MORE DEAD IN BAGA THAN REPORTED

Senator Maina Lawan a former governor of Borno State disagrees with the number released by various sources in the Baga massacre. The initial number reported by the media stood at 185. The Red Cross maintained there were 187 dead. The Army high command in contrast put the casualty figure at over 30 including terrorists and a soldier. The Senator puts his figure at 228 higher than previously reported by the Red Cross and reporters.

The senator expressed worries that the community will descend into an epidemic state if aid and relief materials reaching the survivors were not hastened up with. He described the situation in Baga as a humanitarian crisis while disagreeing with the figures released thus far.  The senator appears to be in a better position to make these declarations as he says he spent two days in the ravaged community.

TRIVIALIZATION OF THE ISSUE

You will recall that the president had dragged his foot on reacting to the killings. When he did, he chose to trivialize the number of the dead as being exaggerated by the international media. Rather than take a trip to Baga, the fedora wearing president decided to set up an investigation into the matter. Indeed, while the Baga issue troubled the nation, the president equally insisted that corruption was “over-amplified in Nigeria.”

 

It is a worrying concern to well meaning Nigerians that trivialization of grave issues have become common place in our country. Declarations that the number of dead civilians were exaggerated and that corruption is over-amplified are typical examples of do not cry wolf when a pack of wolves overtake the flock.

One dead Nigerian is a great number. There is no such thing as exaggeration of the number of dead people. Just as there is no such thing as “over amplified corruption.” A spade needs no other name than a spade. A prompt reaction condemning the killings and condolence with the dead would have been most appropriate. Sadly, our president chose to trivialize the issue by contesting the number of the dead whose sole guilt was their innocence. Civilians whose deaths could have been avoided had commanders of the JTF chosen not to trivialize civilian presence while engaging terrorists.

That magnitude of trivialization is a reason to inaction. Need a thousand lives die? Needless, the reaction would have been the same exaggerated or not by the international media. Sadly, there is little urgency to issues of grave concern in Nigeria. But it is not just the presidency that exhibits this attitude, Nigerians generally are indifferent on issues where they are not directly affected. Make them the victim the next minute and see a totally different person.

Whether as an office or person, indifference and trivialization have eaten deep within our society. These attitudes suggest inaction to a burning house or to rescue a drowning man. Clearly, there is urgent need to rethink our national consciousness and sense of urgency to issues. Corruption Mr. President is at a worse state than over-amplified. More than one dead person in Baga should have been sufficient to require urgent reaction and action.

Lives can be saved, ugly situations can be averted while a lot more can be achieved with a change in attitude to governance. A change in attitude from one of trivialization and indifference to one of urgency and diligence in governance. Our leaders everywhere should learn not to fiddle while their cities burn. Little fires become infernos if a sense of urgency is discarded.

So many other issues have been ignored where they should be put on the front burner. This is a time when we must move with the urgency of now to meet the issues that challenge our nation at the gate. It is these exaggerated deaths and over-amplified corruption that grows large and develops lives of their own because there was no stitch in time that just might have saved nine.  

Once again, may God grant the dead in Baga, a peaceful repose.