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4 Devastating Events That Struck Nigeria in January, 2024
the list of four devastating events that have left Nigerians awry in just a few days of the first month of 2024.
Amidst the celebration of the new year, several devastating and heartbreaking news have been heard in different parts of Nigeria which have left Nigerians in serious doubt about the security in the nation. The New Year celebration was cut short by the sudden news of killings in Jos, Plateau State. Over a hundred lives were lost leaving the nation in a grieving mood. Added to this heart-sinking news are several other devastating events leaving the nation in a great uproar and posing several challenges to the government’s efficiency in ensuring the citizens’ safety. Here in this write-up, is the list of four devastating events that have left Nigerians awry in just a few days of the first month of 2024.
Killings in Jos, Plateau State
In the mood of Christmas and towards the preparation for the new year, disaster struck the north-central part of Nigeria, Jos in Plateau state. A community in Bokkos Local Government Area was attacked. Several houses were set ablaze by the attackers who also looted farm produce and destroyed properties in the process. No fewer than a hundred and thirty persons were reportedly killed by assailants. The villagers were mostly farmers and hunters with little to no weapons to protect themselves from the unprovoked attackers. Many of them who escaped through hiding mentioned calling the security personnel to come to their rescue but their expectations were met with a rude shock and a choice for each person to protect themselves when the Security workers showed up only after several hours the incident occurred. This only points to the dead security state of the nation.
Kidnapping in Abuja
The nation in a grieving state was met with yet another sad news as a group of Bandits besieged the federal Capital territory Abuja. These bandits kidnapped a group of people including children demanding huge ransoms from their relatives with a threat to end their lives if their agreement is breached. Since then stories of kidnapping have not ceased from community to community in Abuja. Residents feared that the situation would be turned into a day-to-day thing. Several complaints have been made to the head of security yet it seems like little or nothing is being done to combat the growing insecurity concerns.
In recent news, reports emerged that the kidnappers, who also operated in some villages in Bwari, had killed one of the six abducted persons to force the family into quickly raising the demanded ransom. After they are killed brutally, their bodies are sent to their relatives who are sentenced to mourning over the cruel departure of their loved ones who have been sent to their early graves.
The demands of the gunmen are ridiculously too high for an average Nigerian citizen and these ransoms are impossible to meet. Families of the victims are crying out to the government to do their best in apprehending the kidnappers who have made the innocent lives of their loved ones a trade to profit from.
Fire outbreak in Port Harcourt
Two separate fire outbreaks happened towards the start of the new year in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State respectively. Goods and property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The fire was said to have started from a shop at the plank shade in the morning, as thick black smoke filled the atmosphere.
The first outbreak happened at the Marine Base axis of the metropolis opposite the Plank Shade market. A quick rescue was made by the arrival of the firefighters coupled with the joint efforts of the residents. The second outbreak occurred at a parking space in the Rumueme axis of Mile 4 along Ikwerre Road leading to the destruction of several properties. The situation was salvaged by the prompt intervention of the fire service.
About 7 fire outbreaks have happened in the state in the space of a month, leaving residents in the pain of losing properties and for some, their source of livelihood.
Explosion in Ibadan
A disaster struck the city of Ibadan on the 17th of January,2024 where a loud sound was heard all over the major places in Ibadan. Places like Orogun, UI, Bodija, Mokola, Ologuneru, Akobo, Isokan, Ekerin, Eleyele, and parts of Apete felt the shaking. A series of speculations were made about what might have been the cause of this bang. Speculations like a bomb blast, fire outbreak, gas station explosion, earthquake, tremor, and illegal mining were made.
Videos and pictures of collapsed buildings, shattered windows, shattered cars, and broken doors posted on the internet, sent the whole nation into having a feeling of despair and fear pondering the probability of some of the speculations. Buildings were reduced to near wreckage at the sound of the blast and vehicles were destroyed. Further away from the blast zone, windows have been blown out of houses, and rooftops damaged. Earthmoving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident to enable search and rescue operations. After some investigations, the bang was traced to have originated from an area known as Adeyi close in Bodija, Ibadan.
The scene was visited by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde who reported that preliminary investigations carried out by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices. These devices caused the blast. Two people were discovered dead and 77 others were injured as a result of the explosion. The governor promised afterward to bring all those culpable to book.
With the recent happenings, Nigerians have been left in panic and worry about their fate as the security state of the country keeps dwindling by the day.