Boko Haram: Fighting a cause or killing Nigeria?

•Jonathan & •Yusuf

Boko Haram: 
Fighting a cause or killing Nigeria?

Wednesday February 15, 2012

As the present state of insecurity in the country caused by the Boko Haram insurgency deepens, Nkiru Evongwa reviews the activities and reactions from groups and individuals.



The Genesis
When the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, unleashed its first attack on a police station in Bauchi State in July 2009, not many people thought that it was the beginning of insecurity in the country, especially coming at a time the Federal Government was negotiating amnesty with the Niger Delta militants.

Hypothesising that it was another minor attack by a militant group like the Niger Delta militants, the Nigerian security forces retaliated, apprehended the Kingpin of the group- Mohammed Yusuf, who later died in police custody. While the security agencies saw that as a gallant victory over militancy, the militants grieved by the death of their leader, vowed to make the people who had a hand in the “killing” of Yusuf pay dearly for it, and to make the country ungovernable. Ever since then the country has known no peace, bomb attacks have almost become a regular thing in this society. Every passing day an average Nigerian turns on his television set, he consciously or unconsciously anticipates hearing the news of the next place under attack and the number of lives lost. Thus what initially might have been christened gallant victory has metamorphosed into, “cruel terrorism.”

Lists of major attacks credited to Boko Haram
July 2009 attack on the Police station in Bauchi; 8 Sept 2010, arson on Bauchi Central Prison and freeing of members of the sect who were jailed there; the 2010 Independence Day attack at Eagles Square; 2011 Christmas Day bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla; 28 January 2011 – killing of governorship candidate of the Borno State chapter of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio; 29 May 2011 – Bombing of Bauchi military barrack,16 June 2011 – Bombing of Police Force Headquarters, killing two people; August 2011 suicide bomb attack at the UN head quarters in Abuja, and the recent simultaneous bomb attacks in Kano state.

Government efforts versus Boko Haram counter efforts
Hitherto to the Christmas Day bomb attack at St. Theresa Catholic Church Madalla, President Goodluck Jonathan was seen to be foot dragging in dealing with the menace of the cruel activities of the sect, even though soldiers were deployed to the places of incidence. His silence caused a lot of uproar in the polity. While most people thought him to be a ‘weakling’, some believed the employment of soldiers was being too harsh, opining that dialogue was the best way out. But the twist changed when the President visited the site of the Christmas day bomb explosion, unable to hold back tears, he vowed to fish out and deal with the perpetrators, pointing out that there will be no sacred cows. Hear him, “We are going to turn this place upside down. If there is any institution here harbouring criminality, we are going to deal with it decisively. My belief is that there are institutions or individuals in Suleja that are harbouring terrorists and we would deal with it decisively, in any part of the country where an individual or a group of people, either traditional or religious institution is associated with terrorists, they will be dealt with decisively. There will be no sacred cows.”

Thus, the president, in a televised nationwide broadcast, declared state of emergency in 15 local governments of Borno, Plateau, Niger and Yobe states, and also closed the borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon. He stressed that, “the temporary closure of our borders in the affected areas is only an interim measure designed to address the current security challenges and will be reviewed as soon as normalcy is restored…the defense staff in collaboration with other service chiefs, have also been directed to set up a special task force unit within the Armed Forces, with dedicated counter terrorism responsibility.”

Following the pronouncement of state of emergency by the President, the dreaded Boko Haram sect responded tougher, boasting that, “we find it pertinent to state that the soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the LGAs where state of emergency is declared, we would confront them squarely to protect our brothers. We urge our fellow Muslims to come back to the north because we have evidence that they would be attacked. We also give 3 days ultimatum to the Southerners living in northern Nigeria to move away.”

Threat of Reprisal
As the pandemonium grew, various regional groups began to react to the threat, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), founder and president, Dr. Fredrick Faseun when asked the position of the group should the rampaging sect venture into the South west said, “when we get to the bridge we’ll cross it, we are always on our toes”, while the President-General of apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Ralph Uwechue, said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo urged Igbos, who over the years have established national fruitful presence in different parts of Nigeria to remain where they are…and organise appropriately and effectively to defend their lives and property.” Also, the Ohanaeze Youths under the leadership of Mazi Alex Okemiri urged “Northern elders and the FG to call the sect members to order or it would be forced to go back to the trenches to retaliate.”

Shell shocked
Nigerians were still in a panicky state when they were struck with yet another shocking news, firstly that the alleged mastermind of the Christmas day bomb attack Kabir Sokoto, was arrested in Borno State governor’s lodge and secondly, that he had escaped from Police custody. Mixed reactions started to trail the development. People began to give diverse meanings to the story, most complicated of all was the apprehension of the bomber - Sokoto in a state government’s lodge and his escape. The situation led to the call for the sack of the same security officials. 

The Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) described the incident as unfortunate, promising that “measures would be put in place to rearrest the escaped suspect.” When asked if the IGP would be queried he said, “that is true because he is the field officer.” But former governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa had a different view. “The escape of Kabir is a conspiracy by some people in security agencies, somebody must have helped him.” Stressing that, “even the president said there were Boko Haram members in his government.”

