Terrorism in Nigeria: A Call For Collective Action by Citizens.

It’s no longer news that terrorism has become a cankerworm in Nigeria with thousands of innocent citizens killed since this terror assumed a startling dimension. Between January and July, 2014 alone, Boko Haram, the Islamic Fundamentalist group which believes that ‘‘Western education is a sin” has killed and maimed over 2,000 Nigerians in about 95 attacks carried out around the North-East States of the country and Abuja.  Many say Boko Haram leadership has international connections to Al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al-Qa`ida core, Al-Shabab, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), Mokhtar Belmokhtar’s factions, and other militant groups outside Nigeria.

Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world with over 168 million people according to the World Bank. Since independence and pre-colonial era Nigerians have lived together as one people bound by a common destiny; after her civil war (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970). Despite the cultural, language, political and religious differences, they have existed with tolerance of one another. The predominantly Christians and Muslims population inter-relate and have lived together as brothers and sisters until the sudden turn of events that has engulfed a section of the country with a potential to spread to other parts of the country if not checked.

Many have attributed the rise in terrorism in Nigerian led by Boko Haram Islamic jihadist to deprivation, marginalization and the failure of past Government to cater for her people; leading to radicalization of miscreants into terrorism. Others believe that Boko Haram is the creation of some political class of Northern extraction determined to return to power at all cost including shedding of innocent blood. Some conspiracy theorists have even gone further to submit that Boko Haram is the making of the West to cause the division of Nigeria in other to bring to past the prediction by some private agency linked to the US. Irrespective of what side of the divide you are, the reality is that, these are no ordinary times for Nigeria and Nigerians even as the terrorist sect continues to devise means to outwit the government’s effort.

Since 2009 to date when the Government launched a full scale investigation into the activities of Boko Haram and the spirited efforts to combat terrorism, there have been all forms of resistance and expansion of the group’s reach beyond the shores of Nigeria. Sadly, what started off as Islamic fundamentalist insurgency has assumed an alarming proportion of terrorism which has attracted global attention on Nigeria. One thing that is evident from the dimensions this war on terror has taken is that, Nigerians were never prepared for this type of terrorism in the first place.

The suicide and car bombing of Churches, Mosque, Schools, market place, malls, motor parks, public places, offices, etc., has assumed such a scary scale that citizens don’t feel save anywhere. While this go on, Nigerians hope and pray daily that the Security agencies would be able to fish out the perpetrators and put an end to the carnage; but that is yet happen until the Chibok Girls abduction of April 14, 2014. The outrage and global condemnation of this act by Boko Haram compelled the international community to offer support to Nigeria to help fight this menace.

Ironically, inpite of all the high-tech support from US, Britain, Canada, China, Russia and other world powers, not much seems to have changed in the fight against this home-grown terrorism. The Chibok girls are yet to be rescued and returned to their families apart from a few who escaped from their hold. Bombs are still going off almost on daily basis and lives and property being lost.  Much as the whole Chibok abduction saga raises as lot of concerns on where over 200 girls are being held in Nigeria or perhaps across the border; the truth is, terrorism has found its way into Nigeria and innocent citizens are at the receiving end.

Equally worrisome, is the fact that some citizens; especially the political elites have chosen to politicize such sensitive matter as the security of the nation. Campaigners and campaigns of various styles dot the landscape of Nigeria, some calling on the Federal Government to “bring back our girls” as though someone in the Federal Government is holding the Chibok girls. Maybe they know what the rest Nigerians don’t know.  Some mischief makers have also gone as far as calling on the President to resign; instead of condemning Boko Haram and her sponsors.

There is no arguing that the security agencies and the Federal Government with the support of the international community are working hard to combat this problem; though, the results are slow in coming especially as Nigerians eagerly expect. Yes, it is only human to anticipate an immediate end to this act of terrorism that has cut short the life of innocent citizens and threatening to divide the country.

All of these, the ugly trend, the inhuman actions of the sect- Boko Haram, her sponsors and those politicizing terrorism, raises the questions: when does National interest come first and above parochial and political interest? And when will citizens rise up and join forces with the Government to fight terrorism instead of sitting on our behind, complaining, buck-passing, causing, abusing, badmouthing and protesting against the government?

The time for collective action against terrorism is now! Citizens must rise up and join hands with government to condemn and fight terrorism, instead of maligning the efforts of the government and security agencies.

As citizens of Nigeria, we owe it to our conscience to be patriotic and resolute in defence of the nation’s freedom, unity, peace and security as enshrined in the National Pledge.

 “I pledge to Nigeria my country

  To be faithful, loyal and honest

  To serve Nigeria with all my strength

  To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory

  So, help me God”.

We must reawaken the National Consciousness. We must be vigilant of our surrounding and report suspicious characters to the security agencies. We must join in the community policing initiative. We must offer ourselves to join the Army, Navy, Air-Force and the Intelligence Agencies to help fight, protect and preserve our common heritage – Nigeria. We must keep politics, criticism, ethnic sentiments and religion aside, come together as one people and confront our common enemy – Boko Haram and her sponsors.

At this time in our national life, nothing can be more important than National Interest. Therefore, greater support is needed by the Citizens to bring an end to this act of terrorism tearing the Nation apart.

In conclusion, I cannot end this piece without making reference to the charge by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his Sallah message to Nigerians: “Going forward, let us all remain unwaveringly committed to showing solidarity with our Armed Forces and security agencies and giving them the full support they require to prosecute the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion”.

The time for citizen’s collective action against terrorism is now!!!

Comrade Shedrack Fubara

A public affairs analyst & Convener, Nigeria-Diaspora Solidarity Group, Americas.
Writes from Alberta, Canada.