‘On-Gun-Known-Men’

In literary Philosophy the word Pun or Paronomasia is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of ideas or terms. It is often used as a joke utilizing the different possible meanings of words or expressions. Unknown Gun-men could refer to faceless armed criminals, bandits. But today, there is a twist of this term, that new term is “On-gun-known-men.
Every phenomenon in the public space creates its own lexicons or series of terminologies. This is because the media space thrives on drama of words.
The interplay of words and events that depict trending situations resonates this drama of words among commentators. Words are created to dramatise certain trending Phenomena and Public Affairs Commentators often wax lyrical using them to enjoy their trade as a soothing balm for the serious business of reporting a complex society in an authoritarian media environment.
New words or terminologies are coined and they go viral as every writer, every commentator, copies and pastes.
The state of insecurity in Nigeria has also manufactured a number of words and terminologies that have enriched our media diction and lingo.
Insurgents have been classified with different names. Apart from known terrorists like Boko Haram and IPOB in Nigeria, we now have bandits, terrorists-Fulani herdsmen, IPOB, ESN etc. Gun wielding terrorists that are faceless, that cannot be identified among known and glorified terrorists groups are referred to as unknown gun-men. Armed Robbers and kidnappers come under this guise most times.
However, the truth is that the obviously identified and classified men on arms against their fatherland have begun to join these faceless groups to wreak havoc.
This trend has produced a new lingo – “On-gun-known-men”. They are so called because they are known, but they cover up their greed and hunger to murder innocent citizens with cheap propaganda, and series of unconnected conspiracy theories and denials.
In our traditional folklore with specific reference to tales, there is a story or an allegory of the monkey which formed the habit of throwing stones at hunters in the bush from a vantage position on top of a tree.
The monkey would cover its face with a wide leaf. In doing this the monkey would assume that “as long as it does not see the hunter, the hunter will not see it”.
However, this would simply be a false pretence as the hunter seeing the monkey would shoot and kill it.
The hunter surely sees the monkey playing hide-and-seek, with its life and that of other monkeys.
The behaviour of these gun-men especially from the South East who cannot be classified is reckless. They are bandits who have no specific affiliation to the known groups or have become the fifth columnists in IPOB or ESN.
The denial by IPOB and ESN concerning these series of targeted onslaught on security installations and recent killings of Fulani Herdsmen in Anambra State further opens speculations that these could be persons from their ranks who have ulterior motives to operate in disguise or under cover.
The development speaks of dangerous trend where the proliferation of gunmen would lead to total collapse of state apparatus. Nigeria is sitting on the fringes. This was the trend in Somalia and Central African Republic.
Recently, the entire stretch of Port Harcourt Owerri Road from the border town of Omerelu to Omagwa was overrun by these unknown gun men allegedly from the East.
Vigilante Intelligence from that part of the state confirmed this dangerous trespass into Rivers State by these “On-gun-known men.
The source reveals that their modus operandi clearly indicate the signature tune of the Eastern gun men who now have assumed a faceless identity.
The recent development has further complicated the bad security situation in the country as we now have added a new dimension to the prevailing terrorists insurgency and criminality in the north west, North East and North central where faceless Fulani herdsmen have continued with their murderous march on ethnic cleansing against the minority tribes in that region.
Governor Wike of Rivers State has condemned the charade among some governors who run to Abuja to take pictures with the president while their home state boils. This is a call on South East Governors to handle the security situation in their state in strides and proactive response beyond the cosmetic Ebube Agu.
Insecurity is like the wind, it has no boundaries. States that share boundaries with the East will be at serious risks if the insecurity situation in that region escalates beyond the present trend.
Governor Wike must be commended on the prompt and timely steps taken to stem the tide of insecurity creeping into the state.
What happened on Port Harcourt Owerri Road in Ikwerre local government area and Abua/Odual Local Government should not be allowed to repeat. The lives of our security men matter.
The 10pm to 6am curfew imposed on Rivers State by the State Governor, Nyesom Wike will go a long way in checking undue trespass into the state by these faceless bandits. It will also check internal criminal activities in the state.

By: Bon Woke