ibomhen-diary: BOKO HARAM & attacks

Yesterday, 4th November, 2011, BOKO HARAM struck again killing 66 people and maiming several others in Damaturu, the capital of Katsina State. Boko Haram has gradually become an institution to be feared and dreaded by all. At the rate they are operating, if nothing drastic and urgently is done by the Federal government to stop the terrorist sect, the northern part of this country is going into extinction. Boko Haram Sect has so far killed more than 300 people. They claimed it is a holy instruction and one of their leaders said

" Whomever we kill we kill because Allah says we should kill and we kill for a reason''

. The group has so far refused to meet with the Federal Government representatives to negotiate. Up till now, the only reason we know is that the Sect wants the full implementation of strict Shariah Law across Nigeria. Even the strict implementation of Sharia Laws in the North is not possible because some states in the North has more than 40 percents christians. So implementing it across Nigeria is not possible. Sharia Laws is for Moslems and not Christians. They so believed in this implementation of Sharia that one of their leaders that agreed to see the former Head of States, Olusegun Obasanjo for peace was killed. These bombing and killing started years ago mostly in Maiduguri in Borno and Bauchi. But recently, Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger have had their citizens killed and properties destroyed by this terrorist group. Unfortunately, our security agencies are no match for these terrorists. In 2009, the Police crack down on the Sect and several of them were killed including the leader Mohammed Yusuf who died in Police custody. Instead of them to continue and flush out the group from their hiding places, they went to sleep. The Sect members regrouped and started a well coordinated attack on the Politicians and security agencies. The attacks on the Security Agencies is the Sect revenge on the killing of their leader the year before. The hit men, the Assasins and suicide bombers of the Sect target Government Officials, Police Officers, Soldiers and Clerics who dare condemn their activities. In September, Obasanjo met with the family of Mohammed Yusuf to discuss how to end the carnage and restore peace to the region.The family received the former President and according to the inlaw offered a list of demands and was very hopeful about the chances for peace. Unfortunately, FUGU, that played host to Obasanjo was killed within 48 hours in a dastardly manner. It was so sad. Infact some Governors in the North offered Amnesty to the Sect Members but they refused. Instead of the attacks stopping, it is on the increase. At a point it was rumoured that they were going to attack the 3rd mainland bridge in Lagos (which is the longest connecting bridge from the island of the city to the mainland). The group bombed the UN Office in Abuja in August killing 24 people and wounding more than 118. This attack on friday, the day of their worship is a suspect and its the sect greatest destruction of life and property so far. There were multiple attacks in three major cities, Maiduguri, Potiskum and DAMATURU all in the North Eastern part of this country. The attacks left 80 people dead, worship places destroyed and several public buildings including a bank vandalised. The Boko Haram Sect has claimed responsibility and one of their spokeperson promised