Otitoju: How not to react to calamities

By Ismaila Momoh

Immediately it was reported that Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attacked Faduma Kolomdi, a nomadic village, in Gubio Local Government area of Borno State and killed 69 persons, ‘security analyst,’ Babajide Otitoju, dashed to social media to announce with glee that the terrorists have struck again.

If one was not aware that the incident is a tragedy of heinous proportion, one would have been forgiven to think that Otitoju was celebrating something positive, like the discovery of COVID-19 vaccine, going by the excitement in his post.

His words: “Last night, Boko Haram attacked Zowo ward in Gubio local government area of Borno State and killed 69 people.

“This came after the attack on Auno village where the insurgents killed 6 soldiers and dozens of soldiers are still missing. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum left for Zowo this morning.

“I am saddened by these attacks. I had warned repeatedly against making claims that the enemy has been defeated or that Shekau wants to surrender. When I report exactitude about the war some paid fellows would be abusing me, accusing me of ignorance.”

Instead of showing interest in the number of persons felled in the attack, the self-acclaimed security analyst was more concerned about trying to use this incident to justify his previous celebration of Boko Haram killings, thereby confirming earlier allegations that he is at his best only when the terrorists succeed in their bloody campaigns and always absent when our soldiers visit the enemies with greater calamities.

Some few days ago, reports came in that no less than 30 top Boko Haram commanders have sent words to their leader, Abubakar Shekau, that they will drop their arms and surrender to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Otitoju, characteristically did not run to his page to celebrate, neither did he do so when 11 of the terrorists turned themselves in surrender.

Worst still, he tries to downplay the efforts of the Nigerian military by reducing such feats that come with incontrovertible evidence as ‘claims.’

If that is not acting as a Boko Haram apologist, then how could one possibly explain that?

The same Otitoju that on the basis of the attack on Gubio finds reasons to say that Boko Haram has not been defeated, was nowhere to be found when more than 40 of its commanders including Manzar Halid, Amir Abu Fatima, Nicap and others were killed last week in a counter attack by the operation Lafiya Dole in Banki, Borno State or when high profile commanders and fighters of the Boko Haram namely, Abu Jamratu AL-Naweer, Kaka Bana and Tareta Babakari were fatally wounded in that counter attack.

There is also no record to show that Otitoju shouted for joy when in March, Nigerian troops eliminated 20 of the terrorists’ top commanders including one Abu Usamah, a notorious kingpin and killed over 100 of their fighters who were hiding in Kwalaram, Ngilewa, Sabon Tumbu, Bukarmairam, Wulgo in the Marte and Gamboru Ngala axis and Gorgi, Damboa local government of Borno State.

What about in April, when Nigerian troops also killed 105 of the terrorists in Buni Gari and captured many weapons including five AK-47 rifles, three GPMG and one Duska anti-aircraft gun and in May, 78 members of ISWAP and 56 Boko Haram members were killed and 28 of their informants arrested?

In all these instances, it was convenient for Otitoju to continue living in denial. But whether he likes it or not, nobody is ‘claiming’ that Boko Haram has been defeated as all who should know and who live in those areas bear testimony that the jihadists has not only been devastated but has not been the same since the recent renewed onslaught against them by the Operation Lafiya Dole.

The senator representing Southern Borno, Ali Ndume who should know, confirmed this recently when he said the relocation of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai to the Northeast has significantly impacted on the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

He added that many successes have been recorded within the two months stay of Buratai in the area and stressed that what was remaining was the final uprooting of the insurgents in Lake Chad fringes, Sambisa forest and Mandara Mountain.

“Definitely the coming of COAS has made visible difference. He has taken a break after two months, to re-strategise because the remaining areas are delicate, because they are mixed with civilians being held hostage by the insurgents,” he stated.

These are facts that Otitoju always shies away from acknowledging.

To show that Otitoju is more concerned about justifying his celebration of Boko Haram carnage only, he is about the only public figure that did not acknowledge the efforts of the Nigerian military in any way while reacting to the Gubio massacre.

All other reactions that followed the attack, while expressing sadness over the incident were quick to point out the efforts of the military in ridding the country of the menace of the Boko Haram and called on them to rise to the occasion to once again, prove itself.

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum who was at Gubio after the attack said while sympathising with the people over the attack, for instance, that the Nigerian military need to undertake a final onslaught that should put an end to the insurgents in the shore of the Lake Chad.

He said: “This is barbaric. It is very unfortunate. The only solution to end this massacre is by dislodging the insurgents in the shores of Lake Chad. Doing so will require collaborative regional efforts.”

President Muhammadu Buhari in condemning the incident, on his part, charged the armed forces to “sustain their recent string of successes against the terrorists to extract a heavy price from the attackers, and bring back all those the terrorists kidnapped as well as the large number of cattle rustled.”

He also expressed the sincere condolences of the government and people of Nigeria to the bereaved families, communities and the government and people of Borno State.

The two statements from the Borno State governor and the President, not only acknowledged what the military has done and is doing in that regard but expressed much confidence on the troops to finish the remains of the dregs of the misguided urchins, unlike Otitoju who would not even mention anything good the military has done.

In case the security expert does not know, nobody said the Boko Haram has been totally eradicated. Yet no one can deny that they have been defeated and terribly weakened.

Anybody following reports of the successes recorded against the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists recently should know as is typical of them, that they would try and launch attacks that would redeem their unfortunate image as a force of terror.

Many commentators have predicted this kind of reaction from the terrorists and indeed the Boko Haram have made many efforts to launch such attacks in the recent but failed as they were consistently repelled by the military.

They for instance had tried to take Banki, Damboa and Maiduguri at different times suffered heavy casualties and fled losing about 700 of their fighting men in the last three months.

So if one may ask, what actually is Otitoju saying by trying to justify his celebration of Boko Haram carnage?

If he is the security analyst that he claims to be, he should know that war consists of many battles and that so far the military have had the upper hand in the fight and that the total annihilation of the Boko Haram terrorists going by what we have seen lately, is only matter of time.

Rather that casting aspersions on the military over the Gubio incident, he should commend the Nigerian Army which quickly moved into action and has sent a large contingent of military personnel to track and apprehend or neutralize the terrorists and gave the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole the mandate to enhance security and dominate the area.

Momoh wrote this piece from the University of Maiduguri.