#StandByBagaNigeria: An online crowd-funding campaign

humanitarian crisis

by Ayo Ogundipe

When I first heard of Baga, it was from a consultant friend of mine who is into evaluation and development research – go figure! To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what, or who, much less where it was – didn’t quite know what to make of the word (sad, I know). But before you are quick to judge me, I bet this was the same disposition many Nigerians had, and it was most likely through a foreign current affairs media agency – smh to our local news media agencies.

Let’s start with a bit of geographical introduction to Baga, and why does it (this town) matter any way. For starters it is a small town in Nigeria, small albeit a part of Nigeria, which has witnessed the bloodiest account of terrorism by the misguided islamic militia known as Boko Haram, and since we are Nigerians it should and does matter.  Baga is a town in the northeastern part of Nigeria – Borno state, close to Lake Chad and is located within the Kukawa Local Government Area.

In January 2015, this small town was attacked by the Boko Haram Islamit group – not for the first time, as it had been previously attacked back in April 2013 but with a far more devastating casualty this time around. An estimated 2000 people were massacred, whilst some of its residents sought refuge in nearby Chad. The largest mayhem inflicted by the terrorist sect – Boko Haram, which ought to have sparked an outrage by the people and leadership of Nigeria, with an urgent military counter responsive. Unfortunately, the response was a feeble verbal condemnation by the authority – a nadir in the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The culminating consequence of these attacks meted out by these insurgents is an estimated one million (1,000,000) internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Ironically, this mindless killings and atrocities that took place in Baga that January, coincided with the infamous January 7, 2015 massacre in Paris, France at the office of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in which twelve (12) people were killed. A swift reaction in protest inspired the “Je Suis Charlie” slogan (which translates to “I Am Charlie”) – a protest so strong that galvanised the leadership of Europe and even other Non-European countries with a protest march. Unfortunately, with Baga, the massacre experienced there was just another mishap in North-East Nigeria – a collateral damage in the political schemes of those power brokers – the fate of the people residing there. But that was not just the case, the actual tragedy of the Baga victims – failed by their government, mostly ignored by the international community – a double tragedy!

So, where do we go from here as a people and as a nation? A timely recall of the National anthem of Nigeria, the stanzas that were crafted by a noble compatriot drawn from shear patriotic spirit, the same words of solidarity would find expressions in the heart of a fellow Nigeria in a faraway land – UK. Probably inspired by the words of the anthem, but definitely moved by compassion and captioned with the merit of wit, Stand By Baga was initiated. This proactive course was a domestic solution to a domestic problem with a global outreach. www.standbybaga.org.uk .

StandbyBagaNigeria Campaign Card

Just as it takes one word to start a prayer, so was the course of action taken by one man stringing those words together that motivated and mobilised social consciousness.

#StandByBagaNigeria is much more than a catch phrase or a hash tag, it is a public announcement to well-meaning individuals as well as institutions in Nigeria, a wake-up call to the plight of our brothers and sisters in the North-East plagued by terrorists.

It is an outreach, a rallying call to effect a positive and meaningful change in the lives of these victims of terrorism which anyone could fall victim to in the absence of competent security infrastructure.

#StandByBagaNigeria is the local affiliate of the Stand By Baga which was formed in the UK whose presence is gaining traction and their work can be followed via this link: (http://igg.me/at/stand-by-baga-nigeria/x).  This team comprises of professionals and is headed by Tosin Akande – an evaluation and research development consultant, with a drive and commitment to salvage the situation in Baga in a collaborative effort with the parent initiative in the UK. This relief effort is based on this simple premise of “while we may no longer save the dead, we must help the living!” It is a stand they have taken – to #StandByBagaNigeria – A solution for our people by our people.  Though one could say it was born out of provocation, no doubt It is a proactive means to an end. Providing relief supplies to victims of these insurgents to end their plight, whilst the government wakes up to its own responsibility to providing national security for its citizenry.

Whilst we may not take up arms and ammunitions to fight these terrorists, we can take a stand of solidarity against these infidels desecrating our fatherland.  They are the infidels because they do not believe in our peaceful co-existence irrespective of religion or language. They are infidels because they do not believe in our mandate to exist as one Nigeria through our constitution, they do not believe in the lyrics of our national anthem that consolidates us as Nigeria, lacking in understanding of strength of diversity in unity.  Their mandate of destruction conflicts with our constitution for peaceful co-existence built on the principles of FREEDOM, EQUALITY and JUSTICE.

They do not believe in the dialogue of peace and unity – they are therefore the infidels in our fatherland that should be blotted out. Their impunity is an insult to our constitution.

We haven’t stood up to terrorism enough. We have neither been vocal enough in speaking up against it, nor spoken for others who have fallen victim. Our sympathy is good, but not good enough to provide clean water and sanitation, beds, medical supplies, mosquito nets, books, clothing, shoes, and food – without affirmative action. It’s the action not sentiments that can place some value on our humanity.

Just as the cliche goes; you either take a stand or fall for everything. We have been treading this miry clay of insecurity for too long and the earth has been shifting beneath our feet.

If there’s a lesson to learn from the just concluded 2015 Nigeria presidential elections, it is the power of “We The People” that profession of collective will-power to turn the tide in favour of the common man. We The People speaks in unison, We The People speaks with the charisma of identity. We The People speaks with the charge of purpose, after all democracy is a government of the people for the people by the people. We The People speaks… and now the people must speak up against terrorism. Hence, We The People must rise to the occasion of this clarion call fellow compatriot. That noble call to serve with love – our brothers and sisters, serve with strength and the resolve to fight terrorism, with the living faith that we shall overcome this pestilence in our country. For we are bound by a common denomination of freedom, freedom to live a life of peace and unity with our brethren, for this is our oath of allegiance we chant as anthem. Let us therefore rise and take a stand to be counted #StandByBagaNigeria So arise o Compatriot, your country needs you. Enough of cursing the darkness, let us light a candle! #StandByBagaNigeria.

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