Veteran Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, to declare a state of emergency.
According to the revered actor, Nigerians are “broken, angry, and have seen it all”, which can be a trigger for destruction if not handled properly. RMD warned that things may worsen if the government does not apprehend perpetrators of the Kaduna train attack and do more than promises to protect Nigerians.
“Nothing surprises and shocks us anymore; we have seen and heard it all. Ridiculousness has been enthroned by our leaders at every level. There’s an urgent need to declare a state of emergency in this country. We’re heading for the precipice and it doesn’t seem like we are interested in pulling the brakes”.
RMD
“After now, it is a free fall. The government needs to do more than just promises to apprehend the perpetrators and truly save the lives of Nigerians,” RMD further wrote.
The actor sympathized with the families of those who lost their lives in Kaduna train attack as he recalled his experience on the train.
“At this time last year, I was on the train to Kaduna and we talked about how unsafe life is and the risks we were taking. We’re the lucky ones. Again, a month ago, I was on the Lagos /Ibadan train, and it was the same specter of death and attacks that plagued our minds. This is not to disregard the comfort and timeliness of the train ride and how desirable it is there”.
RMD
RMD identified himself as being lucky for escaping attacks on the train, while noting that anyone could be a victim if security becomes worse.
“Point is, it could be anyone any day. On the road, at the airport, train station nowhere is safe anymore. This is the extent of our brokenness. If anything is an indication of how broken we are today, then the shameful storming of the pitch and destruction of the MKO National Stadium, Abuja, is a clear indication. People are angry and bitter and are just looking for triggers. And boy! they’re plenty”.
RMD
“See the initial reactions to the quite clear tweet of the young doctor who died from gunshot wounds from the train, and you will see that we have also lost our humanity,” RMD concluded.
The Extent of Brokenness in Nigeria
RMD’s call for the government to declare a state of emergency followed an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train and the destruction of properties at MKO Abiola stadium after the Nigeria-Ghana clash.
Gunmen attacked a train traveling from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to the city of Kaduna, in an “unprecedented” act of violence that has currently heightened concerns about a breakdown of security in the country’s troubled northern region.
The death toll is unclear but a local security official told local media that two train staff and five security personnel had been killed. A Senator in Kaduna state also disclosed that three cleaning staff on the train had died. Many others were injured and there were fears that an unknown number had been abducted.
Authorities could not immediately confirm the number of passengers on the train but local media reported that nearly 1,000 people were onboard.
Just as Nigeria was still trying to digest the train attack, angry Nigerian fans set out to destroy properties at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja after the Super Eagles failed to reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
According to some reports, the violence following the game could cost Nigeria a lot as the MKO Abiola Stadium had just been renovated with billions of Naira through private sponsorship after many years of neglect of the facility. Nigerian football also stands to face disciplinary action from the world football governing body, FIFA.
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