25 October, 2014

DEADLY RETURN OF POLITICAL THUGS

Many states across Nigeria are experiencing a surge in the phenomenon called ‘political thuggery’. Often violent and sometimes deadly, Weekly Trust took a look at the disturbing trend.
Thuggery has come to be synonymous with Nigerian politics, with many insiders claiming it is a profitable enterprise during election periods. Aware of their importance, politicians recruit and maintain thugs to be used as hired muscle or to cause mayhem when electoral tides are not going their way. They are identified by different names: ‘Area Boys’,’Egbesu boys’,  ‘Bakassi Boys’,  ‘Yan Tauri’, ‘Sara Suka’, ‘Yan Daba’, ‘Ecomog’ and ‘Yan Kalare are some of their names, which strike fear in the hearts of citizens. The increasing audacity of these bands of men, mostly young and idle, is a cause of concern around the states where they prevail. Weekly Trust investigations indicate that although it is difficult to free any of the 36  states of the federation from political thuggery, recent manifestations in particular states  are alarming. 
For instance, a few days after suspected thugs violently attacked lawmakers in Benin City  at the Edo State Legislators Quarters, GRA, a post-attack celebration of the incident was packaged. President Goodluck Jonathan, who was expected in the state for the official foundation-laying ceremony of a $1bn Independent Power Plant in Uhumwode LGA , had  top government officials lined up to welcome him at the airport. 
But thugs, who reportedly  numbering over 30, stormed the airport, yelling abusively at APC’s governor Adams Oshiomhole who  was also at the airport to receive the visiting president. Revealing a possible hint about their sponsors, the thugs displayed placards and posters of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator. They  also allegedly assaulted some senior appointees of the state government, but spared PDP members during the airport drama. Later on, the combined efforts of soldiers and policemen dispersed them,  but none were arrested. It was learnt that an  internal  feud between APC lawmakers and their PDP counterparts over the latter’s alleged plans to spearhead  the impeachment of governor Oshiomhole degenerated into two separate incidents of attacks on legislators.
Weekly Trust gathered that trouble started with the attack on a former APC legislator, Hon. Rasaq Momoh, who defected to the PDP, by unknown persons at his residence in the legislative quarters leading to hospitalisation. In what appears to be a reprisal three days later,  another set  of thugs numbering about 100, invaded the same Assembly Quarters with many injured and several cars and buildings destroyed. 
Upon inspecting the damage, governor Oshiomhole said the PDP leaders had a meeting where it was decided that thugs should be recruited to perpetrate the attack. “It is very clear that the Police granted permission for this attack, as the Commissioner was informed at about 10:00pm last night of the plan to attack the Legislators Quarters and the APC office,” the governor reportedly alleged. 
But the PDP denied the governor’s allegations. State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih   condemned the attacks, while the Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP) Folusho Adebanjo denied complicity, adding that some arrests had been made and the culprits will be prosecuted. 
In Ekiti State, and within a span of three days,  thugs boldly defied the sanctity of the courts, as they  violently stormed sessions, disrupted proceedings and beat up judiciary staff, a presiding judge and tore the clothes of another. The  Ekiti State High Court was hearing the  case challenging the eligibility of then-governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to contest the June 21 governorship election. He was sworn-in a few days back, but  the presiding judge, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi angered party ‘boys’ when he refused an application to set aside an order abridging the time for Fayose to file his defence in the case brought before the court by Mr. Femi Ajakaiye, a member of a socio-cultural group called ‘Ekiti-11’.
The judge had adjourned briefly and as he prepared to return for further hearing of the matter, some irate youths numbering over 100, laid siege to the court.  Reports say the judge was smuggled out of the chamber through a back door to avoid lynching. The thugs insulted the trial judge, accusing him of showing interest in the case beyond official boundaries. 
But as no arrest of the suspected thugs was effected three days later, another set of hoodlums violently attacked another Ekiti Hight Court, No. 3, presided over by Justice J.O Adeyeye. His court was reportedly hearing an application filed by Ekiti State chapter of  the APC, which was seeking nullification of the election that produced Ayo Fayose as  governor-elect. The second incident prompted  the state  Chief Judge, Justice A.S. Daramola to order immediate closure of all courts in the state.
A statement by Chief Registrar of the court, Obafemi Fasanmi, bemoaned the spate of serial attacks on courts and judges. “Today, Thursday, September 25, another set of political thugs came in their hundreds and invaded the High Court premises in Ado-Ekiti and in the process assaulted Hon. Justice J. O .Adeyeye, beating him up and tearing his suit into shreds while the police officers on guard looked unconcerned as judges, magistrates and other members of staff had to run for their lives. Court properties were either damaged or completely destroyed,” it added.
But Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Babayede claimed: “The court sat, the proceedings went on smoothly…” 
