Opinion
Preying Antics
Anybody who has undergone a training programme in self-defence and unarmed combat, would know the importance of identifying vulnerable points. Vulnerable points are areas of weaknesses in the human body, as well as areas of weaknesses in a persons’ character, which can serve as points to prey upon, when the need or urgency arises. Taking undue advantage of peoples’ vulnerable points may be an unethical practice, neither is it safe to do so, but in self-defence, there is a principle of “no hold barred”.
A chain is said to be as strong as its weakest link. This idiom translates into the reality that an individual or a nation is as strong as the vulnerable points, if not protected from exposure. Thus the issue of personal or national security is a vital concern which demands priority attention and where any form of negligence can have costly consequences. Security includes plugging loopholes that can expose vulnerable points, with nothing left to chance.
While every precaution is taken to shield our back, cover our entrails and remain safe by locking out unwanted elements, there are some individuals and organisations whose business have to do with discovering vulnerable points to prey upon. For example, there are professions devoted to the acquisition of expertise in the discovery and exploitation of points of weaknesses in individuals, groups and nations, for exploitation when necessary. A Commander of “Wasting Operation” once boasted that he was well trained in the profession of violence and was skilled in 261 ways of killing human beings! Thus fear is one of the leading preying antics, whose purpose is to weaken victims through threat or violence, by overwhelming surprises and force. Application of this strategy is most effective where the victims are slothful and asleep. Thus fear and sloth often account for men’s fall! Including nations too!
Beauty and gold attract attention easily, such that they are prone to predators. Therefore, where beauty and wealth are exposed out of vanity, then there is an invitation to predators, who would want to take over or desecrate them, out of envy. Surely, eternal vigilance is the price that must be paid for liberty or security. In this case, vanity and boastful display of beauty and wealth cannot be described as being vigilant, in the midst of predators. That there are wolves and predators among humans, is a reality which is quite obvious and which no one should ignore. While wolves may represent ill-disposed predators looking for who to prey upon, lambs would represent mild and harmless members of the human population. Self-preservation is the first law of nature, which no one can afford to ignore.
To talk too much and carelessly would be to expose oneself unwittingly, because such habit attracts attention and can easily be exploited. It is quite sad that this talking epidemic is one of the most prevalent habits among Nigerians. With smart phones everywhere Nigerians tend to forget that they can talk themselves into the traps of fraudsters. Security lapses in this country have become common such that one of the most prevalent preying antics involves the gross desecration of religion for base and sad purposes. Crime statistics indicate that a shockingly large number of crimes have been committed through desecration of religion and the abuse of mutual trust and confidence. The result of this sad trend is the increasing loss of faith in proselytism. When salt has lost its use or value, then it deserves to be trampled upon!
It is sad that the trend or mechanism involved in the degeneration of a nation is rarely recognised early enough for remedial measures to be applied. Human weaknesses are quite many, of which tolerance, permissiveness and pandering to evil, foster social degeneration. Since amnesty was granted to Niger Delta militants, whose agitations had to do with malfeasance in the oil and gas sector, then terrorists, cut-throats, and bandits must all be granted amnesty too. The indefensible political antics involved in the “blanket amnesty” being canvassed in some quarters, is quite easy to figure out. Weakness, particularly in the miscarriage of justice, can bring harm in all cases, including those we imagine we are pleasing by it. Similarly, when law becomes an ass or a football, then it would have lost its value and respect, and thus deserves to be abused and disrespected. When law and the institutions protecting and interpreting it get compromised, then preying antics would have become social virus of a most deadly nature.
Weaknesses which can destroy any nation include the perversion of justice, under the common name of corrupt practices. These would include ignoring or treating with levity high and treasonable crimes involving the high and mighty in society, while giving maximum attention and severe penalty to minor offenders, because of their status in society. Thus preying antics include focusing attention on weak segments of the society, while regarding people of high status as above the law.
One-sidedness in the administration of justice is surely one of the preying antics in a society where corrupt practices prevail. We cannot deny the fact that some of the crimes committed in Nigeria are embarked upon with revenge motives, where victims of miscarriage of justice feel embittered, and then resort to anti-social crusade. It would be wrong to think that there can be a sustainable peace in society, without justice paving the way.
Rejection of the European Union (EU) report on the last electoral process in Nigeria by the Federal Government, is an example of how public and external opinions can be thrown aside in an effort to assert right. Thus preying antics also include the use of might to assert sanctimony. To stand still even when there are compelling reasons to shift ground, is not always a sign of might or wisdom. Rather, we can gain from those who point out our vulnerable points, so that such information can be used to make positive changes for a better future.
By: Bright Amirize
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.