By Zik Gbemre

..The Buhari-led administration’s friendly ties with the Niger Republic have only created room for the influx of arms and ammunition, and all brand of criminal elements from the country’s neighbor through our porous borders

…President Buhari’s body language and actions since coming into office suggest parochialism and a penchant for ethnic chauvinism

…President Buhari should be reminded that he swore to an oath to be loyal to Nigeria, not a section of Nigeria, and also not a de facto President of the Niger Republic

Truth be told, it is since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Government, that the insecurity situation in the country moved from bad to worse. Now, Nigerians are no longer having to contend with the Boko Haram insurgents, but now grappling with Fulani killer herdsmen, bandits, and kidnappers that have succeeded in making every part of the country unsafe for both the low and mighty. Traveling on Nigerian roads now to different regions of the country is like moving through a wildlife park full of dangerous wild animals waiting to devour one. And despite the assurances by this administration and Security Operatives, the insecurity situation in the country has continued to worsen by the day. And we wonder why this is so?

Well, I make bold to say that since the Buhari-led administration has developed some kind of unexplained love-links to Nigeria’s neighbor, the Republic of Niger, the insecurity situation in the country has worsened. This is because, it is as if the Nigeriens became emboldened and encouraged by Buhari’s body language and likeness towards their nation, to find their way through the already porous land borders of Nigeria and into the country, where they come to cause all sorts of havoc. In fact, it is as if these Nigeriens are on a mission to sack villages and communities, starting from those in parts of Northern, and then gradually moving towards the Southern parts of Nigeria.

To give us an idea of what we are talking about, I am sure some of us have seen videos online showing how some reported officials of Nigerian Customs and Security Operatives at our borders being bribed by foreigners from these neighboring Nigerian countries like Chad and the Niger Republic, to gain entrance into Nigeria in their droves and numbers. The one that shocked us most, was a recent report by TCV News concerning Zamfara State, where a shocking revelation was made by a 30-year-old notorious gun-runner, Shehu Ali kachalla.

“In his confession, Mr. Kachalla said military personnel gives him cover to deliver arms to criminals in their hideout. The suspect said he has already sold 450 rifles, as well as 8000 live ammunition to different criminal gangs in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States. The Nigerien citizen who has been in Nigeria, supporting bandits with weapons, said he has been importing weapons from the Niger Republic for the past three (3) years.

We can see how the influx of weapons into Nigeria has continued to contribute to the spread of insecurity to almost all parts of the country. Many still wonder how these criminals have access to sophisticated deadly weapons to perpetrate evil. But the said 30-year-old Nigerien citizen said he imports such deadly weapons from the Niger Republic into Nigeria through the assistance of military personnel who gives him cover at security checkpoints. He made the confessional statement when he was arrested by troops of the Federal Intelligence Investigation Bureau in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital.

According to him, he developed an interest in the business because of the high profit and turnover. He says he gains nothing less than N300,000 on each riffle sold. But the profit usually depends on the type of riffle. He sells the riffle between N600,000 to N1m, depending on the make. He also sells the ammunitions at N1,100 each. While the Police said efforts are on the way to arrest other fleeing suspects, but Nigerians can now understand why the insecurity situation in Nigeria is far beyond what we see happening around us because indeed, until these foreign ties with countries like the Niger Republic are broken, Nigeria may not know peace.

What baffles me, and I believe most well-meaning Nigerians, is the fact that I really do not understand the rationale behind most of the actions of the Federal Government under President Buhari, in their style of governance as custodians of the nation’s resources. It makes one wonder if they are acting in the interest of the Nigerian people or they are more interested in fostering their own self-centered interests which are usually to the detriment of the masses. That is how we see the newfound love links being established by the Nigerian Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the country’s neighbors – Niger Republic.

Under this Buhari Government, we have seen the Federal Government’s perfected plans to construct the $1.95bn railway from Kano State into Maradi in the Niger Republic. I could not help but wonder what exactly is the rationale behind this project, to the extent that they begged to have it constructed? Of what economic benefits does this portend to Nigeria, as it relates to the Niger Republic? Of what economic value is this to Nigeria, other than opening a channel for the easy movement of arms and ammunitions, migration of Fulanis and their killer herdsmen/armed bandits into Nigeria?

What even more disturbing is the fact that the said funds are borrowed. Why should we borrow from the IMF, World Bank, and China to build a rail line to the Niger Republic? Is there something this government is not telling us? How could the Federal Government come up with such an idea in the first place, in a country where potable water has become a luxury; right to electricity is regarded as a taboo for an average citizen, roads have become death traps and our health facilities lack basic drugs and facilities? That sum – $1.96bn when exchanged at the rate of N380-N450 per dollar is more than N950bn. This can do a lot in the economy.

More so, considering the security situation in the country, particularly regarding the Boko Haram insurgency and the criminal activities of supposed Fulani Herdsmen/bandits, which many believed are perpetuated with the help of persons from neighboring countries like the Niger Republic who come into the country through our porous borders, then we would realize how dangerous and unreasonable the above Federal Government rail line project to the Niger Republic would be if implemented. It is appalling that when other nations are severing unnecessary links with their neighbours and tightening their borderlines against any penetration of terrorists that are looking for safe grounds to perpetuate their evil acts, the Nigerian Government under President Buhari is busy opening its borders and creating transportation means to bring these terrorists in.

Under this Buhari Government, the Federal Government reached an agreement with Niger Republic to build a new refinery in the border town between the Republic of Niger and Katsina State. The technical agreement, which we believe has been signed, would include the building of a crude oil pipeline from Niger to the new refinery. There are also speculations going around that President Buhari’s recent four-day visit to France, might not be unconnected towards addressing issues being faced by the Niger Republic. This is because France, as the colonial masters that gained control of the upper valley of the Niger River (equivalent to the areas of modern Mali and Niger), still has strong ties to these areas.

Whatever the case may be, more drastic measures have to be taken by this Government in its fight against the insecurity situation in the country. It is imperative to note that President Buhari swore to an oath to be loyal to Nigeria, not a section of Nigeria. On this and in many other matters, some of his recent actions and inactions tend to suggest parochialism and a penchant for ethnic chauvinism. It is like having a President of Northern Nigeria, who is also a de facto President of the Niger Republic. This can only be the reason for the sort of boldness presently demonstrated by the country’s neighbor, Niger Republic, and their ethnic ties with those of Northern Nigeria, in trying to instigate a civil war that may tear this country apart if care is not taken.

Zik Gbemre.
June 3, 2021


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