BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA: A SOCIETY ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE Gabriel Uchechi Emeasoba (Rev.

Fr)
Across the centuries, there have been many philosophical theorists and political pundits who believed that crisis is a major instrument of social regeneration and development. One of them who lived in the 18th and 19th century Germany was the idealist, Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831). Hegel taught that movement in social evolution does not happen through a simple linear procession. According to him, a conflict of opposites is necessary for the establishment a new order. He called the old order thesis, and the conflicting variable anti-thesis. For the production of a new order synthesis, it becomes imperative that crisis ensues between the thesis and the anti-thesis. Hence, crisis according to him has a relevant function to perform not only in the development of ideas but also in socio-historical evolution and advancement. But since the mid 19th century, the great philosopher Hegel has received a lot of criticisms for his conflict theory of historical evolution. So many scholars have pointed out that crisis is not the only path to growth and development and that where violence is avoidable, other paths to true evolution should be sought. Apart from this, Hegel did not consider the fact that while it is true that some conflicts eventually lead to some form of movement, it is not every conflict that really produces a new positive phase. There are some crisis elements that only lead to absolute disintegration, be it in politics or in history. The crisis and anguish occasioned by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria today appears surely to be an example. Boko Haram is the name given to the controversial Nigerian militant Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria. The term Boko Haram comes from the Hausa word boko meaning animist, western or otherwise non-Islamic education and the Arabic word haram figuratively meaning sin and literally meaning forbidden. As a sect, members of this group consider any non-Islamic education as forbidden or sinful, and they see it as an offense to allow such system of education to thrive, especially in the North. Boko haram also summarily opposes the whole of Western culture and modern science altogether. From all experiential calculation, the boko haram enigmatic sect, from the outside, does not appear to have a clear structure or an evident chain of command. It is a faceless violent organ

whose activities are aimed at running down the peace and social cohesion of the Nigerian nation. For the moment, no one is clear on whether this local terrorist group has links with other terrorist groups outside Nigeria. However, we are certain that, following the sectarian violence that was orchestrated by this group in 2009, they became internationally recognized only in 2009. This group is said to have been founded in 2002 in Maiduguri by Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf and in 2004, it moved to Kanamma, Yobe State, where it set up a base (called Afghanistan) used to attack nearby police outposts. However, it must be said that there are some people who claim that this group was formed earlier than 2002 and that at different times, the government was warned about the threat they posed but these threats were all ignored. At least, prior to the clashes in 2004, many Muslim leaders and at least one military official warned the authorities about Boko Haram but their outcry was not harkened to. Unfortunately, from 2004 till date, Nigerians have paid dearly for this negligence. There have been series of attacks in different parts of the country, unleashing violence and dangerous trepidation on the people for no just cause. Innocent lives have been lost and incalculable amount of property wasted. The polity has been steamed and fragmented to the extent that there is wide insecurity in the nation. Nigeria indeed appears to be under a siege. Just in the past one year we have seen innumerable attacks issued by this terrorist bloc. In January 2010, the group struck Borno killing poor people in Dala Alemderi ward in Maiduguri metropolis. They freed over 700 inmates from prison in Bauchi State in September 2010 and were blamed for a market bombing three months after. 2011 appeared to be the year with one of the highest instances of their insurrection, with the death of more than 450 innocent citizens linked to their violent onslaughts. By January 2011, already a gubernatorial candidate was assassinated along with his brother and four police officers by members of this sect. They were blamed for the series of bombings in northern Nigeria on May 29th 2011 that left 15 dead. They bombed the INEC office in Maiduguri in April 2011 and in the same month killed a Muslim cleric and ambushed several police officers in Maiduguri. On June 17, 2011, they inaugurated the first suicide bomb attack in Nigerian history with the attack on the police force head-quarters in Abuja. And after this, all hell was finally let loose. Below is a brief summary of other activities of this sect from August 2011:

