A few weeks back, I had written partly on the aloofness of Ekiti State government’s I-don’t-care response to abductions in the border communities of the state, which are left for the affected residents to address while the government continues its business-as-usual posturing. Specifically, I called on the state government to ensure the release of the 16 worshippers herded into captivity while worshipping God in a church at Eda Oniyo on April 28.This sad incident happened two weeks before 46 innocent pupils and teachers were abducted by some lunatics from their schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Scores of other students were equally abducted from their schools in the Askira-Uba LGA of Borno State within 24 hours of the Oyo mass kidnapping. Both are clearly sad reminders of our leaders’ penchant for treating a raging threat with criminal delay until it transforms into a monster.I was not surprised that one of the special advisers in the state sent me a thoughtless email, accusing me of mischief without faulting any of the points raised in the write-up. His misplaced rejoinder, for want of a better word to use, reminded me, once again, that politicians think alike, always seeing the hands of their ‘perceived enemies’ in their ordeals and blaming everybody, except themselves, for all their shortcomings.Little wonder that in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936), Dale Carnegie (originally named Dale Harbison Carnagey) writes, “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”Carnegie, a Missouri-born author, could have been talking about politicians generally, especially Nigerian politicians, who choose to major in minor and minor in major in their coordinated, deliberate attempts to deflect the attention of the gullible, perfect their self-serving deception and score cheap political goals with logic turned on its head.Let’s check the aftermath of the rescue of the Oriire victims. After appreciating the support of President Bola Tinubu and commending the gallantry of the troops on the successful rescue of the Oriire abductees, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, descended into the mode of a politician that he is, accusing some unseen but known enemies of the abduction. According to him, the unfortunate mass abduction in the state 24 hours after he declared his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party/Allied Peoples Movement (don’t be confused) was not a coincidence. Makinde wants Nigeria to believe that the abduction of 46 precious souls was a response to the declaration of his presidential bid on the platform of a nonexistent political coalition.Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. This sad incident happened two weeks before 46 innocent pupils and teachers were abducted by some lunatics from their schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Scores of other students were equally abducted from their schools in the Askira-Uba LGA of Borno State within 24 hours of the Oyo mass kidnapping. Both are clearly sad reminders of our leaders’ penchant for treating a raging threat with criminal delay until it transforms into a monster.I was not surprised that one of the special advisers in the state sent me a thoughtless email, accusing me of mischief without faulting any of the points raised in the write-up. His misplaced rejoinder, for want of a better word to use, reminded me, once again, that politicians think alike, always seeing the hands of their ‘perceived enemies’ in their ordeals and blaming everybody, except themselves, for all their shortcomings.Little wonder that in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936), Dale Carnegie (originally named Dale Harbison Carnagey) writes, “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”Carnegie, a Missouri-born author, could have been talking about politicians generally, especially Nigerian politicians, who choose to major in minor and minor in major in their coordinated, deliberate attempts to deflect the attention of the gullible, perfect their self-serving deception and score cheap political goals with logic turned on its head.Let’s check the aftermath of the rescue of the Oriire victims. After appreciating the support of President Bola Tinubu and commending the gallantry of the troops on the successful rescue of the Oriire abductees, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, descended into the mode of a politician that he is, accusing some unseen but known enemies of the abduction. According to him, the unfortunate mass abduction in the state 24 hours after he declared his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party/Allied Peoples Movement (don’t be confused) was not a coincidence. Makinde wants Nigeria to believe that the abduction of 46 precious souls was a response to the declaration of his presidential bid on the platform of a nonexistent political coalition.Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. I was not surprised that one of the special advisers in the state sent me a thoughtless email, accusing me of mischief without faulting any of the points raised in the write-up. His misplaced rejoinder, for want of a better word to use, reminded me, once again, that politicians think alike, always seeing the hands of their ‘perceived enemies’ in their ordeals and blaming everybody, except themselves, for all their shortcomings.Little wonder that in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936), Dale Carnegie (originally named Dale Harbison Carnagey) writes, “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”Carnegie, a Missouri-born author, could have been talking about politicians generally, especially Nigerian politicians, who choose to major in minor and minor in major in their coordinated, deliberate attempts to deflect the attention of the gullible, perfect their self-serving deception and score cheap political goals with logic turned on its head.Let’s check the aftermath of the rescue of the Oriire victims. After appreciating the support of President Bola Tinubu and commending the gallantry of the troops on the successful rescue of the Oriire abductees, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, descended into the mode of a politician that he is, accusing some unseen but known enemies of the abduction. According to him, the unfortunate mass abduction in the state 24 hours after he declared his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party/Allied Peoples Movement (don’t be confused) was not a coincidence. Makinde wants Nigeria to believe that the abduction of 46 precious souls was a response to the declaration of his presidential bid on the platform of a nonexistent political coalition.Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Little wonder that in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936), Dale Carnegie (originally named Dale Harbison Carnagey) writes, “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”Carnegie, a Missouri-born author, could have been talking about politicians generally, especially Nigerian politicians, who choose to major in minor and minor in major in their coordinated, deliberate attempts to deflect the attention of the gullible, perfect their self-serving deception and score cheap political goals with logic turned on its head.Let’s check the aftermath of the rescue of the Oriire victims. After appreciating the support of President Bola Tinubu and commending the gallantry of the troops on the successful rescue of the Oriire abductees, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, descended into the mode of a politician that he is, accusing some unseen but known enemies of the abduction. According to him, the unfortunate mass abduction in the state 24 hours after he declared his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party/Allied Peoples Movement (don’t be confused) was not a coincidence. Makinde wants Nigeria to believe that the abduction of 46 precious souls was a response to the declaration of his presidential bid on the platform of a nonexistent political coalition.Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Carnegie, a Missouri-born author, could have been talking about politicians generally, especially Nigerian politicians, who choose to major in minor and minor in major in their coordinated, deliberate attempts to deflect the attention of the gullible, perfect their self-serving deception and score cheap political goals with logic turned on its head.Let’s check the aftermath of the rescue of the Oriire victims. After appreciating the support of President Bola Tinubu and commending the gallantry of the troops on the successful rescue of the Oriire abductees, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, descended into the mode of a politician that he is, accusing some unseen but known enemies of the abduction. According to him, the unfortunate mass abduction in the state 24 hours after he declared his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party/Allied Peoples Movement (don’t be confused) was not a coincidence. Makinde wants Nigeria to believe that the abduction of 46 precious souls was a response to the declaration of his presidential bid on the platform of a nonexistent political coalition.Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Let’s check the aftermath of the rescue of the Oriire victims. After appreciating the support of President Bola Tinubu and commending the gallantry of the troops on the successful rescue of the Oriire abductees, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, descended into the mode of a politician that he is, accusing some unseen but known enemies of the abduction. According to him, the unfortunate mass abduction in the state 24 hours after he declared his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party/Allied Peoples Movement (don’t be confused) was not a coincidence. Makinde wants Nigeria to believe that the abduction of 46 precious souls was a response to the declaration of his presidential bid on the platform of a nonexistent political coalition.Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Let me quickly admit that our young governor is entitled to his opinion, which is constitutionally guaranteed, even as an ordinary citizen of this country. What is not morally and constitutionally guaranteed is spreading illogicality and falsehood among perplexed people to massage any bruised political ego, least of all by a two-term state governor.It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. It may be necessary to inform our governor that last year, he informed the nation that some strange elements had started a mass exodus into forests in the state, warning of a potential security breach. Makinde had not declared his presidential ambition then. The leader of Oodua Peoples Congress, Iba Gani Adams, continued to echo the governor’s position in a strident campaign to forestall a looming danger in the South-West.When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. When abductions heightened in Oyo State, were these informed by Makinde’s ill-conceived presidential bid as well? When our dear governor, who, in all honesty, has done well in governance when compared with a few of his colleagues in the South-West, hosted all shades of opposition politicians in Ibadan earlier this year, pushing for a single opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, the threat of a security breach, which he raised in 2025, hadn’t disappeared. Yet, no one took the blame.As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. As expected of Nigerian politicians, the PDP in Oyo State has equally gone on an overdrive to castigate former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was equally flippant and reckless in his comments on the reaction of Makinde to the rescue of the Oyo abductees. Fayose, who has been in a running political standoff with Makinde for months, faulted the governor’s reported delay in visiting the pupils and their teachers, alleging that the abduction might have been stage-managed to blackmail Tinubu and reap political capital by the state government.One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. One might not be sure which party Makinde belongs to at the moment, the party on whose platform he rode to the state governorship seat, the PDP, did not fail to castigate Fayose’s criticism of its beloved governor, alleging that the ex-governor’s comments suggested that the mass abduction might have been engineered by some unnamed authorities. It described Fayose’s outburst as reckless, insensitive, and politically dangerous.None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. None of these three characters above has offered any solution to the raging inferno in the region or the country, or how to chart the way forward out of the nation’s debilitating insecurity, through their political statements. Instead of allowing our sleeping dog to lie, Makinde, Oyo PDP and Fayose, among several others, cashed in on the nation’s woes to score cheap, unfortunate political points.If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. If one could excuse the flippancy of the leaders mentioned earlier, how would Long Range be surprised by the dangerous demand of our activist-turned-politician, Madam Aisha Yesufu, who practically “demanded the corpses” of the neutralised terrorists in the rescue operation in Oyo National Park? I’m sure that you may jump at my phrase above. What is the difference between demanding the corpses of the slain terrorists and the illogical demand for the video footage of the rescue operation?Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Could Madam Yesufu have thought that hundreds of troops, who stormed the massive Oyo Forest, were dancing azonto and popping champagne in the battle where Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac paid the supreme price? Doesn’t the former activist think that she is practically dancing on the tomb of the 28-year-old officer, who was cut down at the outset of his young career?One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. One could recollect the agony of the former activist in her baptism of political fire in her attempt to claim a Senate ticket on the platform of the National Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory. It is, however, inconceivable that the NDC primary experience, where the ex-activist was outsmarted (no matter the level of bitterness), could have blinded our beloved Yesufu from thinking logically. What evidence could a supposed mother, carrying a milk of human kindness, be looking for when the life of another human being was cut down during the rescue operation?Related NewsN/East APC youths back Shettima’s retention as VP, predict 2027 victoryTwo flee as police arrest suspect with pistol in OyoWe’ll generate N5bn annual mining revenue for Osun – AAC gov candidateI have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. I have deliberately avoided the reactions of the Peter Obis, the Atikus and the Nyesom Wikes of this world so that we shall not lose sight of our discourse. Their reactions are mostly expected and predictably characteristic. Thinking logically is not a priority component in the thinking of a politician, our politicians, especially.One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. One of the major lessons Nigerians should learn from the Oyo abduction is that this unfortunate incident is a manifestation of the systemic failure that has been entrenched over the years in our body polity. Nigeria is not in the business of taking anything as important until it is criminally late. Our leaders do not believe any threat should be curtailed until it becomes a monster with frightening tentacles.I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. I’m not saying our gallant security forces and their leaders have forgotten this, but it is, however, important to mention it. A few hours around the time the Oriire children and teachers were abducted on May 15, no fewer than 42 pupils were carted away by another set of deranged self-styled jihadists from Mussa schools in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. One is aware that security forces are overwhelmed already, having to fight bandits and petty criminals round the clock. Most Nigerians expect that the attention of troops will be directed at rescuing the Borno kidnapped pupils who have been cohabiting with lunatics since their abduction on May 15.One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. One is encouraged by the successes of the anti-terror fight in recent weeks from the Chad Basin to the vast plains of Zamfara and Kebbi and all the way to the forests of the South-West. It will then be criminal on the part of the government if this trend is not sustained. The deliberate and determined efforts of the government will frustrate the plot of the enemies of the state, who have vowed that Nigeria won’t know peace because of their political ambition.It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. It is my considered opinion that apart from investing massively in technology and modern weapons for the troops (of course, more than the terrorists), the monthly wages and allowances of the troops prosecuting the anti-terror war should be tripled (yes!) to engender the needed motivation among them. Anyone who sends a soldier against terrorists with a shakabula gun has literally committed murder and aided the fighter to commit suicide.Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Terrorists’ reintegration: Zulum’s transgression against NigeriansAt a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. At a time when Nigerians of all shades and political affiliations are expected to rise against terrorism and banditry, it is distressingly sad that some governors have chosen to dance to the terror-induced drumbeats of terror advocates like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – to negotiate with terrorists and grant them amnesty.Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Not one attracted to distracting voices, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, appeared to have suffered an off-day in the discharge of his official duties recently. Zulum, a few weeks back, championed the reintegration of 720 so-called “repentant terrorists” into society.It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. It is no more new that Nigerians are very rich in coining high-sounding phrases for the English lexicon, but accepting “repentant terrorists” to represent those who surrender their arms as a result of the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops against insurgents, is a joke taken too far. Reintegrating criminals into a society ab initio destabilised by the same jihadists is, in itself, murderous, illegal, reckless, insensitive, illogical, needless and tantamount to encouraging the unceasing killings of Nigerians.How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. How on earth does a governor, with all his education, experience and good work for Borno State, wake up with the idea of empowering the same set of deranged characters, who have made most parts of his state inaccessible, ungovernable and a killing field since 2009, members of the same society, and are now feeding fat on the resources of the state? People get paid for killing others, and are scandalously rewarded!Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Who bears the consequences of their murderous actions? How do the grieving families, who have lost children, husbands, wives and loved ones, feel assured of justice? If the terrorists (they are still terrorists) had succeeded in wiping away the state or the country from the face of the earth, which country would they have been reintegrated into?Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. Has Zulum not been told the failure of the same “amnesty” programme (this annoying word self!) firstly in Zamfara State by the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle (as governor between 2019 and 2023), and serially by the Katsina State Government administrations? Despite the “amnesty”, forgiveness and “reintegration” in these states, the killers have continued their heinous operations with renewed venom. You hear?In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. In case the new Zulums of this world (he was certainly not in this mode) are not aware, the integrated terrorists serve as informants to and collaborators with their colleagues still killing, abducting and terrorising Nigerians, and unfortunately, being paid by the government to do so among the people they have turned to widows, widowers, childless and displaced.It is time we put on our thinking caps. It is time we put on our thinking caps.