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Tag: terrorist

  • Eradicating terrorism in Nigeria

    The casualties are not only those who are dead, they are well out of it. They are not those who are wounded; though they await their burial by installment. They are not those who have lost family members or property.

    It is hard to grope for a touch that some may not know is not there. But that touch is possible only if we try our best to eradicate terrorism. The effects of terrorism in the contemporary world cannot be underestimated.

    Every country, whether developed or not, suffers from one form of terrorism or the other. The difference being that the effects are varied. As recent studies shows, terror acts are easily mitigated in the technologically advanced nations and tend to be potent in the poor countries.

    Terrorism, in its denotative meaning, is the act of causing fear. In a political sense, it is the violence or threat of violence carried out for political reason. In the old ages, terror was associated with visitations from powerful gods, who had control over life and death in an utmost indiscriminate manner. But as mankind became more sophisticated, some individuals perpetuate the act of terrorism through the manipulation of events and expectations.

    In contemporary society, terrorism could occur in the form of bombing of aircrafts, parks or government offices by terrorists. These heartless individuals do not consider if the victims of their cruel action are innocent or not. A typical example of terrorist attacks is the bombing of the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. Boko Haram activities in the northern part of Nigeria are no less a terror act against defenseless people.

    According to Samuel Zumue, “the contemporary Nigerian society is engulfed by terrible acts of terrorism, which occurs in the form of kidnapping by the terrorists of the Niger Delta, or in the form of bombings which is the common practice of the Boko Haram of the North.”

    This act of terrorism has made living a hell of an experience as a consequence of the proclamation of emergency rule in Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa states causing untold hardship on the citizens, who are suffering all kinds of restriction in their places of birth. Even food items are not allowed to be transported to the villages.

    In the past, terror has been the basis of tyranny. Over time, political leaders have adopted terror as a weapon to acquire political power. In Nazi Germany, the humanity experienced a crude use of terror, which led to the death of millions of people in the Second World War. Ditto for the Soviet during the reign of Joseph Stalin.

    Terrorism, in a few cases, is also influenced by religious and ethnic variables, coupled with official corruption and neglect of the masses. The most pervasive amongst these prerequisites are official corruption and state neglect of the people.

    It is crucial that we ask ourselves what needs to be done to eradicate this pervading malaise, which is at the verge of devouring the world. What strategies are to be adopted in order to combat this arch enemy that has turned our society into rubble? Our answer to these questions is found in the slogan: “it begins with you.”

    We must learn the need to respect the view of one another as regards our various views. For, it is only when we are able to tolerate the attitudes of one another that we would be taking our first step to eradicating this societal problem.

    Another strategy that has proved to be effective is the identification of various sources of funding of these terror groups to asphyxiate them. It has been said that some countries support international terrorism through a network of charitable and humanitarian organisations, criminal enterprises, illicit and unregulated banking systems and the personal incomes from individual militant. If these are checked in Nigeria as well, the spate of wanton killing and senseless kidnapping would be reduced if not stopped.

     

    Temitope, 200-Level English, UNILAG

  • Army, SSS arrest suspected terrorist

    The 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army Sokoto, yesterday confirmed the arrest of a suspect, Mubarak, aka Dan-Hajiya, in the raid carried out on Sunday.

    Officers and men of the brigade raided the hideouts of suspected terrorists on Sunday night, resulting in the arrest of Dan-Hajiya.

    Spokesman for the brigade, Cpt. Yahaya Musa, who confirmed the arrest at a news briefing in Sokoto, said the operation was jointly organised with the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

    He said the operation was in continuation of the raids carried out by the security agencies to rid Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states of the fleeing insurgents from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    Cpt Musa said: “Troops of the brigade have in the past few days intensified raids on the hideouts of these suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

    “We have also arrested people. Investigations are ongoing. This is the only thing we can confirm now.

    “However, I can confirm that no deaths were recorded either on the side of the insurgents or on the military and SSS side.”

     

  • Soldiers, SSS kill suspected terrorist in Sokoto

    THE Nigerian Army said yesterday soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) had shot dead a suspected terrorist in a joint operation in Sokoto.

