UNDERSTANDING BOKO

princemessembe@gmail.com

UNDERSTANDING BOKO-HARAM IN NIGERIA

December 2016

SARON M. OBIA

princemessembe@gmail.com

1

HARAM IN NIGERIA

December 2016

2

ABSTRACT

This paper traces the development of Boko-Haram from two perspectives (Socio-economic and

Political), it exposes the reasons for the re-emergence of insecurity in Nigeria, precisely Northern

zone which shares the same culture with Northern Cameroon. The paper equally explores the

various groups threatening Nigerian sovereignty and countries of the Lake Chad Basin. It also

outlines some responses to adapt to the changing modus operandi of the terrorist organization.

INTRODUCTION

It is no gain say (news) that this is an era of terrorism which is a major challenge of post-cold

war international security. Both Regional and International Organizations including the

international community have different views on what is extremism, terrorism and insurgence as

activities perpetrated by some Muslims to subdue the world. Nigeria has been recognized from

her history as a country with the highest number of putsch, a new challenge of international,

regional and national insecurity is gaming the country. It is no news that “Boko-Haram” is

rewriting the history of Nigeria through her series of targeted attacks on communities and soft

target bombing in the Northern part of Nigeria. The mutation in their attacks and the connection

to the Islamic State of Israel and Syria(ISIS)1 is a challenge to national security and safety within

Nigeria and its neighbors i.e Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic just to name a few.

Initially the group2 seem to direct its attacks specifically on individuals (condemning Western

Culture) but the pattern has changed even mosque are being attacked, soft targets like markets

stimulate tension in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The canca worm which has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society is mainly socio-

economic and political.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC:

Nigeria is made up of several ethnic groups with varied customs and tradition coupled with a

booming population (Nigeria has the highest population in Africa) which makes the rule of law

1 The recent split of Boko-Haram by ISIS and appointment of Muhammad Yusuf’s son has increased the level of vulnerability in

Nigeria. 2Boko-Haram’s attacks were on individuals (condemning western education), but the pattern changed when mosques were

being attacked and markets which stimulates tension in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

3

difficult to apply. Nigeria is a country with the highest number of “coups d’état”, radicalization

has brought the economy on her knees. This is seen in the following areas;

- Drop in fuel/oil price

-Devaluation of the (currency) Naira

-Sale of weapons to terrorist and armed groups. Establishment of new security base and training

camps

-The sale of two Presidential jets or planes

-The issue to restrain Nigeria from becoming an emergent country in 2020

In spite of President Buhari’s introduction of transparency, crackdown on corruption and

embezzlement national security is still a major problem. The attack on the police Headquarters

and United Nations Building in Abuja reveals the lapses and quality (low) of intelligence service

in Nigeria. This has led to several questions:

-Can Nigeria defeat Boko-Haram?

-Would Nigeria become an Islamic State?

-What are the Challenges involved to defeat Boko-Haram?

POLITICAL

Boko-Haram was founded by Muhammad Yusuf3, today the group is referred to as an extremist

and terrorist organization. The organizations objective are against Western Culture or

Civilization. According to this group, Western civilization has a negative impact on the Nigerian

Community as such it has to be swept aside. To achieve his objective Yusuf built a school and a

mosque to teach Islamic Religion and moral values. It should be recalled that, the group began

operating in 2002 as a Traditional Quranic Islamic School (Mu’azu, 2011)4. Questions have been

raised as to the formation of this group (Boko-Haram). The irony is that they oppose Western

culture yet they use weapons fabricated by the West. Does the Holy Koran support violence?

3 See Mantzikos (2013) Boko Haram Anatomy of a Crisis by e-International Relations (Bristol, UK) 2013, (p 46-51).

4Dr. AbubakarMu’azu (2011) Understanding the emergent trends of terrorism in Nigeria: The case of Boko-Haram and similar

groups, paper presentation at a conference organized by CLEEN Foundation on Responding to the emergent trends of terrorism in Nigeria, 2011.

