By ZAGAZOLA MAKAMA

Borno awoke on Thursday to one of the darkest mornings in recent memory. The bodies of innocent children, two belonging to Zannah Jaridama Bornoye, a die-hard supporter of Gov. Babagana Zulum, and that of his neighbour barely days after he openly criticised alleged cabals and Politicians in the state.

Jaridama, who had accused some top figures of hypocrisy and sabotage, lamented in a viral video that certain individuals around the governor pretend to be loyal while enriching themselves with contracts, positions, and government resources, without showing true commitment to the people or the governor’s vision.

He lamented that while Prof. Zulum carried the burdens of governance and projects, many of those who claim to be his die-hard loyalists were only interested in contracts, big houses, and fat pockets.

“They wear big clothes to follow him everywhere, but when it is time to defend him, they disappear. They are hypocrites. When it is wedding, it is Zulum. When it is school fees, it is Zulum. When it is house, it is Zulum. What value do you bring? You are destroying the governor while claiming to support him,” Jaridama said.

“Some of them came into the Administration with only one vehicle and have now made fortunes, but they cannot spend one million on behalf of the governor.” On their faces, they pretend they are Zulum’s men, but underground they are fighting him. They are declaring that they are Zulum’s die-hard, yet they do not love the people.”

“When it is the wedding of their children, it is Zulum. To buy a house, Zulum. School fees, Zulum. Painting of their house or Naming ceremony, it is Zulum that will pay.”

“You are building big houses and going about denigrating the government while you are funding youths to be attacking the personality of the governor, while you are still in the governor’s party, APC.” Those that surround the governor are hypocrites,” Zannah wrote on Facebook.

He dared anyone who felt guilty to drag him to court, insisting he would name them publicly.

However, nearly 24 hours after his comments, tragedy struck. His two children Mama, a 14-year-old girl dressed in pink, and Anwar, a 28-month-old boy in green shadda were no where to be found, alleging that they were abducted while playing in front of their house.

In a desperate Facebook post, Jaridama raised a missing-children alert, pleading for prayers and help but nothing was heard. Days later, he made another emotional plea, offering to surrender himself in exchange for the lives of his children.

“It is me they are after, not my children. Please, for God’s sake, spare their lives. I am ready to give myself up, even to death, so that these innocent children can continue to live,” he wrote.

But his prayers were not answered. The three children were found dead in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Boot of his vehicle.

The Commissioner of Police Borno State Command, Nazir Abdulmajid, who confirmed the incident, said that the lifeless bodies were found in the boot of one of his old car locked in the compound.

Abdulmajid stated that police operatives from the command were deployed to the scene and photographs were taken.

He said that the bodies have been taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for autopsy to determine if they were kidnapped and killed or they entered the boot and locked themselves leading to their death.

“For now, we cannot really say this was what really transpired. And we have not established that it was linked to any political killing. But the autopsy will give the proofs.

The incident has however, sparked widespread anger across Maiduguri despite not understanding the clarity of the story.

Aliyu Haidar Zaifada wrote on his Facebook page, “I am deeply saddened by the inhuman treatment meted out to these innocent children, whose only “Crime” was being born to an outspoken father who speaks truth to power without minding who’s ox is gored. It is now evident that some people will go to any length to satisfy their greed, even if it means inflicting eternal pains on others.

This is not a case of kidnapping, there were no calls, no ransom demands, and no conditions given to the father. It is purely politics. But God remains sufficient for the innocent souls of these little children.

Hajiya Falmata, a resident of Gwange, wept bitterly as she spoke: “This is not just cruelty; this is evil. What did these little children do?

Malam Usman, a trader in Monday Market, said: “This is no kidnapping. There was no ransom, no demand. This is politics, and it is dirty. They wanted to silence the father, and they chose to kill children. This is beyond wickedness.”

Fatima, a University Student, added: “We are living in fear. Today it is Zannah’s children. Tomorrow, it may be someone else’s. If children can be murdered to settle political scores, then no family is safe.” She said.

The sorrow has deepened calls for justice, with many demanding that those behind the killings be exposed and punished.

As Maiduguri mourns, prayers rise for the young souls. The story is not clear whether the children die by suffocation or they were assassinated by the alleged cabals following his Facebook comment or it Is just a coincidence. (Zagazola, but headline rejigged)