    Brig.-Gen. Tasi’u Ibrahim, the Commander, 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, told reporters that the incident took place in Gidan-Dare, near Sokoto.

    He said a suspect was also captured alive while 11 relations of the suspected terrorists were rescued and secured.

    According to him, five of the secured members are women, including two expectant mothers, and children.

    “The expectant mothers are now receiving ante-natal care at the Brigade’s clinic,” Ibrahim said.

    The commander explained that the operation was carried out following a tip-off, adding that “the house was being used as a terrorist hideout”.

    Ibrahim said neither the army nor the SSS recorded casualties.

    “The operation was clinically and carefully carried out in line with the existing global rules of engagement,” he added.

    The Army commander said some of the weapons recovered from the house included six AK 47 rifles and a pump action rifle, 13 explosive devices and a vehicle, with registration number (Abuja) EL 295 ABJ.

    Others are: 13 magazines of ammunitions, seven improvised explosive devices, IED-making materials, 32 batteries, an axe, four phones, 56 SIM cards, three memory cards, 10 cartons of milk and N76,685 cash.

    Ibrahim said: “These people do not wish Nigeria and the state well. In this holy month of Ramadan, one may wonder why these people are hell-bent on causing a breach of the peace.

    “All well-meaning and law-abiding Nigerians will continue to be protected and secured. The army will make every effort to ensure that the innocent do not suffer.”

    Hailing the people for their cooperation with security agencies, Ibrahim cautioned the residents against renting their houses to unknown persons.

    Also at the news briefing were: Air Commodore Hanbali Tukur, the Commander, 55 Forward Operation Base, Nigeria Air Force, Sokoto; Police Commissioner Shu’aibu Gambo and SSS State Director, Alhaji Jubril Danmalam.

  • U.S. designates rebel leader ‘specially designated global terrorist’

    U.S. designates rebel leader ‘specially designated global terrorist’

    The United States yesterday designated a Malian rebel leader, Iyad ag Ghali, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

    As a result of the designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Ghali has any interest is blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him or to his benefit.

    Iyad ag Ghali is the leader of Ansar al-Dine (AAD), an organisation operating in Mali which cooperates closely with al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation. Ghali created AAD in late 2011 because his effort to take over a secular Tuareg organisation failed due to his extremist views.

    Ghali has received backing from AQIM in AAD’s fight against Malian and French forces, most notably in the capture of the Malian towns of Agulhok, Tessalit, Kidal, Gao, and Timbuktu, between January and April 2012. Before the French intervention in January 2013, Malian citizens in towns that had been under AAD’s control who did not comply with AAD’s laws had faced harassment, torture, or execution.

    Ghali is also listed by the United Nations 1267/1989 al-Qa’ida Sanctions Committee. The UN listing requires all member states to implement an assets freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against Ghali. The UN action demonstrates international resolve in eliminating Ghali’s violent activities in Mali and the surrounding region.

    Before creating AAD, Ghali directed a 1990 rebellion against the Malian government by the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MPLA). In 1991, he became the secretary general of an MPLA splinter group before becoming the Tuareg community’s leading negotiator with the Malian President’s office after the 1992 peace accords. In 1999 and 2003, he served as an intermediary in the release of western hostages held by the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (a precursor organization to AQIM). In 2006, Ghali took command of the rebel fighters responsible for attacks on military bases in Kidal, Mali.

     

  • Dividends or Demands of Democracy? Envir/ Land Use Demands – Terrorist Taxation: A ’penkele mess’

    Dividends or Demands of Democracy? Envir/ Land Use Demands – Terrorist Taxation: A ’penkele mess’

    Alhaji Lam Adesina, Former Governor and ACN leader in Oyo State is dead. We console his family. May he Rest in Peace. His legacy, limitations and achievements, will be analysed politically. All governors must think of their legacy. Today the living working citizens have serious economic challenges in Oyo State aggravated by IGR strategies. This requires intervention by current Governor Ajimobi.

