Outbursts Trail Killing Of 43 Farmers In Borno

Outbursts Trail Killing Of 43 Rice Farmers In Borno State

Following the horrific killing of forty three rice farmers at Zabarmari in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigerians have renewed their call on President Muhamadu Buhari to sack his Service Chiefs.

Boko Haramists had on Saturday reportedly killed the rice farmers in the village near Maiduguri, the state capital.

The terrorists were reported to have first tied up the farmers, who were working in rice fields, before slitting their throats.

Buhari had in a statement last night through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, condemned the killing by the terrorists as ‘insane’ and ‘senseless’.

The retired general also said he has given all the needed support to the armed forces to take necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.

But Nigerians obviously tired of the cluelessness of service chiefs to find solutions to the nation's security challenges have continnue to ask for their sack.

Salihu Yakasai, Special Adviser on Media to the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said it was shameful that nobody has been sacked a day after the tragedy.

The Kano governor’s aide,  said “If this doesn’t move you to tears, I don’t know what will. Forty three souls woke up and went to earn a living, only to be slaughtered like rams. 24 hours later, nobody has been sacked, no major action taken, and in another 24 hours, the outcry will end and we will move on.”

Debo Adebayo, a popular comedian and #EndSARS campainer also known as Mr Macaroni, in his own reaction said “We are either being killed by terrorists or by security operatives. Either ways, the country isn’t safe. Where is the government when you need them? Oh I forgot! They are busy oppressing Nigerian youths.”

On his part, social commentator, Gimba Kakanda, knocked the President for not addressing the nation on the tragedy.

“The first thing Buhari ought to have done today was appearing on TV, bearing the pain of the people he had failed, to announce the sack of his overstaying service chiefs,” Kakanda stated, adding that “even our military Heads of State didn’t take the country for granted as Buhari has.”

It would be recalled that Senate had asked the service chiefs to step down following the worsening killings of civilians and soldiers in parts of northern Nigeria.

But the Presidency had disagreed, saying it is the prerogative of the President to appoint and sack the service chiefs.

Some of current service chiefs include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar; and Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, at the burial of the rice farmers on Sunday, described the carnage as a very sad one while expressing his sympathies to the families of the victims.

He also asked the Federal Government to “ensure recruitment of more our youths in the Civilian Joint Task Force and hunters into the Nigerian military as well as the Civil Defence so that they can form part of the agro rangers that will protect farmers.”

“We need many boots to protect farmlands and our youths understand the terrain. We will not lose hope because we have to remain optimistic about ending the insurgency” Zulum added.