-12 August, 2011 - Prominent Muslim Cleric Liman Bana was shot dead by Boko Haram. He died after sustaining gunshot wounds. He was walking home after conducting prayers at the main mosque in Ngala. -26 August, 2011 - The UN headquarter in Abuja was blown up by a suicide car bomber, leaving at least 21 dead and dozens more injured. A Boko Haram spokesman later claimed responsibility. Four men were produced in an Abuja magistrates' court and they were charged with organising the bombing and were remanded in custody for a federal high court hearing. -16 October, 2011 - Police suspected that members of Boko Haram had shot and killed politician Modu Bintube outside of his home in Maiduguri. -22 October, 2011 - Spokesman Abu Qaqa indicated that the militant group had slain Alhaji Zakariya Isa, a Nigerian Television Authority journalist, claiming that he was a government informant. -5 November, 2011 - A series of coordinated attacks in Borno and Yobe states, primarily around Damaturu, killed at least 67 people, left a new police headquarters in ruins, and government offices burnt. A Boko Haram spokesman told The Daily Trust newspaper that it was responsible for the attacks and promised more. -25 December, 2011 Boko Haram claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on churches across Nigeria. -5 January 2012 - Boko Haram gunmen stormed a church in northern Nigeria Thursday and killed six people as they were praying. -20 January 2012 185 people were killed in a series of coordinated car bombings in Kano. - 8 February boko haram claims responsibility for a suicide bombing at the army head quarters in Kaduna. - 16 Februaruy they staged a prison break in Central Nigeria, releasing 119 prisoners and killing one warder. -19 February 2012 Car bomb detonates outside Christ Embassy Compound in Suleja, leaving about 5 persons injured.

26 February 2012 Suicide car bombing outside another Church in Jos, killing around 3 people. -11 March 2012 Car bomb detonates again outside a Church in Jos, killing around 10 people -8 April 2012 the brutal Easter day Car suicide bombings at ECWA church in Kaduna killed over 38 people leaving many others critically injured. A little survey of the above list shows the deleterious situation the nation has found herself in. These days, there is no single day that passes without news about boko haram bomb attacks.

The debate that has always trailed the Boko Haram issue has been whether it is a religious phenomenon or a product of political effervescence. There are people who feel that this militant sect is an instance of the extreme form of Islamism which continues to fight the supremacy of the western culture, just like the Al Qaeda. What this means by extension is that one can interpret their struggle as implying the rejection of Western influence on Nigeria and the desire to impose Islamism on the whole nation. What however is not so clear, when the case is viewed from this perspective is their rationale for eliminating even fellow Islamic adherents indiscriminately. In the view of so many, Boko Haram is engaged in a religious battle and that is the only way one can understand the rate at which they indulge in suicide bombing without caring even for their own very lives. These suicide bombers see what they do as a noble deed for Allah. This inspires them even to death and when this is the case, the door to every criminal investigation is closed. There is nothing as dangerous as dealing with a man who is ready to kill himself. Only religion has that power of conviction of providing human beings an agenda beyond the grave. The only problem in the case of such extreme Islamism is that what is promised to these suicide bombers are not new condiments and neither are the rewards the most noble even of earthly values. Recently, this text message was recovered from a Boko Haram suspect in Jos: do a deed which Allah by His grace and mercy will save you from the punishment of the grave, make you pass Sirad (a dangerous bridge) with a speed of

