* Recalls how Gen Buhari failed to crush Maitatsine set in the 1990s
A former Military Governor of old Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), has accused ex-President Muhammadu Buhari of not handling the insecurity issues in the country effectively during his tenure.
The former governor said over 80,000 persons lost their lives, while thousands of women and girls were raped under Buhari’s administration.
He further stated that hundreds of thousands were kidnapped and killed or released after the payment of ransom.
According to him, Buhari was more concerned about his administration’s security than national security, which explains his decision to retain military Service Chiefs in the face of public dissatisfaction with their performance.
Asked if the over-stretching of the military in their fight against terrorism led to the emergence of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, farmers-herders conflict and separatist movements, Umar responded: “Partially so”.
Even the strange decision to relocate the military’s command centre from the Federal capital, the seat of the Commander-in-Chief and his Service Chiefs would point to this.
“These other security challenges existed even though they were not as virulent as the Boko Haram insurgency. But unlike past administrations, the Buhari Presidency failed to deal decisively with them, causing them to fester.
“Had he allowed the continuation of the counter-insurgency strategy, Boko Haram would have been totally defeated, making troops available for other security details.
“Unfortunately, the Boko Haram insurgency lingers on to this day. The government’s claim of having technically defeated the insurgents is empty propaganda. We are still awaiting Mr. Lai Muhammad’s plan to convert Sambisa Forest into a holiday resort.
“Let’s review the most serious security challenges which were simmering as the Boko Haram insurgency was raging. We should also look at how past administrations reacted to their emergence and forestalled them morphing into the existential security threats which they have become currently.
“The Maitatsine, an ‘Islamic’ fundamentalist sect, emerged in the early 1980s under the President Shehu Shagari administration. It had its base in Kano, with cells in other parts of the North, more visible in Maiduguri, Yola and Kaduna.
“Sensing its security threat, the government ordered the military to dislodge and stamp them out. Its headquarters in Kano was destroyed.
“Its cells were also exterminated. Many of its members, including its leader, Muhammad Marwa, were killed. Many were arrested and prosecuted.
“This brought to an end, the Maitatsine religious uprising. Banditry; this also became a serious security challenge in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Bandits bearing sophisticated arms crossed into Nigeria from neighbouring states of Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon.
“They rustled livestock and foodstuffs and retreated into their bases in those countries. Once again, President Shagari tasked the military to confront the threat.
“The 3 Armoured Division, Jos, under the command of General Muhammadu Buhari, was given the mission. The Division successfully drove out the bandits, pursuing them across our border into Chad, with the aim of attacking their bases and preventing them from future raids. This resulted in a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Chad.
“In an effort to placate the Chadians, the Shagari administration conveyed its disapproval to General Buhari, a kind of censure or slap on the wrist. The General was so angered by this, which must have contributed to his decision to lead a coup against the government of Shehu Shagari.
“The arrest and detention of Dr. Haruna Adamu, whose magazine wrote an editorial critical of General Buhari’s actions is evidence of the General’s anger. Dr Haruna Adamu remained incarcerated and was only released after the ouster of General Buhari’s regime in August 1985.”
Speaking on the issue of banditry, he said: “The new banditry and kidnapping for ransom have assumed an industrial scale in the past eight years.