Thus, the call for the dismissal of high ranking security operatives began. The search for Sokoto also intensified such that a N50million reward was promised on whoever gives useful information on how to find him. When the search proved abortive, the CP in charge of the case, Zakari Biu was suspended; ex-IGP, Hafix Ringim sent on terminal leave and replaced with Mohammed Abubarkar to continue the struggle. Six AIGs were also laid off. 

Exodus of Southerners
Rather than go under ground for some time, the Boko Haram sect came out even tougher with simultaneous bomb attacks in Kano state, which caused the imposition of curfew in the state and more soldiers deployed to maintain orderliness. Despite the deployment of soldiers, easterners who could no longer count on the ability of security agencies to protect them began fleeing the north in droves. There was unrest and panic in every part of the country. The exodus became severe after two Churches in Nasarawa and Adamawa states were attacked and an alleged retaliation by Christian Youths at a mosque in Sapele, Delta State. And things fell apart, the centre could no more hold. Confusion became the order of the day. Even though people were ready to run for their dear lives, the means were scarce. 

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) boss, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike confirmed this when he noted that, “Igbos are stranded in the north as transport fares have gone up astronomically since they started returning to the East in droves to escape the incessant bomb attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist Sect.” To bail them out, he sent some free buses to convey them home, complementing his earlier call that they should return. Rather than harmonize Uwazuruike’s efforts, some Igbo leaders urged the Igbos to remain where they are, boasting that they were on top of the situation. But in response, the MASSOB boss described them as ‘callous’ charging them to take their families there since they claimed everything was alright. 
However, the spokesman of the dreaded Boko Haram Abdul Qada said government should be blamed for the Kano bomb blast, which he said, was triggered by “continued incarceration of its members and innocent citizens.” But President Jonathan vowed that the “FG would not rest until the perpetrators are brought to book.”

The unusual silence of Northern leaders
Meanwhile, the unusual silence of northern elders over the spate of carnage became a food for thought to many since they were known for making statements in cases that affect the nation. Most people were made to attribute that to their support of the sect. At an Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) gathering recently, Senate President David Mark berated Northern leaders over their inability to condemn the activities of the group. His words: “won’t we be able to condemn current degree of insecurity in the North occasioned and heightened by Boko Haram? Are we afraid to openly condemn Boko Haram either for political reasons or out of fear of possible attack by the sect? 

Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a third republic governor of Anambra State threw his weight behind this when he said, “I think those who argued like this are right, because it is the belief of most Nigerians that northerners listen and follow their leaders. Therefore, if the leaders of the North were really against what Boko Haram stands for, they should be able to stop them. But the things we are seeing about the way they are handling it is making us to think otherwise. We Igbo leaders did not support that reprisal attack from our people because it is a taboo to kill in Igbo land.”

But Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim a second republic politician exonerated some northern leaders by stressing that, “the government is economical with the truth when they say they do not know the originators of Boko Haram, when the originators are here in Abuja. A former Governor of Borno State created the sect and he has bribed the security agencies in order not to be arrested. I would not blame Northern leaders because Borno leaders, those that really have the inside information find it difficult to talk for the fear of being attacked.”

Fear of secession
X-raying the sect’s activities, their ideologies and the tension in the polity, brings the uncertain fate of the country to the fore. If the Presidency finally succumbs to their request of implementation of Sharia, Western education, which they perceive as evil, is at the risk of being eradicated from the Northern Nigeria educational curriculum and if that happens, Southerners, who are mostly Christians, would be forced to return to where they could get Western education. On the other hand, if their request is not heeded, they might be forced to keep killing innocent Christians. Thus, Easterners who are already feeling marginalised when pushed to the wall might be forced to retaliate. This will however also revoke civil war and the end would also be- secession.

Way Forward
Most prominent of the suggestions for a possible way forward are: dialoguing with the militants and the call for Sovereign National Conference (SNC). 
Recently in Lagos, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) met at a summit to fashion out ways out of the Nigerian predicament. The group made up of eminent Nigerians like, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Mr Fred Agbeyegbe, Baba Omojola, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Mr Wale Oshun, Yerima Shetimma and Tayo Soyode at the end of the summit concurred only SNC was inevitable and remains the first step towards salvaging the country from the unfolding grave dangers. The group stated that, “NADECO repeats its call for a Sovereign National Conference because the crises we are seeing presently re-affirms that it was mandatory that all the people of Nigeria must sit down and restore the very foundation of the country and thus re-establish the constitutional architecture of Nigeria, allowing every group sufficient space for self and group actualisation which will enable us build a nation state out of the diverse ethnic nationalities.”

Aside this, President Jonathan has also charged the faceless members of the sect to show their identity so that they can dialogue. According to him, “If they clearly identify themselves now and say this is the reason why we are resisting, this is the reason why we are confronting government, or this is the reason why we destroy some innocent people and their properties …then there will be a basis for dialogue.” Even though the sect initially rejected that call, it was learnt recently that they have agreed and have also named some people to represent them. However, the question is, should that government give in to their demand for Sharia in Northern Nigeria, should they be handled with force with the help of the UN, or could it be better for SNC to be called, these are puzzles requiring appropriate solution.