    A letter from a State Commissioner may appreciate you for ‘services rendered’ or be an Internally Generated Revenue Demand. The citizens are asking from government agencies ‘When is a ‘‘legality’’ an immorality?’ Bad Breaking News 1 on 1-11-2012: The Environmental Ministry’s Commissioner Dauda signed a dreaded ‘Demand Notice: Annual Environment Development Charges’ for my and hundreds of other business premises, N50,000/annum backdated 3 years to 2009 before this government came in. This N200,000 is payable ‘within three weeks or you.. ]face] a fine, imprisonment, seal of premises – 2004 law.

    Bad Breaking News 2 on 29-10-12: Courier letter dated 29-10-2012 delivered on 9-11-2012 -10 days lost. Finance Commissioner Adelabu signed to me and hundreds of others a 2012 Land Use Charge of N126,000 for commercial use of building within 30 days. We could pay a discounted N107,000 if paid by 13-11-12, N157,500 paying between 13-28 Dec, N189,000 paying between 29 Dec-Jan 28 2013 and N252,000 paying between 29 Jan-28 Feb 2013, or ‘property will be liable to receivership by the state or its agent and any other ENFORCEABLE reliefs.

    How can a charge double in four months? Does that make it easier to pay? Is this mere law enforcement or extortion? Is this bad political advice, legalised illegality or political rascality like when ‘people’ working during Adedibu/Akala’s time extorted up N20,000 ‘within one week’ from Ibadan businesses for ‘fire protection’? Those promoting excessive government charges should explain and perhaps be ‘sued’ by Civil Society and Consumer Protection Agencies. Are these government charges, their size, time frame, threat factor and insulting wordings not ‘terrorist tactics/Tax Terrorism similar to colonial taxation? Imagine if we had enforcing state police. We should feel at home in a state we love, not in occupied territory.

    Let public officials publish their own payments for charges in their business officers and homes. We hear the Residence Charges are coming also. What an unpleasant End of Year present from Government for an ‘annus horribilis’ with the January fuel strikes, poor power, dwindling business, November fuel scarcity and N120/litre fuel. Now triple taxation! Does government want blood from stone?The Governor, as a professional, businessman and politician, should please intervene. Can the Governor please cut the fees by 80% and cut out corruption opportunities of ‘negotiation’? A little from a lot of citizens is better than a lot from a few. Obama and the Red Cross made ‘billions’ from millions of $10-50 donations and not $1000s from a few.

    These charges may breach the human rights of citizens who deserve civility not ‘demands’. Just because someone calls it ‘TAX’ or ‘Charge’ or ‘Demand’ does not make it morally correct in amount. Even if it is ‘legitimate’ and ‘IGR’, Fellow Nigerian citizens need protection from overzealous taxation. Where is the Citizens Ombudsman? The authors of excessive tax bills should be cautioned and sanctioned because their wild assessments are causing panic among their tax victims, the voting Nigerians of 2015. This ‘mental assault’ intimidates the citizens and the letters should be rewritten. There should be trust and mutual respect between citizens and government, not a master servant relationship. This is not a human face of government.Does no one uphold the SERVICON pact not to abuse the citizens’ trust and respect?

    Would the Commissioners writing these letters be happy to receive letters promising such violence and vitriol? The bills are too high, too late in the year, with too short a notice for payment and too severe punishments. Does government want us to steal to pay these bills? Whenever the amount is agreed, bills and rents can be more easily paid by 12 monthly instalments like in civilised countries instead of once annually, ‘within one month’. An honest business professional could lose his business for this while the dishonest one will pay up and even ‘bribe up’. Meanwhile billions are stolen in government inflated contracts and corruption nationwide daily for no punishment.

    IGR must be ‘Intelligently’ and empathetically collected. Are these letters different from the threatening text messages and letters sent by Boko Haram, kidnappers and robbers forcing citizens to pay ‘protection’? They have ‘legal’ backing but every schoolboy knows the quote ‘The law is an ass’ and interpreted differently by every lawyer and judge. Indeed the ‘law is a manipulated ass’ used by authorities to legalise immorality. The principle of environmental care and land use are good but extortion is not.

    Firstly a charge for 2012 is issued in November 2012. Secondly, which financial wizardry makes N126,000 malignantly become N252,000 in four months, 300% interest per annum? Is that legal? Neither the Mafia nor Shakespeare’s Shylock and his ‘pound of flesh’ charge such interest rates? A la Adelabu of old, this is a ‘’penkele mess’’ demand of democracy, not a dividend. The citizen needs protected from government agents paid by citizens’ taxes. Struggling business, education and health services lift the state’s income and reputation. They are not pariah or the enemy but partners in state progress. The governor can intervene. For me, Agodi prison is a real 2013 possibility.