4

In some instances the group is referred to as Yusufiyya sect following the name of its founder,

Muhammad Yusuf (Mu’azu, 2011). The split in 2016 of the group and the appointment of

Yusuf’s son as leader by ISIS has increase the level of vulnerability in Nigeria and Central

African states. The eruption that occurred in 2009 was as a result on the crackdown on the

followers of Muhammad Yusuf. Which eventually led to his arrest. Col. Ahantou led the

operation and handed Yusuf to the police commander of Borno state (Mu’azu 2011).

The re-emergence of the group with attacks on selected targets including Islamic scholars,

politicians and individuals who oppose them has led to terror and fear. It is important to note that

Boko-Haram never targeted those who were not involve in their crusade. The group propaganda

at the time left other leaders with no option than to get involved. As a result of the numerous

bomb blast which affected innocent people and destruction of property. Their activities has led to

frequent regional, inter-regional and international Security Summits in Paris and Nigeria. Several

questions have been raised with regards to insecurity in Nigeria:

-Is self-defense a violation of human rights?

-Why is the principle of sovereignty not respected in Nigeria?

-Is there any civil-military relationship in Nigeria?

-Why should Niger Delta create its own sphere?

Radicalization in Nigeria is as a result of the great jihad and putsch or coup d’états. The

economic crisis of the 1980s still loops on the economy. Faced with this situation the

government has made several attempts to bring the situation on control to no avail. Stakeholders

imposed neo-liberal solutions which brought a lot of suffering to the citizens. The introduction of

the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which prescribed the Structural Adjustment Programme

(SAP)5 during the reign of General Ibrahim Bbagida and other Nigerian premier like General

Olusegun Obasanjo and President Shehu Usman AliyuShagari did not help matters. The slogan

“things have to get worse before they get better” was developed.

5 The introducing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) which prescribed the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP)

during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida; and other Nigerian premier like General Olusegun Obasanjo and President Shehu Usman AliyuShagari, a slogan ‘things have to get worse before they get better’ was developed

5

The problem Nigeria is facing today is as a result of the crisis in the 1980s. It is not the fault of a

single individual all Nigerians have contributed to the crisis. The crisis has led to act of violence,

vandalism and the formation of gangs. These gangs serves as political thugs with backing from

those in power. This alone has led to insecurity with is challenges.

UNDERSTANDING THE RE-EMERGENCE OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

The security mechanisms used by some countries does not exist in the international scene. That

is the hierarchy that exist between state system is absent at the international level. Therefore

states operate in an anarchical system. The issue of survival of human beings has been of great

concern, since at the creation at a micro or macro level. Whether in war or peace time, human

life is directly link to security issues. So at individual or national level the increase in poverty,

disease, hunger has security issues and implications.

According to Mu’azu1 (2011), Terrorism is a concept that is fluid and a subject of contestations.

But there is a say that “one man’s terrorist is another ones freedom fighter”, the return of civil

rule in 1999 in Nigeria, led to new dimension of insecurity, from petty groups, militancy and the

new cancer (Boko-Haram). This deviant behavior began with attacks on law enforcement

officers and on infrastructure by the Oodu’a People’s Congress (OPC). The destruction of

pipeline accommodating oil, detonation of bombs to interrupt national day in Abuja by radicals

in the Niger Delta; the abduction of citizens in the East and foreign oil workers and excessive

murder of law enforcement officers. This behavior took a different dimension with Boko-Haram

attacks on Police Headquarters and the United Nations building in Abuja. All this actions have

given more light to Henry Kissinger’s new “World Order”6.

