Editorial
Militancy: Beyond The Surrender Of Arms
At a time when some Nigerians are think
ing that the days of Amnesty for militant
youth may be numbered, another set of militants recently expressed the desire to surrender their arms and embrace the Amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
The youth who said their decision was based on the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, noted that they would accept Amnesty because they were patriotic and expressed the hope that the Federal Government would be sincere.
Youth involved in the current negotiation cut across communities in Arepo, Ikorodu, Abule, Fatorla, Ibafo, Magboro, Epe, Itokin, Ilepete, Okenekene, Agric, Gbokoda Camps, Camp 5 and environs all in the western part of Nigeria.
While it will be difficult to question the wisdom of the Federal Government in brokering the present Amnesty programme, the facts behind the problem should not be lost. Also to be put in perspective is whether this will be the last group to qualify for Amnesty.
The Tide thinks that if successive governments in Nigeria had done what was expected of them, there would not be militants in the first place. But even more worrisome, is the failure of the security agencies to rise to the security demands of the country.
A situation where a government is said to be in place could not have allowed criminals to become so rich from criminality, have an unbridle access to guns and use same to terrorise the people, while the government and the security community find excuses.
The youth that are bluffing and making demands are the same that have severally blown up oil and gas facilities. Apart from the products they have stolen and the public property they have destroyed, in some cases they have caused fire that claimed so many lives, caused product scarcity among others and the authorities did nothing.
Since Amnesty has become the most reasonable thing to do under the circumstance, the Federal Government must get a commitment from the youth that the Amnesty will bring an end to vandalism, robbery, fuel racketeering and violence in that part of Nigeria.
Because of the near failure of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, the present one must be properly thought-through. The current negotiation must involve all arms of the security community. Similarly, the boys should not be asked to convey their guns but, the military must go and pick them up to avoid some funny things from happening between the surrender and its implementation.
Government may also need to note that they cannot afford to take anything for granted. They must not be tempted to believe that with the surrender of some guns, all is well and relax on their security responsibilities. They must follow up and immediately conduct operations that will remove guns from the hands of the youth.
After the take-off of the programme, government must also ensure that the conditions that brought about the state of lawlessness was addressed from the root. The youth must not be allowed to be driven into desperation, while the security community must never allow the build-up of another stockpile of illegal weapons.
Whether Nigeria can commit to these will remain on the conscience of the leadership of the various lines of authority. But the Amnesty Programme for the new group should also be well planned: Dumping them overseas is not the answer, causing their training to be truncated should be avoided and bringing them back to nothing after the training must be guided against.
On the other hand, the rehabilitation of the youth without doing same for the society they had so negatively impacted is like bringing new wine into an old wine skin. Those who have been destroyed, displaced and disoriented by activities of the militants must be identified and rehabilitated also.
It is on record that militants killed some persons, sent many out of business and out of their communities. In some cases locals were kidnapped and public infrastructure like schools and health centres were commandeered among others. Without any rehabilitation for victims of militancy, reprisal attacks may not be ruled out.
That is why we think that it is not enough to accept the surrender of some arms from the once militant youth, the Federal Government must be clear from the beginning that they are ready to go all the way, or avoid the waste of money and time. They should not raise hopes that will amount to nothing like it is in some parts of the Niger Delta.
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Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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