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Sunday, 29 January 2012

BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY: THE ACTORS AND THE ACTIONS


Introduction

Civil unrest, political and social crisis have characterized the happenings of the majority of the geographical surface of Mama Africa; a consequential effect either from dictatorial leadership has experienced in Libya and Egypt, to tribal-religious war in Sudan which eventually led to the emergence of the south Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia are equally under internal siege of tribal uproar, the northern Africa is immensely facing the challenges of dread and violent groups who are reactionary upsurges to the world conspiracy; at least As-Shabab of Somalia is a reference point as far as this is concerned. Then the pan-Africanists should ask the question; Why, Africa Why?
The wind of this socio-political instability is equally blowing in the Gulf area and the Arabian Peninsula seeing countries like Bahrain, Syria, Yemen boiling vehemently, albeit due to diverse reasons that have been seen as preference to National security and peaceful coexistence; these are regions where death toll have become untraceable, hence un-recordable (UN Report of 27/01/2012 on Syria Uprising). Then, the assertion that the only impossibility is World Peace may be realistic. Nigeria; the country blessed with human capital and natural resources, the most populous in Africa, and second largest in Africa is not spared of this re-occurring, contagious and devastating situation where bomb blasts, maiming, gruesome killing have been induced to the nation’s polity; a scenario that was developed by a cumulative effect of many actions from many actors; each playing their dependent / independent role, but however complementary.
 Boko Haram; A historical background




Immediately after September 11, 2001 attack on World trade centre and Pentagon, alleged to be orchestrated by Bin Laden with the mercenary of Al-Qaeda (the writer holds contrary opinion to this), there came sympathetic feelings with an unflinching solidarity support from the Muslims world with the impression and belief that
the fight against the hegemony of the United States is justifiable ranging from her moral support to Israel against Palestinians, the killing in Pakistan, Bosnia, Kashmir and Chechnya; countries whose peace are murdered for reasons best known to the International community led by the United Nation Security Council. Nigeria was not left out in the midst of these solidarity protests by Muslims organisations; coincidentally resulted in new phase in the ideological and operational development of some of the existing organisations and even catalyzed the emergence of some others. Boko Haram might have fallen in any of these categories; nevertheless, the historical record revealed that their dread actions became noticeable in 2002, then during Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime. 
The group was the original name of Jama’at Ahlus-Sunaah li’l Dawa’t wal Jihad; unleashing terror in states like Yobe and Borno by burning Police Stations, public and private properties, killing security personnel; an uproar that was swiftly and proactively attended to by the then administration, and succeeded in temporarily keeping the organisation mute. But the ideological nature whether genuinely pursued or otherwise allows the re-building of the movement which came back on board during the late Yaradu’s regime, more fierce and deadly. The metamorphosis has now enrolled Jama’at Ahlus-Sunaah li’l Dawa’t wal Jihad in the world’s record of terrorist organisations following the suite of her aliens like Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and as-Shabab.
The name ‘Boko Haram’ was not original with the group but mainly linked to the ideology of late Mallam Yussuf. This was evident in the series of interviews granted to North-based Islamic scholars who categorically said that they engaged late Yussuf in series of debate to fault his heretical belief that the so-called Western education is forbidden. Most pathetically, this group has murdered our national peace has a nation, threatened our co-existence as an
inseparable geographical entity, and poses future danger to the possibility of civil war in Nigeria especially with the ethnic and religious coloration purportedly made by the dread sect and further fuelled by our bias press outfits. The UN office bombing, Police head quarter bombing, Madalla bombing of the last xmas eve was still refresh in the nations’ mind, before the deadliest attack was launched in the city of Kano leaving scores dead, thus opening more eyes to the callousness, dreadfulness and ungodliness of this group popularly called Boko Haram. 
The record of the group’s attack is given thus: “In the state of Yobe, these fighters reportedly "used fuel-laden motorcycles" and “bows with poison arrows" to attack a police station. On 30 July, allegations were made that Yusuf himself was killed by Nigerian security forces 
after being taken into custody. In January 2010, the group struck again in the Nigerian state of Borno, killing four people in Dala Alemderi ward in Maiduguri metropolis. On September 7, 2010, Boko Haram freed over 700 inmates from a prison in Bauchi State. In December 2010, Boko Haram was blamed for a market bombing, following which 92 of its members were arrested by police. On Friday January 28, 2011, a gubernatorial candidate was assassinated, along with his brother and four police officers.  On March 29, police “thwarted a plot to bomb an (ANPP) election rally” in Maiduguri, Borno State. The threat was blamed on Boko Haram. On April 1 (the day before the original date of Nigeria’s legislative elections), suspected Boko Haram members attacked a police station in Bauchi . On April 9, a polling center in Maiduguri was bombed. On April 15, the Maiduguri office of the Independent National Electoral Commission was bombed, and several people were shot in a separate incident on the same day. Authorities suspected Boko Haram. On April 20, Boko Haram killed a Muslim cleric and ambushed several police officers in Maiduguri. On April 22, Boko Haram freed 14 prisoners during a jailbreak in Yola, Adamawa State .On Tuesday February 8, 2011; Boko Haram gave conditions for peace. The radicals demanded that the Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, should step down from office with immediate effect and also allow members to reclaim their mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. On 9th May 2011 Boko Haram rejected an offer for amnesty made by the governor-elect of Borno state, Kashim Shettima. Boko Haram was blamed for a series of bombings in northern Nigeria on May 29, 2011 that left 15 dead. On June 17, 2011, the group claimed responsibility for a bombing attack on the police force headquarters in Abuja that occurred the previous day (Retrieved from: http://www.employmentnigeria.com/forum/discussion_room.php?room_id=5&topic_id=10&room_name=General%20Discussions&topic_name=Boko%20Haram%20History%20and%20Current%20attacks%20in%20Nigeria
).








