SULEIMAN USMAN YUSUF
On the evening of 09/02/2024 (Yesterday), just past 8:00pm, a horrifying crime unfolded right in front of the Deputy Governor’s house. This location is a stone’s throw away from the official residences of the Commissioner of Police, the Army GoC, and an Air Force facility. A woman was brutally attacked, her belongings stolen, and her body left bleeding on the streets of Tafawa Balewa Way. This is not a scene from a horror movie, but a grim reality that I, along with many others, personally witnessed. I took it upon myself to rush her to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where she continues to fight for her life, struggling with an oxygen mask on her face. This incident is a huge reminder of the horrors lurking in our midst.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar attacks have been reported in the same area, including one that led to a woman’s death near Almanar Mosque. It is a disgrace that such atrocities are happening right under the noses of our supposed protectors.
In a time of economic turmoil and diminishing resources, the vulnerable are exploited by heartless criminals, preying on those simply trying to survive. The failures of the Kaduna State Government and relevant security agencies are glaring. Their incompetence and negligence in securing lives and property are unacceptable. We demand a swift, coordinated response to ensure human security, including food and environmental safety.
The Kaduna State Government and all relevant security agencies have failed us. Their primary responsibility is to secure lives and properties, yet they have shown gross incompetence and negligence. We need a deliberate, fast, and well-coordinated approach to address issues of human security, including food and environmental security. Anything less is unacceptable.
As responsible citizens, we must always extend a helping hand to victims of such incidents. The woman I helped is still fighting for her life in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital. Her life hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the State’s failure to protect its citizens.
I will personally write a report of this incident and send it to the governor. I urge those with similar stories to do the same. We need immediate, practical, and proactive steps to save potential victims. We cannot struggle with basic needs and also live in fear in our own State.
During elections, we are asked to vote. But what value are we deriving from voting these officials if our safety is not guaranteed? It is time to hold our leaders accountable. Our lives must matter.
To His Excellency, Governor Mallam Uba Sani, we do not need roads if we cannot be secure on them, we do not need bridges if we cannot cross from fear to freedom, we do not need business policies if we cannot even go to the markets. It is not a dividend of democracy to be attacked in our farms, on our travels to Abuja, Kano, Zamfara, and other States, and even in our homes. Where then can we call home? We cannot be dead while living. We urge you to prioritize the security of your citizens.
This is a wake-up call. We demand better from our leaders and from each other. Enough is enough.
#SafetyFirst #CommunitySecurity #KadunaState #SecurityAlert #StaySafe
Suleiman writes from Kaduna 10/02/2024
Suyusuf2014@gmail.com