  • Terrorist attacks, floods damage Airtel’s 193 BTS

    Airtel Nigeria has raised the alarm over the damage to its facilities in the North caused by terrorist acts and flood.

    These twin challenges have also led to loss of equipment and degeneration of service.

    The firm called on the Federal Government to declare Telecoms Equipment as critical national infrastructure.

    It appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to make the restoration of telecoms facilities in flooded areas a priority in its restoration plans.

    The Director, Regulatory Affairs, Osondu Nwokoro, who spoke in Lagos, said the bombing and flooding have affected locations with impact across Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe states.

    Osondu said 32 BTS were flooded, 41 were affected. Lokoja Dagama, Lokoja-Okene, Asaba-Ughelli, Ughelli-Patani, Patani-Elele suffered submerged fibre optic cables.

    He said this development has affected service quality as the BTS affected were mostly routing and signalling links such that connectivity between local and distant calls were disrupted.

    Osondu said the telco’s remediation and restoration initiative has yielded dividends as 112 BTS have been resuscitated at a very great cost.

    “We are engaging more on facility-sharing. We are doing 250 with MTN while we are discussing another 100. “We are also doing fibre lease with other operators,” he said.

    He, however, assured subscribers that the company had taken steps to mitigate the damage done to its facilities by sealing facility-sharing agreements with other operators, engaging the services of private security companies as well as collaborating with security agencies to ensure maximum protection of telecoms facilities across the country.

     

  • Nigeria braces for escalation in terrorist attacks

    Nigeria braces for escalation in terrorist attacks

    Senior political and military figures say government has lost control of security amid wave of Boko Haram bombings, writes The Guardian of UK