The Actors and the Actions
International Communities: Without missing words, double standard approach exemplified by the International communities when attending to bi-lateral and international crisis do leave much to be desired. This unjust and unwarranted situation as experienced in the treatment of the Palestinian sovereignty and most painfully was the moral and financial support given in the killing of Muslims in Bosnia, Chechnya and Kashmir. This is evident in the non-enforcement of the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights and other international pronounced laws for the assurance of the world peace. Some analysts had inferred that the world is in the control of the Jews; and this is why international laws have become quasi-materials especially when the interest of the race is not supported (Further reading: Protocols of elders of Zion). Also is the cold war between the West and East blocs which led to the creation of Taliban that was supported and funded by CIA to fight for the fall of the Soviet Union. The aftermath which led to hijack of the Afghanistan leadership by the Taliban; a force which has now become threat to the interest of its architect; US (Further reading: CIA worked with Pakistan to create Taliban; one of the posts on my blog site). Coincidentally or incidentally, the 09/11 attack whether genuine or stage-managed was channelled to achieve the declaration of war against Iraq and Afghanistan whose solidarity evolved many of these today-called terrorist organisations as experienced in the North Africa and the present situation of Nigeria. The US in the pursuit of maintaining her super-power is doing all the affordable to crush any resisting nation; a situation seen as an anti-Islamic action by Muslims, and consequently raises the sympathy, and the anger. The emergence of Boko Haram is undoubtedly one of the catalytic effects of this World injustice, and even their sponsorship directly or indirectly may be linked to the Western world. This could be so due to historical findings of infiltrators sent to malign the image of the Muslims worlds and consequently tarnish the image of Islam ( For further readings: The Confessions of British Spy and British Enmity against Islam, CIA and the Third World by Satish Kumar & The Third world calamity by May Brian).
  Nigeria Political Class: This insincerity and mischief that pervade the psyche of Nigeria Political class and elites has eroded the spirit of patriotism, therefore corruption has become the other of the day which has subjected majority of Nigerians into abject poverty since the collective treasure that ought to be circulating among the entire citizenry is being sucked dry by the few opportunists among the political elites. This level of impoverishment makes the citizenry hungry hence angry; and the state of comatose of the nation’s education has resulted in high level of illiteracy. The Northern political class looks greedier and self centred which has made the impoverishment much more pronounced in the states especially states where we now see as the bases of this sect called Boko Haram. In the same vein, the CBN Governor; Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has linked the easy recruitment of young adults by the group to the level of poverty and illiteracy which is equally a function of the region’s derivations, Retrieved from: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/sanusi-links-boko-haram-to  derivation/108039/#.TyOdtAmqqFQ.facebook ). 
Also, in order to enable the political class to achieve the usage of these young ones as political thugs, the allocated resources and even the favourable power rotation for the north has not changed the face of the region. The indictments of Senator Akume from Benue State, Vice President Namadi Sambo are facts that cannot be swept off as it is learnt that the infiltration of the political interest changed the face of the group’s struggle, as the group become more funded hence deadly.
Nigeria Police: This agency of government had contributed immensely to the bred of terrorism in the country. This could be traceable to their unethical and unprofessional way of handling the group when it initially started. The police started by attacking the innocent and armless group members, demolishing their places of gathering, and most painfully in the extra-judicial killing of Yussuf; a leader of the Yussufiya sect.


