Is Rivers the most deadly state in Nigeria?
It is somewhat odd that President Muhammadu Buhari should describe Rivers as the most deadly state in Nigeria. Buhari’s description was an overstatement. It was also a misrepresentation of the state.
Addressing the first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja last week, Buhari expressed his concerns about the deteriorating state of law and order in some states. He said: “I think that more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state.
If Buhari was referring to violence in general, he was wrong to confer that dishonour on Rivers State because no state comes near Borno as the deadliest state in the country in light of the endless callous killings by Boko Haram terrorists. Clearly, in terms of the magnitude of unprecedented violence and the frequency of bloodshed, Borno stands unquestionably as the deadliest state.
For many years, Nigeria has been described as an unstable or volatile country. That is an apt depiction. The description applies as much to the state of politics as it does to the state of the economy. There is instability in the north and in the south. The situation in some northern states and now in Rivers State gives the impression there is no effective government in those states. This is perhaps why Buhari was quick to misrepresent Rivers as the most deadly state.
Buhari’s description clearly overlooked the situation in some northern states that have experienced worse violence over the past five years. If Buhari is truly concerned about the growing political killings and associated violence in Rivers State, he must stand up and do something. Buhari has to restore law and order not just in Rivers State but also in other explosive states .
More specifically, Buhari should send a strong message to the two main bitter political warriors in Rivers — Governor Nyesom Wike and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi — and their followers. As president, Buhari must reassure everyone through concrete action that murderers will be apprehended, convicted, and put in jail where they belong.
The growing political violence in Rivers State indicates quite simply the disintegration of the police as a law and order institution. Events in the state suggest the police have been caught one step behind the murderers and criminals.
In Rivers State, human life has no value. People go out to vote during election and but they worry about whether they would be killed while at sleep.
It is obvious that law and order has collapsed in Rivers State and civil society has no idea whom it should turn to for protection. The growing instability would naturally suggest the Federal Government lacks the capacity to defend the lives and property of ordinary citizens.
All this is not to suggest that northern states have enjoyed a long period of peace. That is far from the truth.
Ever since Boko Haram occupied Borno and some other states in the north through a bloody and senseless war on innocent citizens, Borno has become not only a victim of Boko Haram’s terror but also an open space used by the terrorist group to advance their wacky ideology.
In Borno, for example, murderous Boko Haram militant groups wander the streets, shooting pointlessly at citizens, exploding bombs, slashing the throats of their victims, setting fire on residential and government property, including churches and police stations.
Owing to their successful bombing runs and raids even in places manned by armed forces, Boko Haram has managed to mystify political, military and police authorities.
Buhari needs to frame an urgent policy that recognises the key issues in the conflict, a comprehension of the conflict, the operational methods used by Boko Haram, and the factors that led to the emergence of the violent group.
Some people have argued that Buhari’s portrayal of Rivers State was intended to prepare the ground for a state of emergency in the state. I am not persuaded by that argument. If a state of emergency would curb the gruesome massacres that have continued in Rivers State all in the name of democratic elections, I would support it. If that happens, Buhari will not be the first president to declare a state of emergency.
Everyone knows that during election time, crooked politicians transform Rivers State into an unparalleled, dishonourable, and reprehensible breeding ground for violence. It is therefore not quite right for the president to describe Rivers with such a blanket tar brush that is perforated with errors.
It is for this reason that I argue that Buhari’s conceptualization of Rivers was inaccurate and at odds with violence of greater magnitude that takes place in other states, particularly some northern states.