    The Nigerian government has lost control of security, according to its own advisers, and lacks a coherent strategy to counter the threat of terrorism.
    Senior political and military figures have told The Guardian of their growing pessimism over the government’s ability to contain Boko Haram, the Islamist sect responsible for a deadly wave of bombings and kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and are bracing themselves for an escalation in attacks.
    “We have a serious problem in Nigeria and there is no sense that the government has a real grip,” a senior official close to the government said on condition of anonymity. “The situation is not remotely under control. It is just a matter of time before we see more large-scale attacks that pose a significant threat to national security, and now Nigeria’s economic growth is also at risk.”
    Boko Haram – whose name is often translated as “western education is sinful” – has become increasingly sophisticated in its operations since first launching mass attacks in northern Nigeria in 2010.
    The sect first began using violence against the Nigerian government and police in 2003, and is believed to have advanced its operations in recent months by attracting funding and support from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and al-Shabaab.
    In 2009 Boko Haram launched a new phase of operations following the killing of its leader, Muhammad Yusuf, by police and security forces.
    Since then, a spate of deadly church bombings has left hundreds dead, while attacks on mobile phone base stations have paralysed telecommunications in northern Nigeria, causing an estimated £3m worth of damage.
    The government has attempted to fight back against the sect, and claims to have killed at least 35 suspected militants earlier this week, and detained 60 others during raids in Adamawa and Yobe states in northern Nigeria – two of the areas most affected by the violence.
    But its failure to stop Boko Haram attacks has led many to question the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, who promised in March that security services would have ended the insurgency by June.
    A senior defence official, who asked not to be named, expressed concern that the government had failed to demonstrate the necessary political leadership to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram.
    “Leadership is the problem,” said the source. “When we had military dictatorships in Nigeria, we did not experience this kind of weak decision-making. There is no way we can combat this threat without more decisive action. You cannot divorce what is happening from weak leadership and the failure to repair the divisions in our society.”
    “The level of poverty in the north, and the way southerners are behaving with impunity – it is not surprising that there is this level of discontent in northern Nigeria.”
    Experts have frequently attributed the rise of Boko Haram to the growing divide between rich and poor in Nigeria, compounded by regionalism that has often pitched the largely Christian south against the predominantly Muslim north.
    Of the two-thirds of Nigerians – 100 million people – living below the poverty line, Nigeria’s national bureau of statistics said that the number living on less than one dollar a day was higher in the north, with rates of around 70%, compared with rates closer to 50% in the south. Much of the north has illiteracy rates of above 75%.
    “These acts are a reaction against decades of neglect,” the source close to the government said. “They are similar factors to what we saw driving revolution in the Arab spring.
    “The Boko Haram phenomenon underlines the failure of the Nigerian state,” said Manir Dan Ali, editor of the Daily Trust newspaper. “The government has ignored the advice of its own security officials, who warned of the danger signals long ago, and worse, lacks a coherent strategy for dealing with the problem and its underlining causes of poverty, neglect and a lack of opportunities for the young.”
    Resentment towards the Nigerian authorities has been compounded by human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings, experts say.
    “Male members of security forces have been going in and raiding women’s quarters – terrifying the women and humiliating the men,” said Chidi Odinkalu, chair of Nigeria’s national human rights commission. “These are minimal things that the state should be able to achieve – to train the soldiers on these sensitivities and use female soldiers. You can’t fight an insurgency by alienating part of the community.”
    The source close to the government said: “There are middle-ranking senior officers who understand the counter-productive nature of raids and extrajudicial executions. But that understanding is not filtering down quickly enough to junior officers – they are making bad decisions and they are not adequately trained. The police are ethically broken, and the armed forces don’t trust the police.
    “If you talk to Nigerians in the north, the misbehaviour of the security forces has become a significant factor in strengthening support for Boko Haram.”
    The military said it had addressed the problem of abuses by security services and changed its approach to operations in northern Nigeria. “We are beginning to win the hearts and minds of the people,” said Colonel Muhammad Yerima, director of defence information. “We are closing in on the terrorists – the more we catch them and interrogate them and get information, and stop the people that are supporting them, the more we will be able to combat this threat.”
    But the relationship between Boko Haram and officials is complex, experts say, with some members of the security services assisting the sect. “Some members of the security forces have been working as double agents,” said Adunola Abiola, founder of Think Security Africa, a thinktank specialising in security issues in Africa.
    “Improved and regular vetting of security personnel is very important for improving security management in the country generally.”
    The Nigerian government has been under renewed pressure to combat Boko Haram since the US decided to designate three members of the sect as foreign terrorists, giving US authorities powers under US law to take action.
    “This designation would in theory give various departments and agencies in the US government the power to actively pursue these men which could in theory result in a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and possibly even territorial integrity,” said Abiola. “It was severely embarrassing for the federal government and reinforced domestic criticism that it was incapable of performing the most basic of sovereign functions.”

     

  • U.S.: why we won’t tag Boko Haram terrorist body

    U.S.: why we won’t tag Boko Haram terrorist body

    The United States has not designated Boko Haram a terrorist organisation because its insurgency is principally aimed at portraying the Nigeria government as ineffective, Ambassador Jonnie Carson said yesterday.

    The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs spoke in a continent-wide telephone conference monitored at the US Embassy in Lagos.

    Mr. Carson said Boko Haram is not a homogenous organisation and, therefore, not qualified to be labelled a terrorist group.

    “Boko Haram is an organisation trying to discredit the Nigerian government and trying to show the government as ineffective in protecting its citizens,” he said.

    He, however, conceded that the US “constantly keeps it (Boko Haram) under review” and that is why it has declared three Boko Haram leaders as terrorists.

    Last June, the US Government placed Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi on its global terror watch list.

    “These three leaders were declared as terrorists because we believe they have established contacts and broader network with foreign terrorist organisations. They have sought funding and materials,” Carson said.

    In the build-up to the November 6 US presidential election, Carson spoke extensively on US affairs in Africa.

    According to him, the US’s predominant activities are targetted at helping “Africa deal with its ongoing security challenges” because crises take away resources meant for development. But, he said the country’s larger aim is to help Africa grow its economy, especially agriculture.

    On the recent attacks by Islamists on US Embassies and diplomats in some African and Arab countries. Carson’s said the “provocative video” was only a means for the attackers to show their interest, which is not necessarily religious, but to force US government out of those countries.