And many others who were just executed arbitrarily, extra-judicially without a recourse to a competent law for pronouncement, it is indeed a terror from the Nigeria Police which continually breed counter-terror from this group.








All these precedence of the Nigeria Police could be used to conclude correctly that the claim of the Mallam Shekau of Boko Haram that the group was not responsible for the killings of civilians in the last Kano mayhem can be factual.
The Nigeria Press: There is no gainsaying in the fact that the world press is not balance, fair and just as the ethics of journalism entrenches. The activities of the Nigeria press outfit are equally disheartening and leave much to be desired. In the report of the incidents of killing, maiming and religious mayhem, their report is imbalance which obviously read meaning to their religious bigotry as an institution. The attack on Muslims in Jos during Eid prayer, the reprisal attack in Benin after the Madalla bombing was not given enough media coverage as compared to what is experienced if it was done by Boko Haram or any islam-related group. This form of social inequities breed sympathy since the stance of injustice is conspicuous from the other party; at least he who comes with equity must come with clean hands. The neglect of the coverage of all the extra-judicial killing of innocent souls, even suspects who have not been convicted by court of law could also explain this media conspiracy.

The Religious/ Traditional Leaders: There is element of bias in both parties of the two major religious settings in Nigeria. When the
upsurge of Boko Haram started, Islamic scholars confronted the leader of this heretical sect to enlighten them about the evil associated with ideology inherent in their gospel, in return of this some were killed by the dread sect, while some flee for their safety and others keep mute to ensure their living on earth continues. This development was taken as accomplice by the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria and in return verbally assaulted the
leadership of the Muslims fold; which consequently led to exchange of words between the two bodies, not recognising the fact that both parties must sincerely understand the ugly situation they found themselves and collectively find a way out of the national mess. The nature of the attack launched by Boko Haram sends a religious and tribal rejection which was emotionally taken and fueled counter-reactions from traditional leaders especially the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Ijaws, to the extent that some started calling for the disintegration of the Nigeria entity.
Conclusion
It is of my personal opinion that the present state of the nation’s insecurity is as a result of concerted effect of the actions and inactions of the above-highlighted actors, therefore fixing the situation can only be done via the route of causation where all actors involved sincerely address and correct their shortcomings and take our STATEHOOD as a country above all other interest.
Our co-existence and further relationship as a single entity is a mutual decision, as I am very confident that none of the amalgamated entities cannot stay comfortably and progressively, since, Crude Oil as never being the only surviving resource. Finally, I strongly believe in the conveyance of Sovereign National Conference sincerely and faithfully organised and implemented to find a lasting solution to all these intermittent occurrence of civil, social, religious and ethnic unrest, or undoing the 1914 deed of Luggard, if to be done without a need for bloodletting, so as to avoid a post-war violence which we may be forced to live with till eternity.








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