Endangered Species In Southern Kaduna!

The level of ethno-religious intolerance in our polity is quite worrisome. We pride ourselves as a nation with impressive number of religious men and women who have won global acclamation, yet same can hardly be felt in our social interactions. Sadly, the younger generation are fast catching up with this culture of needless antagonism of persons with different ideals, beliefs, culture and norms. This is regularly on display on different social media platforms where name calling is now the order of the day.

Consequently, in all facets of our daily living, we are culprits and as well victims. As the former, we feel fly, though the sorrow being the latter is unexplainable. With the alarming spate of killings in Southern Kaduna, which could have called for a declaration of a state of emergency in other climes, it is evident that lives do not count for anything in this part of the world. Hence, it is understandable that the Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina can declare that President Buhari must not speak on everything happening in the country.

Of note, when an important member of our nation dies, we have condolence messages from the Presidency, but when hundreds of peasants are massacred, we find excuses. Admittedly, President Buhari must not speak on everything. We do not really expect some empty threats, or vain promises. But a proactive government would take necessary actions to curb this menace promptly before the tribal and religious differences put a chasm among its citizenry.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai declared that the attackers are foreign Fulani herdsmen, who were avenging past attacks on them and their livestock. However, concerned Nigerians have rightly expressed their disappointments with the state and federal governments’ manner of handling this seemingly endless bloodshed, precisely due to the ethno-religious undertone.

Remarkably, the United Nations (UN) had earlier this year reiterated the urgency for concerted efforts to curb the illegal trade in wildlife products that are threatening the planet’s biodiversity. This is in conformity with the principles governing wildlife management which aims at protecting wildlife species such as: elephants, rhinos, turtles, whales, lions amongst others hunted, killed and smuggled for their meat, fur, skin, and tusks. The level of poverty in the country had made many to now resort to the animals once regarded as prohibited for daily meals and trade for survival. Regardless, there can be no justification for cheating nature. Likewise, the despicable level of ethno-religious intolerance have made many become preys to their fellow humans.

Hence, in an effort to take stern action to protect wildlife resources and for sustainability of the planet and species that are under threat for future generation, President Muhammadu Buhari had recently signed the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Amendment Act 2016 into law to address the cases of illegal hunting and trafficking of wildlife and to bring the penalty provisions in line with economic realities.

Of note, it is important to appreciate that the average Nigerian is endangered due to inability to access the basic necessities of life. Precisely, residents of Southern Kaduna have become endangered species requiring succour lest they be devoured by their adversaries. The least of our worries should ordinarily be security as we bid farewell to 2016 and the accompanying bitter recession, but that has recently become our top priority as evident in the numerous ethno-religious crisis and upsurge of crime in our polity. It is expected that urgent measures would be taken to curb the killings in Southern Kaduna since some persons now pride themselves as having a right to deprive others of their right to life without any legal consequences.

Michael O. Ogunjobi, an attorney and public affairs analyst is the author of ‘Dishonourable Honourable’.