at their common enemies, the insurgents and their collaborators.
Leader of the group, a young man in his early 20s who identified himself as Abubakar Maulum, said: “We are tired of them and we want to put an end to it. Since soldiers don’t really know who the Boko Haram members are, we who live with them and know them very well, resolved we have no option than to help fish them out,” he said.

The emergence of the CJTF is seen as a great relief and a major contributor to the relative peace being enjoyed in Maiduguri at the moment by both the people of the state and the military joint task force. A number of suspected Boko Haram members have been smoked out from their hiding places by the youths and handed over to the military, while exhibiting this sheer display of bravery, they have also squared up with the insurgents in some cases.

Earlier this week, in its desire to extend its fight to clean up the state of members of Boko Haram and their perceived sympathisers, the CJTF went after top politicians in the state: namely the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sherrif and the chairman of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in the state, Alhaji Mala Othman.

Although Othman escaped the youths’ rage, his mansion was razed. The CJTF who were said to have numbered about 200, then took out their fury on everyone found at the residence before setting the house ablaze.

The youths were reported to have held up traffic for over an hour in parts of the town as they moved from Othman’s house to the Sheriff’s multi-million mansion to register their protest. The former governor is seen largely as Othman’s benefactor having installed him as chairman of ANPP at the twilight of his administration in 2011. The CJTF marched to Sheriff’s house chanting:  “Saura Mai Gidan shi” meaning (it remains the house of his boss).

However, Sheriff’s mansion was impenetrable to the youths as they were prevented or denied access by the security on ground that shot sporadically into the air to disperse the rampaging invaders.

The message here is that for those who still think that it is business as usual by using the largely unemployable youths within their neighbourhood ignoble political ends had better realize that the Borno kind of revolution has taken off and sooner than they can imagine, will knock at their doors. Yet, the youths should be careful not to become a bigger monster than they sick to uproot.

Avoiding Kidnapping…
DOMESTIC STAFF: Exercise great caution while hiring cooks, drivers and house-helps
BUSINESS DEALS: Exercise great caution while discussing business deals with your business partners. Most kidnappings are organised by such people including relations.
*IF A RELATIVE IS VICTIM: *Call 767, or 112
Source: Lagos security agencies

WHILE  AT HOME: 
• Know your surroundings well to detect strange faces.
*Install CCTV cameras at home or office to monitor movements of people around.
• Keep emergency numbers within reach at all times.
• Create speed dial numbers in your mobile phones in case you find yourself in difficult situations.
• Avoid giving out any personal information such as phone numbers and home addresses on social network, website or to unknown persons.
• Create a peep hole in your door where u can check-out visitors at your door before letting them in.
• Opt for clear glass windows to observe any person from a distance if you do not have a gate or fence, lock all doors at all time.
• Watch what and where you speak especially on the phone outside your house.
• Do not discuss financial matters within the hearing of domestic staff and neighbours.
*Inform only trusted neighbours of your movement out of town
• Do not keep huge sums of money at home.
• Always ask for identity of persons who pose as utility staff, security officer before you open your door.

WHILE  DRIVING:
• Ensure all doors are locked.
• Make good use of your side and inner mirrors.
• Ensure that a reasonable gap is giving to vehicle in your front.
*When you observe a vehicle following you behind persistently give away, but when danger is anticipated drive to a safe place like a populated area.
• While driving close to your house and yo notice unfamiliar faces around your premises keep moving and drive to a safe place.
• Observe the movement of persons while driving in and out of your home.

WHILE  TREKKING:
•  Enter vehicle only at recognised motor packs.
• Do not board a vehicle with only a few passengers inside, they may be kidnappers.
• Avoid night journey except when it becomes necessary.
*• Avoid lonely routes.

Vehicles    Reg . No    Location   
Toyota Camry              UNREG                    Scorpion Base   
Toyota Corolla             UNREG                    Scorpion Base   
Honda Accord              CM 202 AAA           Ipakodo   
Nissan Pathfinder         TEXAS 129 WTN    Man Centre   
Nissan Murano             CA 246 MUS           Maroko   
Toyota Wish                 EH 422 KRD            Sabo   
Nissan Marono            HJ 873 EKY             Yaba   
Honda Accord              UNREG                    Denton   
Mit.  Montero Jeep       BV 478 KSF             Alausa   
Nissan Sunny               AV 981 AGL            Ikotun   
Toyota Rav 4 Jeep       PC 20 KJA               Ipakodo   
Toyota Hiace                XJ 210 BEN             Iba Police Post   
Toyota Hiace                AH 623 DBG           Shogunle   
V/Wagen Golf               EP 134 APP              Orile   
Toyota Dana Jeep        AZ 164 AAA            Anthony   
Honda Civic S/Car       LSR 757 AH             Ifako   
Toyota Corolla             LSR 807 AA             Oguda   
Toyota Camry              BW 968 LSD            Ilasamaja   
Cherokke Jeep              CY 105 APP             Ilasamaja   
Nissan Altima                SH 603 AAA            Dopemu   

lifestyle 5:52:00 PM