Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s War Crimes Against Humanity -By Richard Odusanya

“When the wicked rule, the people mourn, blood flows in the streets. Blood of the innocent whose futures have been prematurely ended.” There is no other graphic illustration than what we have in Nigeria now.

Currently, the situation in Nigeria is similar to the Darfur Genocide in Sudan which the then President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir recruited thugs and unleashed terror on its own citizens resulting in war crimes.

Since, the history of Nigeria after the civil war, we have never seen nor record this level of acrimony, death, and bloodletting in this country. Under this failed government, Nigeria and Nigerians are more divided have never seen in our history.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari both as a full-blown Despot and a pretentious Democrat is well known for divisiveness, nepotism and druggery. He deliberately engaged in lawlessness and nepotic tendencies such as lopsided appointments, particularly in the military and paramilitary formations.

The three arms of government currently headed by elements from the same section and region and other critical appointments including the headship of the electoral commission are only from a section and particularly region. Major General Muhammadu Buhari has occupied his regime with his kinsmen, townsmen, clansmen and people of his race, sectional and religious backgrounds.

Again, it’s pertinent to reiterate APC Manifesto in 2014 in which they apparently stated what they will deliver to Nigeria when elected into office. “Our focus is on six priority areas: National Security, Good Governance, Human Capital Development.” Major General Muhammadu Buhari administration promised to protect lives and properties but today in Nigeria, human life is worth nothing. Nigerians aren’t safe in their own country and homes.

Nigerians are in excruciating agony they didn’t bargain for. Insecurity is in high heavens under this current administration. Economy is in shambles. Unemployment is the order of the day. The youths have become hopeless is there is no enabling environment for them to thrive and police brutality rampant.

Once again, our thoughts go to the incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen that happened in Benue and Taraba State in 2018 and this current regime showed no empathy or will to resolve the conflict. Instead, Major General Muhammadu Buhari responded with a controversial statement that left a mixed feeling with the populace.

He said, “Those making these allegations against the herdsmen know that herdsmen, as we know them only carry sticks, going about with guns is a new thing and those making the allegations know that conflict between farmers and herders has a long history even before we were born.

“Therefore, it is wrong to say the conflict is between Fulani and Tiv or other tribes, like in Taraba. What of Zamfara, where more people were killed than in Taraba and Benue put together?

The administration of Major General Muhammadu act as if the herdsmen were more powerful than the Nigerian government and approached the conflict with a baby glove. It was obvious, that religious and tribal sentiments came into play in those gruesome killings.

The former minister of defence and an elder statesman Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma spoke about “self defence” at the Taraba State University on Saturday 24th March 2018 when he said, “I ask everyone of you to be alert and defend your country, defend your territory, defend your state. You have nowhere else to go. You have no where else to go.”

And there were people who didn’t concur with his speech believing he was inciting violence and encouraging anarchy. But, the reality of current happenings has proved him right.

The current peaceful protest against poor leadership and extrajudicial executions of unarmed civilians started in a very peaceful protest. The Protesters calling for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police have been carrying out peaceful demonstrations across the country since October 8.

However, the protests assumed a violent dimension last week when
Government sponsored thugs and security forces started attacking and killing unarmed citizens and peaceful protesters in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.

While the government sponsored thugs were unleashing terror, killing and destroying properties of innocent civilians in the federal capital of Abuja, the security forces looks away and instead organised how to kill defenseless people who are protesting peacefully.

It’s a shame to see that one can die for simply exercising his or her freedom of speech in Africa’s largest democracy peacefully. The Nigerian youths whom are fed up with the system that has first and foremost failed to do its duty to protect them and left them hopeless. A protest that started on a peaceful note is now clearly a case of genocide.

43 protesters and six policemen have been reported losing their lives in what is tagged “BLACK TUESDAY” 20th October, 2020. But eyewitnesses accounts on Twitter however, showed that the figures were higher. It’s such a irony that this current government has benefited from and was a product of protest.

An adage says a whisper unattended to grows to become a roar. The government knows very well that the protest is a threat and if not stopped early could grow into a bigger movement. So, they started devising measures to silence Nigerians collective cry for a new Nigeria.

The question on the lips of many of our compatriots and the civilized world is that: how can the military open fire on a day that the parliament called on the president to dialogue with the youths who are peacefully and legitimately protesting?

How was it possible for the security forces to look the other way and abandoned the hot spot and clandestinely shot at peaceful protesters sitting down singing the national anthem and waving the Nigeria flags? Apparently, Major General Muhammadu Buhari destructive government is trying to set a new world record on the number of dead bodies produced during his administration.

Former United States, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has reacted and condemns shooting of protesters in Lagos. The former US secretary of state and a former Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the killing of young EndSARS protesters.

In a tweet on Tuesday night, Clinton said: “I’m calling on @mbuhari and the @hqnigerianarmy to stop killing young #EndSARS protesters. #StopNigeriaGovernment

This is the first time Clinton is showing support for the movement. Protesters have taken to Twitter to call on the international community to condemn the shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos Tuesday evening.

US Presidential candidate, Joe Biden also has reacted to the shooting of #EndSARS Protesters by Security agents on Tuesday evening in Lekki area of Lagos. Biden, in a statement on Wednesday called on Major General Muhammadu Buhari to cease using Military force on protesters.

He encouraged the government to engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.

We salute the indomitable spirit of our compatriots across the globe, including the world leaders who have so far identify with Nigeria situation. Her Excellency former first lady Hillary Clinton, Former vice-president Biden and host of other eminent personalities.

We cannot continue to watch helplessly the death of our fellow countrymen, women and children and the government shows its lack of  conscience and will to protect its people and address their needs.

There must be consequences for the actions of Major General Muhammad Buhari and his bandwagon of insensitive killer squad. The world must rise to stop another dimension that can destroy humanity completely.

Cry beloved country! Cry mother Africa…….

Odusanya is the
Convener AFRICA CONVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.