Containing the Menace Boko Haram Part 1
Boko Haram (Western
Education Forbidden) also known as The Group of Al-Sunna for Preaching and
Jihad or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Liddaa’awati wal-Jihad has been a source of
concern to Nigeria and he international community. Founded in 2002 by Mohammed
Yusuf (1970-2009) the group among others sets as agenda the abolishment of
western education and forbids interaction with the western world, support
opposition to the Government of Nigeria, institution of Islamic law in the
country and full enthronement of Islam in Nigeria. To achieve these goals, Boko
Haram’s leadership assembled together Islamic militants, available criminal
elements and disgruntled politicians who do not only volunteered themselves but
also provided the needed funds,
equipment, training and travel documents; and are readily supplying intelligence
information, motivational resources and protection. They cash into the already existing
societal gaps created by corruption in governance, ethnic hatred, oppression,
frustration, drugs, weapon proliferations, increasing violence and lack of
respect for human life, existence of small to large size hate groups, rising
numbers of family breakdowns and desperate politicians who see political
leadership as a do-or-die affair to recruit personnel and mobilize funds to
promote their cause.
Boko Haram has been
described as having no clear structure and no evident chain of command. Most terrorists’ organizations are
compartmented for security reasons. This is done through the use of small
cells, often with as far as three or four members. Members of the cell may know
very little about each other and may use assumed names (or numbers) for
identification. Communications with other cells may be maintained by using only
clandestine techniques. In the event a member is captured, he will be unable to
identify members of other cells for police. New recruits are expected to be
tested by various measures to ensure they are not government penetration
agents. Participation in a crime such as a robbery or a murder may be a “rite
of passage” into the organization. A new recruit thus proves his fidelity to
the cause and dispels doubt regarding his motivation by committing a crime. All
of these methods contribute to organizational security. But also sets the pace
for the containment of several such organizations where the government is
desirous in dismantling terrorism through the breeding of suspicion, mistrust,
and factionalism in the system.
Although President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s government inherited Boko Haram he failed to tackle
the menace with all seriousness until it became a wild wind that is blowing no
one good. The Israel’s policy of containment to defeat Hamas is partly
successful because of the distance between them. And the America’s policy of
elimination to defeat a-Qaida is working because a-Qaida is outside America;
even then America has been widely criticized for taking the war against
terrorism to Afghanistan and Iraq and failed. Back home, what is Nigeria’s approach
to combating Boko Haram? Direct Military Intervention (DMI) or Dialogue?
Compensation and Rehabilitation as is being suggested in some quarters? What
did the Federal Government of Nigeria say Boko Haram is? For God’s sake, Boko
Haram is not a mere band of religious fanatics, rioters, or militants for
negotiation for development (political power?) as are widely assumed.
Although link to 1980 Maitatsine
group in origin, it is far more advanced in terms of organization, training,
skill, technology and techniques. Boko
Haram sects are trained on how to conduct surveillance of targets, collect
information about these targets and how to attack such targets. The
surveillance and targeting of the UN building in Abuja started some two years
prior to the actual bombing. Is it not embarrassing to hear that there were
soldiers on guard in the premises of Major General Muhammed Shuwa (rtd) when he
was assassinated even though the JTF recently claimed that the perpetrators
have been killed – legally or extra-judicially?
A group that is armed
resistance to the Nigeria government, championing the establishment of an
Islamic State following Sharia Law in a secular state like Nigeria and have
allied itself to the global Jihad ideology expanded by Osama bin Laden and do
not only forbids western education but also threatened western interest is
nothing but a terrorist organization by every standard. Until we tell ourselves
the truth, call Boko Haram by its real name, Terrorist Organization
and go all out to combat it, we will be doing the nation no good. The
government must show decisive leadership, establish first class intelligence
operations and equip our operatives with superior technology and skills.
My investigations have
revealed that Boko Haram is not such a close organization that a well equipped
and managed intelligence operation cannot penetrate. We are all aware of how
Boko Haram has grossly penetrated government intelligence and security system to
the extent that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan believes Boko Haram is
everywhere, even within his administration. They have used attacking of
Christians and bombing of Churches to perpetuate fear in the country. And boldly
dictated to the Federal Government where and how they want to dialogue. Recently,
Alex Thurston joined many others to suggest conciliatory visits/speeches by
President Goodluck Jonathan to the north. What an advice!
There are indications
that several American correspondences including the Department of Justice (DoJ)
are asking for Boko Haram to be put on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Yet, back home, the Federal Government of Nigeria still categorize the sect as
real, political and criminal(?) because it lack the political will to declare
Boko Haram a terrorist’s organization and confront its menace in that light.
Boko Haram is a
terrorist organization by every standard because it engages in illegal acts
punishable under criminal law committed for the purpose of undermining Public
safety, influencing decision-making by the authorities or terrorizing the
population, and taking the form of violence or the threat of violence against
natural or judicial person, destroying (damaging) or threatening to destroy
(damage) property and other material objects so as to endanger peoples lives; causing
substantial harm to property or the occurrence of other consequences dangerous
to society.
Boko
Haram is known to have obtained support from willing sources and from
individuals and organizations that have been duped or coerced. They also force
members of the public to provide intelligence, funds, accommodation and special
materials used in terrorist operations. Innocent youths are commandeered and used
to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance,
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