    He, however, said “that incident will not draw us back from engaging the global community but will make us intensify our efforts”.

    The US Consular General in Lagos, Jeffrey Hawkins, also condemned the violence that erupted as a result of the anti-Islam video.

    “That video does not reflect the view of the US government and I am personally against it,” he said, adding: “However, we believe in freedom of speech in the US; even speeches that are sometimes provocative and that should not warrant violence.”

    Mr. Hawkins said Nigerians have shown maturity in the wake of erupting violence against US diplomats.

    Mr. Hawkins said the Lagos Consular office now exists strictly to build bridges between the US government and Nigerians, without any government interference.

    “We recognise this is a young and growing country and we realise the youth are the future. So we are focusing a lot on the youth of this country,” he said.

    There was a procession in Zaria, Kaduna State, yesterday against the production of the anti-Islam video in the US.

    Leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky said the production and release of the anti-Islam film is part of the plan to institutionalise September 11 as an annual ritual aimed at branding Islam as a religion of terrorists.

    Addressing the protest rally at the Zaria Polo Club, El-Zakzaky condemned the film makers and the United States for releasing such a film to mock and ridicule Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

    According to him, apart from outward mockery of the tenets and beliefs of Islam, the film presented Prophet Mohammed in an unspeakable, immoral manner, pointing out that the “filthy” hand of the enemies of Islam is once again restless and becoming impatient and frustrated with the daily increased radiance of Islam and the Holy Qur’an in the present world.

    The Islamic scholar noted that the United States had in the past backed the previous links in the “evil chain”, namely Salman Rushdie, the Danish cartoonist and the U.S. Pastor who attempted to burn the Holy Qur’an.

    He also alleged that the American government had ordered for production and worldwide distribution of many anti-Islamic movies to companies affiliated to the Zionist capitalists, pointing out that if they had not done that, things would not have gone the way they are today.

    He noted that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Muslims in Nigeria decided on a peaceful demonstration to condemn this dastardly act, as people who love Prophet Mohammed and his teachings.

  • Readers’ Parliament

    Readers’ Parliament

    • Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Man in the mirror 1) 

