Menace of Boko Haram

Terrorism in Nigeria

The first time Nigeria had a direct link to terrorism was when a Nigerian Abdul Muttalab tried to blow himself and the plane he boarded in December 2009. Fortunately, he failed and he was arrested in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA for alleged terror( the case is still in court and since he is not charged, it is still alleged). The young Muttalab confessed that he is not the only one in Nigeria trained in the act of terrorism in Yemen. Then our government was concerned with removing the Country name from the list of terrorist watch list.
Although Nigeria had some bomb explosions during Abacha draconian regime,it was not terrorism because it was the government that paid people to bomb those areas to implicate critics and activists. It was done then by ABACHA's CSO to implicate his opponents.
Terrorism, terrorists and suicide bombers were not in our vocabulary. We were only seeing them on television and reading about them in the National dailies and on Internets. Suddenly, we woke up one day and suicide bombing and terrorists have taken over the Northern part of Nigeria. Gradually terrorism has crept into our system. In Nigeria there are called BOKO HARAM.

Now we have Islamic extremists who have decided to aggressively prosecute and kill those who are not ready to accept Islamic system of government called Sharia. IT started in Borno State but the Police and other security agencies refused to do anything to stop it claiming the extremists were their brother. I wonder what the Niger Deltan of the South South are? When the kidnapping was at its peak in Nigeria the government ordered the military joint task force to surround the creeks and smoke out the militants. In fact during Obasanjo's regime, the community (ODI) where the armies were killed was shelled and levelled down by the Military.

Why is the present administration not taking a stand on these incessant attacks by Boko Haram suicide bombers on innocent citizens.

The Christian Association of Nigeria raised an alarm some time ago that some extremist groups were being trained in some camps in the North. Nigerian Government were concerned with several points agenda which never took off. THE Government did not take the alarm seriously or heeded the warning. Now we are all faced with the terror unleashed by the BOKO HARAM Sect on Nigerians. Unfortunately, the sect leaders are unknown and the cause they are supposedly fighting for unknown too. We are all speculating and giving reasons which we think can explain why the sect has gone on these killing spree.

The Security Agencies need to wake up and ensure the red alert of security is on. Imagine the Sect bombing Police Headquarters in Abuja? They were in the Police Inspector General convoy from home to the office. It was shocking and unbelievable. But it was true and real.
The Police also need to gather more information, re-strategise and increase their intelligence gathering. The menace of Boko Haram has continued due to poor intelligence.