By Uche Mbah
The Abia state government has resurrected the dreaded Bakkasi boys just as the ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the Niger Delta Militants expires today, June 1st 2019.
A militant group had recently given notice to the effect that it would, on June 1st, 2019, declare a new republic, the Niger Delta republic. The group insists it no longer wanted the Niger Delta region to be part of Nigeria. For good measure, it added: “We are militarily prepared to defend our territory.”
The group hinged its anger on what it described as the anti-Niger Delta decisions of the Muhammadu Buhari -led government. It cited as examples, the sack of the former acting Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mathew Seiyefa and, the humiliation of Walter Onnoghen, out of office, as the Chief justice of Nigeria, among others.
Sources alleged that the President went into panic mode, claiming it was the reason he signed an Executive Order withdrawing all gun licenses.
The last time any group from the Niger Delta threatened the Federal government was in 2015, after the hand over of power to President Muhammadu Buhari by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the time, a group had threatened to bomb Aso Rock, giving dates. A day to the expiration of the ultimatum, President Buhari jetted out to London, apparently treating the threat as a non-issue. But sources also claimed Aso Rock remained deserted during that period.
Coincidentally, within this same period, the Abia state government announced the resurrection of the Bakkasi Boys, a local vigilante group which was popular in the South- east during the Presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. Bakassi lost its popularity it became too powerful and lawless, and engaged in several extra judicial killings.
The group became a law unto itself and summarily executed alleged criminals without recourse to the rule of law. It was founded at the same time as the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, which also had a bad reputation until the elders of the South-west called the members to order.
While Obasanjo clamped down on the Bakkasi boys, the OPC was transformed into a socio-cultural vigilante group. Its factional leader, Ganiyu adams,, was arrested then, and later released. Today, he is the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland.
But the Abia state government says it is recruiting about 800 men and women as members of the new reformed Bakassi boys who, according to the state government, will tackle crime and cultism in schools.
Recruitment is said to be currently underway.
Also, a group of Yoruba youths had, last week, given an ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to vacate Yoruba land before May 31st. The Ultimatum expired yesterday.
Though analysts believe the ultimatum may just be hot air, there appears to be an increase in the onslaught, by alleged Fulani herdsmen, in the South west recently. Reports indicate there is a silent war going on, but which is currently under-reported.
Most Nigerians are very nervous about the worsening security situation in the country. They expected President Buhari to address the issue on his inauguration day on May 29. But he did not address the nation, choosing to do so on June 12, the day his government has chosen as the new democracy day, in honor of Chief MKO Abiola. Abiola the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, died in Military detention, under General Sani Abacha, after the election was cancelled by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.
