Indeed, Nigeria is troubled on all fronts. There is no part of this country now that is not facing one security challenge or another.
The North, especially the North-east, has for long been on the boil due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.
However, things seem to have taken a turn for the worst, as violence never witnessed before has engulfed the country through killer herdsmen and kidnap-for-ransom bandits.
From the North to the South, East and West, the situation is the same; a reason some even describe Nigeria now as a failed or failing state.
In one of the most recent grisly attacks, gunmen suspected to be Fulani, on Saturday, June 5, 2021, attacked Igangan, a community in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State, at about 11.00 pm.
The attack was said to have lasted till 3.00 am on Sunday and by the time it ended, no fewer than 15 people were cut down.
Some reports gave higher casualty figures though the state police command confirmed 11 dead.
Also, many houses, including the palace of the monarch of the town, the Asigangan of Igangan land, Oba Adewuyi Olaoye, were razed by the invaders.
It was as a result of similar persistent attacks that youths of the town under the leadership of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Igboho, gave herders in Igangan a seven-day ultimatum to leave the town and after which they stormed the settlement of Sarkin Fulani, Alhaji Abdulkadir Saliu, to eject them about five months ago.
Many houses and vehicles belonging to the Sarkin Fulani were razed during that attack and he was forced to seek refuge in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
It is believed that the Saturday attack was a reprisal by the Fulani to avenge the attack on their leaders and losses incurred during the attack by the Yoruba youths on their settlement.
Whatever the case may be, it is unbecoming how the blood of innocent people is being wasted unnecessarily in this country.
What we witnessed in Oyo State is a replica of what has been going on in Southern Kaduna and Benue State.
This portends great danger for the continued existence of this country if nothing is urgently done.
It is incumbent on the government, therefore, to double its efforts towards arresting the gradual slide of Nigeria into anarchy. So far, there does not seem to be much done in this regard.
We appeal to the government to possibly set up an inquiry into what leads to such flare-ups and address them as well as do all that is within its power to foster good neighbourliness and fraternity among all sections of the country to stem the needless bloodbath.
We cannot continue like this. A stitch in time saves nine.
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