* I wrote and published this blog article on February 20, 2012 – almost 2 years ago. Considering the current state of security in Nigeria, as well as the focus of my next article, I thought it would be a good idea to re-publish this exactly as written in 2012 without adding or subtracting anything. So, here we go:
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As the world pays attention to terribly violent events in the Middle East and the economic crises across Europe, it is easy to forget that much of the rest of the world is not at peace either. With all of the remarkable successes that the United States has attained in its effort at crushing Al-Qaeda around the world, it is crucial to remember a few facts. First, the ideology that created and drives the terrorist acts of Al-Qaeda is not dead. Secondly, the social and political realities within which a terrorist organization like Al-Qaeda thrives are alive and well, and in fact strengthening in some parts of the world where such might not have been expected before now.
One of such countries is Nigeria , arguably Africa’s most famous and most populous country. Nigeria is a multicultural nation where people had lived in relative peace for several decades, despite significant religious and ethnic differences. In recent years, aspects of the Islamic North of Nigeria have become increasingly radicalized and this fact has been playing out as violent incidents resulting in several hundreds of deaths mostly across the Islamic North. Even without listing all of the incidents that have occurred over the last few years, most of the terrorist acts that have occurred in Nigeria over the past few months should concern everyone. In August 2011, the UN Building in the nation’s capital of Abuja was attacked by a suicide bomber who left carnage in his wake. It was not long before the attack was linked to Boko Haram, an Islamic sect in Northern Nigeria that openly sympathizes with Al-Qaeda. Then on Christmas day in 2011, the same Islamic sect claimed responsibility for the bombing of churches that killed dozens of worshipping Christians in Northern Nigeria. Then in January 2012, the same Islamic sect carried out orchestrated bombing attacks in Kano, one of Nigeria’s largest and most historic cities and killed almost 200 people.
Before, between and since all of these attacks, the same group has carried out several less-reported attacks. There are several reasons why this is important. First, investigative reports, including some published by UK’s Daily Telegraph, have established a link between Al-Qaeda and Nigeria’s Boko Haram. Secondly, the government of Nigeria is corrupt and too inept to successfully handle the challenges of Boko Haram. Thirdly, Western politicians who believe that Africa is not in the security interest of the West are ignorant and will deserve blame if terrorism strengthens in that part of the world beyond its current state. Fourth, if Nigeria explodes, so could the rest of Africa. Even for that alone, the rest of the world must not stand by and watch innocent Nigerians get killed by terrorists driven by the same ideology that has wreaked extensive horror in so many parts of the world.
The spate of killings and maiming of lives 2 yrs ago, is still the same old story that is being told today but with great sadness and hopelessness. There seem to be no glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. When will this change come? People have indeed lost lives and properties and are still losing their lives to these extremists simply because our leaders have failed in their responsibilities. Posterity will surely judge us all for our inability to collectively stand up to terrorism and insurgency that have claimed thousands of lives.