FEMI ADEOTI COLUMN
Something deadly is being carelessly thrown up. It’s bloody too. When
it gets full blast, it won’t be palatable. Nobody will enjoy it.
No one is paying attention. These pretended leaders are not treating
it even with kid’s gloves. They are feigning expensive ignorance.
Bello Turji Kachalla is angry. He is not the one to hide it. His
“noble” profession would not allow to do that. He is “talk and do.”
He’s short in words but long in action.
He feels pained if you label him bandit. Turji is far more than that.
His real tag is terrorist. And he doesn’t fake it.
His forests of jurisdiction are in Zamfara, Niger and Sokoto states.
And in that order. Those are the territories where he calls the shots.
He does it without restrained.
His base is effectively in Fakai. A forest village in Shinkafi Local
Government, Zamfara State. But on September 18, 2022, the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) dared him.
They took the battle to his base. He escaped death by the whiskers.
His house was bombed and reduced to shambles. When the dust settled,
Turji exploded like never before.
He raged with fury: “I wonder if truly the government wanted to kill
me. I think they only wanted to provoke me by making me renege on my
promise not to kill anyone.”
He became more daring: “If they could spot my house, why couldn’t they
sight and kill me? I only left the house a couple of minutes when the
bombardment occurred.” What uncanny audacity!
His accusing finger: “The people should know their enemy from the
onset. The government is provoking us so that we will take revenge on
the poor masses.”
He fumed on: “Government is only fooling the gullible and naive people
that they want to end banditry. In actual sense, they are the ones
fuelling the activities of the bandits and benefiting from them.”
Gbam! This is grave.
“Peace is priceless.” Yes, it is: “I’m ready to be a peace advocate
unless the government wants me to be a warmonger. I’m ready for either
peace or war. Whatever, government wants, we can give them in
multitude.”
The choice is government’s. Turji has offered a path to peace. And on
gold platter for that matter! His options are open and doable.
He was “proud” to list his achievements: “There have not been attacks
in the last five months since we reached a truce with the government.”
Then, what happened?
He opened up sort of: “But now that the military has attacked our
home, we feel betrayed especially after the death of vulnerable people
in the air strikes.”
His claims: “The government only succeeded in destroying some part of
my house and other buildings belonging to the innocent people.
“For the past five months, we didn’t attack or kill anyone around
Shinkafi. As a result, farming and other businesses were flourishing
without any hitches. I feel embarrassed when my name was mentioned
after the attacks by other terrorists.”
It is instructive that government has not yet found a response. Not in
any form. Turji didn’t want to be taken for granted. We should watch
out. He meant every word he vomited. It’s evident and glaring.
His body language, utterances, actions and inactions clearly gave him
out. He raised fundamental issues. And they are germane to lasting
peace.
We should be sensitive enough. Terrorists are never afraid of death.
So, they don’t run away from it. They retreat not because they don’t
want to get killed. No.
They rather retreat to prepare for more destructions, killings and
atrocities. The reason we have to honestly address his anger and
angst. We should be wise not to dismiss him with careless wave of
hand.
Pity! The onus falls heavily on our security agencies.
TALK BACK
Always on spot!
Femi, your article, “Northern Oil Has Come”, makes an interesting reading.
My take, I have been reading your usual Thursday column, courtesy of
The Sun Newspaper. Verdict: Always spot on!
Good luck.
Barry in Ogoni land, Rivers State.
08034356380.
Time for restructuring
Good morning Femi. Thanks for your candid submissions on our
“unprecedented existence.” This is indeed the actual time for
restructuring.
May God bless you.
From Franca Obi-Obi-Okafor.
08033318727.
The Sun on Thursday
Please Femi Adeoti, I buy The Sun on Thursday because of your write-up.
If your annual leave falls on/or before the next president of Nigerian
is voted into office, please postpone it after inauguration.
09033907848.
Yes, toxic part of Nigeria must die
Femi, concur with your write-up of September 15, 2022, titled: “Toxic
Part of Nigeria Must Die.” You will never run out of ideas.
Abdulganiyu Ibrahim.
07067510110.
Nigeria as Fulani’s estate
If at your level as at 2015, you did not know that they (politicians)
were lying to Nigerians is unfortunate. May be, because Tinubu is your
kinsman.
You don’t know that the Fulani North regards Nigeria as their estate.
They believe they are to rule forever as proposed by Alhaji Ahmadu
Bello in his famous speech on October 10, 1960.
They only need an alliance from either the East or the West.
08033584682.
Drop the mic
“Reckless Lack Amidst Abundance” refers. This is a “drop-the-mic”
article. Me, I totally enjoyed it.
It was succinct, unbiased and unapologetic. Simply classy, “spicy” and
well-written. Many thanks for keeping it real.
You can be likened to “fine old wine” just getting better and classy.
As they say, “class is permanent.”
Adebola Alao, UK.
+447811864492.
Wordsmith writer
Baba Femooo, the wordsmith writer. This (“Reckless Lack Amidst
Abundance”) is powerful.
May those who have ears hear you.
Pastor Femi Fatunbi, USA.
+17164251671.
2032: Think Nigeria first
Come 2023, what is required of Nigerians is to think Nigeria first.
Look into how to vote in persons that can do it right.
We need the credible person with ability to address our problems by
repositioning the economy.
We need an expert with inclusiveness and inclusiveness.
Get your PVC ready.
Meanwhile, I will advise former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to
maintain date with destiny.
He was the first to accept defeat. He congratulated Mr President,
Muhammadu Buhari, on his electoral victory back in 2015.
Rukoto in Bida city gate
08060930126.
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