In  Gombe State, reigning  political thugs  go by the name ‘Yan Kalare’ and years back they were an organized group of hunters. After the return of democracy in 1999, insiders say politicians more-or-less converted members of  the group into political thugs. Weekly Trust gathered that they are  recruited by politicians  to intimidate, harass, snatch ballot boxes and in some cases kill  perceived political enemies. 
As the 2015 general elections draw nearer, ‘Yan Kalare’ appear to have resurrected with more fierceness, as observers say they now move about freely with all sorts of weapons, ever-ready to descend on targets. Others allege that they sometimes indulge in other crimes, like burglary, assault or even murder.
Recently, the Chief of Staff to the Gombe State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Yayari, decried the violent activities of the group. “Three days ago, behind the Emir’s palace close to Ali Jijji’s house along Bello Sabon Kudi road, two people were killed by members of the Kalare group,” he said.
But Gombe State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, denied  the claim as untrue. “The killing behind the Emir’s palace last weekend was an act of hooliganism,” he said. 
In addition,  last year at Liberty Junction along Government House Road in Gombe, a man was attacked with knives by suspected ‘Yan Kalare’ as he alighted from his vehicle to shop by the roadside. Also, in May this year, police in the state arrested 10 armed youths at the venue of  the state congress of the APC. DSP Atajiri, who paraded the suspects, simply said   the paraded miscreants were “disrupting peace”. 
In January, one Adamu Yusuf, nicknamed ‘Cooler’,  a political youth leader and Umar Makama were reportedly killed by suspected ‘Yan Kalare’ at Chechnya Quarters in Gombe metropolis. 
In Benue State, thuggery is synoymous with political activities and observers told Weekly Trust that every state administration has its brand which it sustains. The thugs are used in forcefully subduing opponents of the government, acting above the law. Although there are many incidents of thuggery in the state, recenly armed youth numbering over 50 invaded the chambers of the Benue State House of Assembly. They snatched the mace and disrupted a plenary session in a bid to stop the impeachment of the former Speaker, Hon. David Iorhemba.
Weekly Trust gathered that while 28 members of the House signed impeachment notice against the Speaker, which was presented to him by  leader of G23, Hon. Baba Ode, the PDP dominated  House offered him a soft landing. They  asked him to resign, but the Speaker dragged the matter, in the hope that he would calm frayed nerves with time. As he bargained for time,  the original mace  of the House also mysteriously disappeared in the office of the Clerk. It compelled members to request and obtain an  alternative mace and the plenary started with the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Steven Omenje presiding and the impeachment process commenced.
Sensing danger, the then Speaker rushed into the Assembly chambers  with “a hurriedly-written five-line letter of resignation” which was received and accepted by the House. But as he stepped out of the chambers, thugs poured in, shooting sporadically in the air in a bid to abort to halt deliberations to remove the Speaker. A lawmaker who was victim said: “We all managed to escape, some over the fence, while some of us found our way to the Government House, leaving our cars and other valuables behind.” No arrest has been effected till date. The state’s Police Public Relation Officer, Daniel Ezeala, told Weekly Trust that the command has not received any report on the incident.
Also, Lagos State is among states in the country under the firm grip of thugs. While there are numerous instances, at least six persons were killed and several injured recently, when rival thugs of the PDP and APC clashed at Isale Eko area of the state. A security source disclosed that some APC youths  were angry over the President’s visit, which they perceived as subtle  campaigning for 2015. But to also stamp their authority, PDP youths also rose to defend the cause of their party, resulting into  the clash. 
A popular local politician named Azeez Ashake was recenlty shot dead in front of his house at Isale Eko in Lagos by  suspected political thugs and his son, Usman, was also shot but didn’t die and was rushed to the hospital.
In Amukoko part of Lagos, thugs clashed over N50,000 gifted by a popular politician in the area to them. At least four persons were killed in the incident, said to be caused by a disagreement over sharing formula. But while political thugs operate freely, the police do not arrest and prosecute them. The state’s Acting Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu s‎aid thuggery is part of the offences prohibited by the Electoral Act. “It offends decency and the full enjoyment of democratic rights. The Police are against thugs and their sponsors. We have checked their operations in recent times,” he said, adding: “As a long-term measure, we are partnering with NGOs to sensitise youths to stop being pawns and cannon fodder.”
A political scientist, Dr. Tyodzua Atim, said: “Political thuggery is on the rise because the system protects and encourages them. The key political actors, like serving and former governors, legislators and council chairmen are all involved. They fund them and protect them from law enforcement agencies. They are normally paid. Nigeria is heading towards anarchy if the trend is allowed to continue.”


Source: Daily Trust

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...