Mapping the Various Groups Challenging Nigerian Sovereignty

NAME OF GROUP LOCATIONS

Niger Delta ethnic militia group South South

Oodu’a People’s Congress (OPC) South West

Bakassi Boys and Movement for the Sovereign

State of Biafra (MASSOB)

South East

Boko-Haram (BH) or Borno state

6 Henry Kissinger’s World Order gave a different conception to foreign policy in the world.

6

Jama’atulAhlusSunnahLidda’awatiwal Jihad

Source:Mu’azu (2011)

Terrorism in Nigeria is due to the re-emergence of traditional activities within the country. That

is putsch or coup d’états, violence against cultures and non-residents. The7causes of

suchbehavior is as a result of;

1-Lack of effective communication within the community and country

2-Bad governance

3-Inadequate security

The increasing radicalization in Nigeria, warrants the State to review its institutional policies.

The persistent feeling of failure has led to the emergence of groups that resort to terror and

security challenges. All these groups had mounted attacks on the State either directly on

representatives of the state such as; security personnel’s and its economic vein by paralyzing oil

exports through pipeline vandalisation, kidnapping foreigners or engaged the military in battles.

Their activities and tactics demonstrate that there is a goal they want to achieve; it is not just

violence for its own sake.

Niger Delta

The militants in Niger Delta resorted to the use of terror because the problem confronting the

state was left unaddressed by the Nigerian State. The United Nations upholds the position Ken

aspired for a peaceful approach andstate sanctioned violence. But the failure to listen to him and

his supporters led to the emergence of several groups that confronted the State. October 1, 2010,

Abuja8 was attacked by militants detonating explosives (CLEEN Foundation, 2013). It is strange

how MEND were able to penetrate the security network in the Federal Capital, Abuja and

detonate a bomb without detection. MEND also claimed responsibility. It took sustained

sabotage actions by the militants to get the Federal Government to resort to dialogue and put up a

program for the rehabilitation of the militants.

Oodu’a People’s Congress (OPC)

7 See Saron (2016) African Union: Transition and its ability to respond to conflicts in Africa.

8CLEEN Foundation (2013) October 1

st 2010, there was a bomb blast at the Eagle Square, Abuja, with explosives been

detonated by some militants.

7

The OPC operates in the South West of Nigeria, for the advancement of Yoruba people and to

bring them under single umbrella. In its bid to achieve its goal, OPC had battles with other

ethnic groups and the Nigerian Police Force. Whenever their members were arrested, they made

strenuous efforts to secure their release. This included mounting attacks on law enforcement

officers, attack on police stations and in some cases, burning them. At a given point, it was

described as an organization that was going to unleash guerrilla war.

Boko- Haram (BH)

The group was formerly known as the Jama’atuAhlusSunnahLidda’awatiwal- Jihad (People

Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad)9 (Mantzikos, 2013). Its activities drew

immediate response from President Goodluck Jonathan that MEND10 was not responsible for the

attack, but to this day his regime has not been able to tell Nigerians who did it. However, the

brain behind the attack is being tried in South Africa.

Boko-Haram: Terrorist group or Insurgency

In Sub-Saharan Africa particularly in the Lake Chad Basin, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad have

been drawn into the war on terror by Boko-Haram. Meanwhile at the Horn of Africa Al- Shabab

is destabilizing Somalia and Kenya. The alliance system (i.e. Boko-Haram and Al- Qaeda and

Boko-Haram and ISIS) have diversified the network to acquire logistics able to control states in

Nigeria. Following the alliance system (spiritual and commercial insurgency), national, regional

and international responses are need to tackle insecurity as the new world system. Some

questions have been raised in relation to terrorism in Africa, and Nigeria in particular.

1- What are they motives of these terrorist groups?

International and national security affairs have been dominated with the increasing nature of

conflicts, as crimes keep changing as well as international relations thinking of Post-Cold War

era. The methodological framework of Post-Cold War Terrorism is low keyed protracted

violence to over throw political system or force change of status quo through negotiations which

attracts America, Russia and China in to Africa’s political economy. Political Economy, is a

9Mantzikos (2013) Boko-Haram was formerly known as Jama’atuAhlusSunnahLidda’awatiwal- Jihad (People Committed to the

Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad). 10

See CLEEN Foundation (2011) Responding to the emergent trends of terrorism in Nigeria.