    You are a terrorist too. 08024613695. Ololade, you yourself can kill 300 people. You are a terrorist agent. FBI should add you to their list of wannabe terrorists. 07036268176.
    Tunji, please try to syndicate your column and have it published in all major newspapers. I believe it’s the kind of stuff Nigerians need to spur them to a greater positive mass political action. Your confinement to The Nation is a great disservice to the Nigerian nation and the youth in particular. May God continue to watch over you and strengthen your hand as our dear country inches steadily toward the zero hour. Wishing the best of every good thing this year…Shalom! 08025347716.
    Tell Farouk Mutallab that there is nothing like 70 virgins for any murderer of any kind. He is lucky, let him repent and accept Jesus for life. This may be his last chance. 08060428267.
    Your write-up makes very little sense. At a time the young generation should be involved in objective analysis, I am surprised by your myopic and suspicious analysis. You vitiate my hope in the ability of the youths to make this world a better place for humanity. 08033937531.
    My brother, I really enjoy your write-ups, please ride on. 08062219551.
    Tunji, you are shying from the truth or being too careful, isn’t the dictate of Islam to kill perceived anti-Islamists and that Allah accepts that? Sincerely Tunji, Israel’s God is not Islam’s Allah. Former ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac while the latter asked Abraham to sacrifice Ishmael. God isn’t a liar. Then one religion is premised on falsehood and inactions. From Mr Ajayi, Ibadan. 08051002762.
    The type of coverage given criminal acts like Abdulmutallab’s by the international media is uncalled for. It does not deter a lot of depressed and evil-minded people. The fight against terrorism should be executed with utmost secrecy while information should be made public after culprits have been apprehended. I don’t think Abdulmutallab got the help he needed while he was going through some internal conflicts. Parents should do more to protect their wards against undue peer influence. The pursuit of wealth and ambition should not make parents neglect their primary responsibility to their children. Spare the rod… 08035157850.
    Nice article, Mr Olatunji. I admire your objective take on the effects of religion on our psyche. Looking forward to the concluding piece. From Barrister Amiesimaka Tamuno. 08064884718.
    Your discourse on Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Man in the mirror 1) is simply thought-provoking, elegantly poetic and vivid in its images. Kudos!  From Ayo (Esq) Calabar. 08038270988.
    Nigeria is always known for vices like money-laundering, advance-fee fraud, Farouk has decided to add terrorism to that list. He is a shame. 07036268176.
    Mutallab is a wasted material. His type is seriously needed to send a message to our leaders. From Olobi (Esq.) 08030707182.
    I read your piece, ‘Man in the mirror 1’and it’s really wonderful. How I wish all writers will be as objective as you are. We look forward to the second part. More grease to your elbows. Musab, Abuja. 08032953432.
    Every year, scores of people are senselessly murdered in the name of religion. Our politicians sweep it under the rug and carry on. Now they have carried it beyond our shores. Some homes in Lagos have parents with two different faiths and they live in peace, why is the north different? Bauchi alone had four religious massacres last year, why wasn’t it the same in Imo, Lagos, Delta, why? 08039293271
    Mr Olatunji, your piece on Umar is a classic and I must congratulate you for having the courage and conviction to write it. You spoke the mind of millions. 08038131304.
    Good talk but let’s call a spade a spade, USA is the terror to all. It trained them on the use of arms, produces and sells weapons to them. 08032155018.
    Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Man in the mirror 2)
    I tried to stop him when this action was deliberated upon and he told me of his moves…but too late. Let’s save others. 07033065434.
    If you truly admire Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, then encourage your children to do the same otherwise you are insincere. FromC.O. Kad. 08034526106.
    Please don’t ever have the impression that Jesus is a mere mortal. He is god. Good piece though. 08034416174.
    The controversy continues. Anyway, isn’t religion meant to be a subjective thing? 08033915632.
    Read your article and I must say, I am most impressed; such eloquence. I marvel at your writing perspective. Mind me asking if you schooled in Nigeria? 07032750275.
    Olatunji, believe it, you are great if not for other things but for today’s (Man in the mirror 2). May your brain and ink never get dry. I really love journalists like you. 08033264122.
    Mr Olatunji, your piece is superb and nothing but the bitter truth. I only wish our so-called clerics and leaders will stop being hypocritical and accept this truth (Reality Bites). Your column name fits perfectly. I look forward to more of these truths. Keep up the good work. 08136392193.
    Please don’t rationalize terrorism, condemn it in clear term. Farouk’s action was satanic. 07058845253.
    Indeed shame on you for hiding behind pun and unfortunate event to vent your probably long-held hatred for Christ and his followers. Damn masked fundamentalist! Shame! 07038278128.
    Dear Olatunji, compliments of the season. Your piece brought me close to tears. You said it all, we are to be blamed. Thank you. From Barrister Williams. 07025100415.
    You are too much! Kudos! And where the hell did you school? Who mentored and tutored you? 08062264032.
    For once, I read a piece that’s void of politics and elitist propaganda on serious issues. Tunji, I read your piece and the truth in it stole my heart. 08037011775.
    You are a fantastic writer even though I disagree with some of your premises and conclusions. You are a radical, I presume. From Kehinde. Akure. 08033899787.
    Since you are sympathising with Muslim fanatics instead of sanctioning their actions, why don’t you convert to Islam and blow up a church so you can make paradise? 08036327488.
    Your article was apt and on point. We lack depth. We are such simpletons that we have lost the art of deep reflection. Reality Bites just got a new convert. Let’s go deeper.  From S.M. Dikwa. Jos. 08034515362.
    End of the working class heroes…
    I have been reading your editorials for a very long time now. I must admit that you are a fearless writer in a country where yellow is orange and where people always have reasons to fear. To say that 80 per cent of Nigerians are cowards is an understatement. Sad thing is how many have access to your column? Sadder still; how many are aware of events about the Arab spring. They need electricity to be connected to the outside world via CNN or more. When the negligible light is available, they will rather watch African Magic on DSTV. So how the hell can they be able to borrow a leaf from the Arab spring? Mark my word, fuel subsidy will be removed and nothing will happen as usual. Nigerians will only blow hot air. After one week of strike action, the outcry will fizzle out… 08064286736.