Dayo Ogunsola

The growing wave of insecurity ravaging Nigeria has made the current time a challenging one for the average Nigerian. More worrisome is the spiral of the madness to the South West, increasing the sense of insecurity across the length and breadth of the country.

As it stands today, many Nigerians have shifted their prayer points away from the need to meet their daily bread to safety and security. This is so because nowhere appears safe, and the perceived government’s poor handling of the issue worsened the tensed atmosphere.

The attack by terrorists at Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where an estimated 39 students and 7 teachers were reportedly kidnapped and are still being held in captivity,  cleared Nigerians’ doubt, particularly that of the Yorubas, that the South West part of the country is no longer safe.

Much as everyone continues to grapple with the disturbing reality of the moment, adjusting their lives to new security norms, hoping that government at all levels will rise up to free the victims in captivity and deal a devastating blow to the agents of terror, Muslims in the South West are now contending with another round of banditry – through hate speeches and reckless rhetoric against them and their faith.

Today, every form of narrative is being twisted, redirected and skewed to tarnish the image of Islam on the guise of speaking out against banditry. The challenging moment offers children of perdition and hate all it takes to ridicule Islam and those who profess it.

For instance, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, was captured in a viral footage recently, drawing support against negotiating with bandits, a position taken on the floor of the house. In his argument, the speaker held that demands from terrorists could be highly unreasonable and provocative. He mentioned so many possible demands, including the possibility of requesting concessions in future laws of the state, amidst other unreasonable demands.

It is disheartening to note that this fits into the disinformation machine of the hate speech agents: many digital media bandits have seized the opportunity to reconstruct this harmless explanation to assume such nebulous concession means the establishment of Sharia Law, as if Sharia in its form is an enabler of terrorism. They are not only vilifying Islam but also Muslim leaders across the South West and beyond. All sorts of abuses and unprintable words are now being freely used, in a brazen manner on social media demonstrating their deep-rooted hate for Islam.

On many occasions, these individuals cross the red line, describing Islam as a religion of terror, whose adherents and teachings encourage banditry. As if that was not enough, pictures of notable Muslim leaders are now being used to complement such divisive and dangerous narratives.

While it is absolutely important for the Muslim community to be responsible in identifying with some controversial individuals whose narratives may have emboldened the act of kidnapping and terrorism in other parts of the country, especially the controversial popular northern cleric-  Gumi, it is divisive to deconstruct every narrative, taking it out of context to create further divisions. To do this is to become a digital media bandit whose goal and aim are not far from those of our common enemies.

A situation where people,  who legitimately practice their religion as expected in line with the constitutional provisions are becoming targets of hate speech and cyber attacks is condemnable.

What is important for everyone to note is that terrorists don’t only attack with guns and bullets; their presence creates an atmosphere of fear and suspicion. Therefore, every fake news, terrible innuendo, misrepresentation and hate speech fit into this calculation.

It is therefore necessary for us in the south western part of the country to understand the risk and challenging nature of the moment, and then maintain restraint against further divisions among our people. To do otherwise is to become a digital media bandit against our family members because of the faith they profess.

Dayo Ogunsola writes from Ilero, Kajola local government.