8

mechanism used by some Western countries in the bid to structure the New International

Economic Order, marked by the Bretton Wood Institution.

The basis for insurgency are not hard to find; exploding urbanization and population growth,

communication technology and ecological decadence as well as ethno/cultural and religious bias

fuelled by ignorance and greed. As long as these issues remain the focal point, frustration,

insurgency will persist and exist unless integration and representation balances the edge of

violence. Insurgencies have become a way of life, which models depend on the dominant view

amongst protagonist in the conflict.

2- Why Boko-Haram was not labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S?

The international community’s response to Boko Haram has been regarded with mixed

feeling.Hilary Clinton said the abduction of the Chibok11 girls by Boko-Haram as an

“abominable, it’s criminal, it’s an act of terrorism and it merits the fullest response from

Nigeria”. Yet, when she was Secretary of State, her department did not classify Boko-Haram as a

Terrorist Organization, despite Boko Haram’s connections to Al-Qaeda and pressure from the

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Justice

Department and numerous members of Congress.

3- Why was Boko-Haram neglected by the U.S?

According to former U.S Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jonnie Carson, Boko-

Haram was focused on discrediting Nigeria government, and was not necessarily terrorizing the

country. Carson also observed that Boko-Haram if coined terrorist organization at the time,might

raise the organization’s momentum, given her greater credibility, and probably get more

assistance. It was until November 2013 that the US brandished Boko-Haram as a Foreign

Terrorist Organization (FTO)12.

Moreover, Sarah Sewall, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights,

told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on 21 May, 2014 that the abduction and the security

threats posed by Boko-Haram needs adequate government intelligence. That is why the United

States is supporting Nigeria in counter-terrorism strategies. Yet, problems are not just limited to

11

‘Clinton: Kidnapping in Nigeria “Act of Terrorism”’, Associated Press, 7 May 2014, available at http://bigstory.ap.org/article/clinton-kidnap-ping-nigerian-girls-abominable 12

IBID

9

the US. Many Western nations have pledge to fight against terrorism in Nigeria, and Africa in

general.

Furthermore, it is possible that the abduction and continues attacks in Nigeria is a tip of the ice

burg which needs foreign assistance. The stakes are too high for the West not to get involved

because they cannot afford for Nigeria to be led by jihadists. For example, the attacks over major

territory in Mali in late 2012, spark French military intervention to dislodge the terrorists from

the country; but Nigeria is strategically larger than Mali. The inadequate regional co-operation at

the beginning of the crisis in Nigeria was perceived by other African states as a mere situation,

and that as the leading economic country in Africa, she could resolve her domestic insecurity

issues. Also, co-operation or communication between state men at the time was poor (the former

Nigerian President Goodluck J. and Cameroonian President Paul Biya).

National Response to Counter –Terrorism in Nigeria

The notion of national security began with theorists like J.J Rosseau, Nicolas Machiavelli and

Thomas Hobbs. They perceived sovereignty of state as a vital issue. They viewed the

international system as a brutal arena in which states would seek to achieve their own security at

the expense of their neighbors. The Russian enigma; which shares analyses with the block about

the US global strategy. That of interference in regional and international affairs. But the question

has always been; what is the interest of the US in foreign state?

According tonational security adviser Brig General Andrew Azazi (Rtd)13 (2011), the capacity

of state to prevent, defeat and counter-terrorism is a major security challenge in Nigerian. The

Nigerian situation is similar to that of Libya, where national security needs restructuring,

following contemporary discourse, terrorist assaults recorded in the territory (through bombings,

fire exchange, the use of explosives, as well as suicide attacks). In effect, both passive and active

measures, need to be instituted by government to combat terrorism. An example is the bill

criminalizing terrorism passed by the National Assembly in 2010, the Anti-Terrorism Act which

exposes acts of terrorism and related offences, terrorist funding, investigation, prosecution,

mutual assistance and extradition,.

13

Brig General Andrew Azazi (Rtd) and National Security Adviser enumerated the challenges encountered by Nigeria as concerns counter-terrorism, his opening remark in a conference organized by the CLEEN Foundation in 2011 on Responding to the emergent trends of terrorism in Nigeria.

10

More so, dissemination of information in any form intended to cause panic, violence, or terrorize

the government (cyber-terrorism and cyberbullying), individuals, were included by the legislator

in the Act. Some other strategic measures include:

1- Strengthening of security agencies of on-going application of global best practice in security

and intelligence (best practice like that in Israel).

2- Installation of CCTV (closed circuit television or closed circuit cameras) many parts of the

capital, Abuja, to enhance surveillance as well as investigation of terrorism related offences.

3- Intelligence is vital to counter-terrorism, the role of local communities or citizens

(operational intelligence) would easily help to dispel terrorist attacks. Since they have

amastery of their area, and the potential hideouts, which will help Special Forces to counter-

attacks like DSS.

Responses to Boko-Haram by other actors

Denis SassouNguesso (Congolese President) said the solution to Boko-Haram should be African-

led, yet the African Union’s response has been largely inadequate. In this context, the

international community’s assistance have been welcomed. Though regional co-operation exist,

like the Fusion and Liaison Unit, which allows countries such as Nigeria, Algeria, Mali,

Mauritania, Niger, Libya, Burkina Faso and Chad to share intelligence, on counter-terrorism

issues, more is need from ECCAS and ECOWAS14.

Moverover, Mohamed Bazoum (Niger’s Foreign Minister) pointed out that, despite the ties

between Al- Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko-Haram, a unified regional security

approach is required to combat this threat.

The Way Forward

It is no gain say that acts of terror are not exclusive preserve of any group. The State itself could

provoke reactions that will lead to internal conflicts. When that happens questions arise on the

internal affairs of the country (ethno-cultural and economic equality) and the measures to arrest

the security challenge. The solutions are often related to the causes of the radicals engaged in the

acts. It is important for the security services to review its existing architecture that privileges

protection for persons with power to the exclusion of the majority (community). Security is more

14

Read Musah (2009) West Africa: Governance and Security in a Changing Region, International Peace Institute,2009 (p14)

11

than soldiers, policies and arsenals of violence. Those who exercise power enjoy, and the

satisfaction or needs of citizens are neglected. Proactive measures should be put in place like

being kin to global development in the world, than await issues to arise before responding to

them unhealthy. For instance, the 9/ 11 attacks in 2011, cases of terror in Kenya and Uganda

should have been a signal to Nigeria.

Moreover, the Nigerian government, precisely the Secret Service Department need effective

collaboration with researchers verse in counter-terrorism, civil society organizations that are in

the security sector. Also, community should be empowered or trained to monitor, secure and

provide information to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). Inter-security cooperation and

intelligence sharing are critical to the success of counter-terrorism. They need to resolve the

unnecessary sense of superiority and rivalry that affects collaboration among the army, navy, air

force, the police, civil defense corps, and immigration.

In conclusion, orientation or training of security personnel on counter-terrorism within the

society and not the regime. For Nigeria to counter-terrorism, there must be collective security,

and unity amongst its citizens. Internal disputes, are early warning signals to future insurgencies,

like the case of the Niger Delta crisis. The collapse of colonialism in Africa was the development

of a new agenda. The concept of Neo-colonialism or hegemonic system established by the

Bretton woods Institution and the World Bank.

12

REFERENCE

A Henry Jackson Society Briefing (2014) Terrorism in Nigeria, The Threat from Boko Haram

and Ansaru, The Henry Jackson Society, 2014.

CLEEN Foundation (2011) Responding to the Emergent Trends of Terrorism in Nigeria, CLEEN

Foundation, 2011.

Mantzikos I. (2013) Boko Haram Anatomy of a Crisis, E-International Relations (Bristol, UK),

2013.

Musah A. F. (2009) West Africa: Governance and Security in a Changing Region, International

Peace Institute, 2009.