light, save you from the greatest fear, save you from hell fire and save 70 members of your family, marry you 72 virgins in paradise, give you a crown of respect which even the prophets will be impressed with, keep your soul in green birds of paradise and make you wish to return to the world and die as you died because of the good blessings and rewards you encountered after such a noble last deed. I pray for such a noble deed. When a nation is contending with such a group whose highest aspiration is to get married to 72 virgins in paradise in reward for both suicide and genocide, then the situation is really messy. Apart from the above, the onslaught of the Boko Haram violence also appears not just to be a religious and ideological warfare; it promises to have a political connection. In fact, according to many scholars, its peculiar character and posture in Nigeria is fundamentally political. How else can one explain the fact that the spate of killings in the country increased geometrically after the 2011 presidential elections? Boko Haram appears to be the voice of a northern political class who feel that in a country of many tribes, it is anathema not to have a northerner at the head. Perhaps this explains why there are many intrigues in the execution of criminal justice in the case of this sect. Many times, the President had cried that these hoodlums are sponsored by the strong political class and it appears his hands are tied. How else can we understand the connection of such a high profile murderer as Sokoto Kabiru with a governors lodge? How else can one swallow the stupid story and the shameful drama of his escape in the first place, and his eventual recapture? Or is it possible to understand the fact that a sitting governor could openly pay compensation as high as 100 million naira to the family of the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf when the families of those he killed with his group have been left for months in grief and utter anguish? Is this not a nation where politics simply means illegality? After the 2011 Presidential elections, one of the Presidential aspirants who failed to clinch the Presidential seat made serious and public statements, vehemently, promising the nation in anger, future violence. He repeated such threatening statements many times, especially after the crisis in Jos. It didnt take so much time after his unpatriotic vituperations for the UN house to be bombed in Abuja, and so many other attacks followed. In Nigeria, this is called politics, and in this game, nobody is ever caught or tried. One is free to do anything. For many Igbos who were alive by 1966, the mayhem being now unleashed by this evil Islamic sect resembles the experience of Ndigbo in

the north in the 1966 pogrom. Since the serial killing of people started in the north, Ndigbo have been badly hit. It is doubtful if Awka-Etiti and Adazi - Nnukwu towns will ever forget the Boko Haram saga. Already, many Igbos in the north have relocated while Ohaneze has ordered the evacuation of Igbos in the North. As a matter of fact, to put it straight, in the opinion of many, there appears to be a tribal dimension to this whole issue of boko haram. When it all started, the Yorubas warned the north never to litter the bodies of their sons and daughters on the streets or they would revenge and it appears they took this warning to heart. The West today appears to be the most secure part of the country. Is it then surprising that whenever any strong measure is about to be taken regarding this militant sect, many Northern elites and even traditional rulers come out in defense and preach peace and forgiveness and due process. And yet, the slightest movement by members of the MASSOB is punished with painful arrests and unaccountable deaths, sometimes. Few weeks ago, when some elites, including Prof Wole Soyinka were imploring the citizens to shun the spirit of revenge and reprisal, many of us knew where they were going. It is only a pity that this is happening when Ojukwu is dead. The government of this country should never underestimate the events of the last few days. The polity is heating up and it will not be saying too much to remark that our nation is on the verge of collapse if the situation is not quickly arrested. It is a pity that the Nigerian people, especially those affected have not seen any strong action from the government to protect their lives and property and maintain public order. The impression they are receiving is that the situation has gotten beyond the capacity of the government. And this is a very bad impression both for nationhood and nation building. It is clear that the government of Goodluck Jonathan is compromised from all angles. There are too many sacred cows whose interests would continue to be oiled while innocent men die on the streets every day.

For Gods sake, this is a moment one must be forced to re-examine the moral relationship that exists between the people and the government. Every government arrives at a social contract with the people to maintain public order and serve the common good. In the moral teachings of the

Church, every state authority must be able to provide for its people, legislation and administration of justice, social and economic policy, requirements for a just fiscal policy, care for moral and cultural values, and a proper and just penal legislation. This is the basis for civil obedience and support for social integration and unity. If any government fails in these areas, especially in the provision of security of lives and property, it loses its moral authority over the people. In such a situation, they would be left with no other option than to secure their lives and safety in other ways they deem just. With the recent development in the attacks of the Boko Haram sect, it must be clear to the government that the people are feeling fed up with the rationale for being together as a nation. This nation should not be allowed to collapse before something is done. Let the government be courageous enough to save this nation now or....