DON'T JUDGE OMAR: My take on the Zamfara State Bandits Operations.

We all should be ashamed of how we want to place ourselves above others all in the name of class, level or status. Come to think of it, is there class in the grave? All these scam about life makes me sick. Well, today isn't about me but a young poor boy from the Northern part of this "shithole" country. Danjuma Omar, who is exposed to life as a teenage at sixteen. Omar is already a Drug Addicts, a Criminal and a Bandits what the society sees as child abuse but, what my Northern friends sees as Haram.


Omar is from a poor home whose father is a Suya seller in a small village in Zamfara State. Here in the North, children of such age hardly go to school— in fact, their lives here is totally different from the outside world. I wanted to link it with their traditions or religion but still, I can't find a better link to these atrocities happening in the North where children are exposed to environmental hazard, slavery and all manners of inhumane treatments and then becomes criminals, terrorists and bandits.

The King in the North is just a King for himself. He doesn't care about what's happening in the North, as far as the North is religiously and traditionally observant, all is well with the North but not Omar.

Omar is in JSS 2— first imagine a sixteen years old boy in that class? Or imagine what could have led to him not have been in the supposed fellow-aged- classmates? then ask me, so I can ask the King in the North! This is because here in the North, aside that they don't value education, they don't regard themselves useful except in the area of trade or farming for those whose occupation are in that direction. Omar case is a simple poverty case of the parent not having the resources to train their children, government to having concerns about them unless they start causing havoc. The father who sells Suya got married to three wives with over ten children. Thank God for free Education made compulsory, if not, Omar will be in the streets just like his fellow mates begging and assisting their parents in the name of "Alimajiri". But Allah is the Greatest for making Omar to escape that very lifestyle.

Omar who happens to be a very intelligent boy and very clever and smart with talents beyond words, is involve in drugs simple because the Northern King doesn't really take note of what their children go through, the parents here careless about the child welfare both the illiterate teachers who hardly speak or write correctly and who uses Hausa most of the times to teach these children, don't care too. That's why the Chibok Girls exposed most of them, and one of the reasons the Governor of Kaduna State have to sack most of them. As a JSS 2 student of one of the abandoned Government schools in Zamfara State, Omar struggles with everyday life, from school to home, to farm with his mother and siblings and then to his Fathers Suya Joint.

One day at school, one of the student brought a substance because in the North drinking of any alcoholic substance is prohibited but getting high on any tobacco substance is allowed and exhibited publicly. In fact, they don't know that drinking is much more better than  smoking. "My Medical Practitioners can correct me here though". When the student brought what looks like Tramadol or Codeine although, some of them have been taking these substances before now, Omar is just newly recruited and it seems surprising to him. These young poor boys in the same class, with different age brackets are already men because, the society that they found themselves in the North has decided to abandoned and careless about their activities. Omar got initiated! Here in the North, it is easy to convince anyone to become anything because of the level of exposure. This very Tramadol gathering also known as "Gang or Cult of Drug Addicts" became persistent and consistent and Omar has become a Drug Addicts although, he was warned never to tell anyone else he will be killed. Threats from fellow classmates. Hmm!

Omar couldn't control his present conditions that is inflicted or afflicted by/as a result of parents not observing their children, teachers not supervising their students and the community/government not taking note of changes in the youths, Omar became so desperate as a means of keeping his body intact from the present conditions, he joined the Gang and became a criminal, and at that very age, he is already a bandits and terrorist as he has dropped out from school, left his parent's house who won't even miss him as a result of the many children in the family. He became a Criminal, Terrorising  and killing innocent people. Omar is now that young promising intelligent young boy— to a very dangerous Criminal. Hmm Society!

Now, Government will come in to provide intervention, support and aid to stop what? When they are the cause of the problems. Not just Government but the bad system operating in the Northern society as a result of culture, tradition or religion which balances are supervised by the invisible Supreme God and whose actions are mounted on the visible humans who pays with their lives. Omar can't be judged or blamed, I will rather blame whoever has decided to benefits from all these. Schools should be given attention, our children should equally be given attention and the society should be observant and watchful on our youths because their actions or inactions will affect us if folding of hands is what is left. I am not too familiar with some of this religious comments but those comments influences these children actions. I might not be familiar with the traditional settings, although I believe there's need to review and amend the traditional laws which will regulate the society better. If we must get things right, then we need to start putting better policies on ground because the God of death visit everyone and the grave is a sad story for everyone too. We must prevent and work towards a better society.


Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander