On the occasion of receiving some Armored Personnel Carriers donated by the government of Borno State, the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim was reported to have said that the Nigeria Police and other security agencies will now focus on eliminating the creeping insurgency in Borno and neighboring States by a group which has come to be popularly referred to as Boko Haram. The Inspector-General said that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed all security agencies to now focus on the issue of violence in Borno and neighboring states. He promised that the police and related agencies will now exterminate the threat by this group which and appears to have defied the use of military force and the most elaborate security deployment in Borno State.
The comments of the I.G.P appear to contrast sharply with those of Mr. President during his visit to the U.S, when he said that his administration will adopt a “carrot and stick” approach in dealing with this group. The President also ruled out the option of seeking for the help of the US or other countries in dealing with this frightening phenomenon. He drew examples with the apparent success of government in dealing with militancy in the Niger Delta, as inspiration for this two-pronged approach, without, however, giving a clue as to what he will do specifically.
A few days before the I.G.P’s comment, an unconfirmed source reported to be related to the group had released a list of demands as a precondition for engaging the government in a dialogue. These included the prosecution of the former Governor of Borno State, the Shehu of Borno and a host of other heads of security agencies and individuals over the unlawful killing of the leader of the group, Malam Mohammed Yusuf, and many of their members. The source also demanded for the release of the report of the leader of the group. The spokesman claimed that these demands are concessions from the earlier demand that the group will fight until all of Nigeria is brought under the rule of Sharia.
One of the immediate effects of the comments of the Inspector-General of Police was the release of another statement from the group, withdrawing its conditions for a dialogue with the government, and demanding for the resignation of the new Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, who had made the issue of engaging the group and resolving the problems around them a matter of the highest priority for his government. The group cited the collaboration of the Governor and the government with security agencies as its reasons, and reaffirmed its commitment to continue with its campaign on terror. The Shehu of Borno released a statement on Wednesday, 15th June 2011 denying any role in the manner security agencies related or dealt with the group. A statement from the Sultan’s Council condemned all insinuations over his involvement, and called for restraint, peace, harmony and unity among all communities in Borno and Nigeria.
It is on record that in the last few months, prominent people including those related to the former Governor and the Shehu have been killed during attacks claimed by the Yusufiyya movement known as Boko Haram. Many other innocent citizens and dozens of policemen, soldiers and other security agents have also been killed by the group in Borno and neighboring States. Almost on a daily basis, bombs are either exploded or discovered in many parts of the North. Kaduna State in particular appears to be a major target of bombers, and although many of the bombs planted are discovered and disarmed before they do damage, many others have killed and maimed people. It is not yet clear whether the new frontiers for these conflicts are related to the Yusufiyya movement, but this is little comfort to the citizens of the State who now live in constant fear that bombs will explode around them, or be discovered in their neighborhoods.
It is now obvious that the threat of the Yusufiyya movement to national security is real, and it will require a serious effort on the part of the government to understand its genesis, its dimensions and the options available in dealing with it. The most serious threat at this stage is that the technology for making bombs appears to have become available to many people, whether they are related to the Movement or not. The number, location and motivation of people who have both the ability to make bombs as well as use them have increased dramatically. This is a most frightening dimension of this terror, for which many innocent Nigerians pay a price with their lives, limbs or property.
Another frightening angle to this widening specter is the near-total failure of security intelligence. This failure is not limited to the failure to identify the sources and locations of the arms and the perpetrators of this widening violence. A more serious failure is one which cannot even identify the major objectives of the perpetrators of this violence. There are vague linkages with politics in Borno state and the ANPP administration which have not been adequately understood. Could politicians have sown the seeds of this insurgency, and subsequently mismanaged its growth and development? Are there still patently political issues in the manner this group operates?
There are also unresolved issues and grievances in the manner the group’s suicidal engagement with the security forces was handled, and in particular, the capture and death of its leader. Could there be attempts to cover up some facts, including reports of investigations which have not been released? Could there be opportunistic linkages between the campaigns being waged by the Yusufiyya Movement and grievances around the 2011 elections? Is the Movement spreading its activities beyond the North East into areas such as Kaduna and Niger States; or is it breaking up into factions, with some now taking up new political issues? Above all, how much community or public support and collaboration do these bombers and the terror on motorcycles enjoy? Who protects them? Do the people who know them share their views and ideals, or are they terrified into collaboration? How much sympathy do these groups have from ordinary people?
The challenge before the Federal and State Governments in dealing with the spate of bombings and shootings in many parts of the north must be met with imagination and a strong resolve. The Niger Delta militancy that almost brought the nation’s economy to its knees, and which is being resolved at great cost to the nation cannot escape being a reference point in the spreading violence in many parts of the north. There are many dimensions to the violence in the north which differ substantially from the Niger Delta campaigns, which have to be understood. Much of the violence in the Niger Delta, from the kidnappings to the sabotage of oil installations were motivated by a thinly-veiled criminal intent, in spite of genuine grievances around historic economic neglect, political insensitivity and environmental degradation which could have been handled within the political mainstream. Niger delta militants blew up oil installations, but the bombers in the north are blowing up security men and innocent citizens. Niger Delta militants made much money from their activities, and many of them have now been pardoned, and are receiving expensive education and skills. The bombers in the north have only what appear as vague political goals, and do not appear to be interested in making money from genuine grievances. They appear intent on waging a war against the State, and their stated goals are both difficult to comprehend or achieve. Yet they are becoming more active.
By all means, government must take every step to protect citizens and the security of the State from the widening violence in the north. But the achievement of a sustained security and a resolution of this problem will require a deep understanding of the sources and dimensions of these threats, as well as informed and effective responses to them. It is time for a radical review of the nation’s intelligence system, as well as an imaginative approach to dealing with the very serious threat to the widening specter of violence in many parts of the north.
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