BOKO HARAM: The Danger of the UN-saved by @babatundejnr

These are trying times for Nigeria and it quite a daunting challenge for the leadership at the center. The continuous terror attacks are pointing to one singular question; are we under-siege? Is the republic under attack.

Recently, the faceless yet known terror group called Boko Haram released a video widely circulated on the internet, where the leader of the terror group threaten to kill the commander-in-of the Armed Forces, the President of the Republic.

I personally view this threat as a threat to the entire people of Nigeria. It is irrelevant who occupies the seat of the President, no individual or group no matter how powerful should threaten the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. (That is all).

This piece is not to discuss the danger of the terror group, I believe we all know that. But to discuss the danger of the unsaved among us. Historical understanding of various terror groups that have existed in the world shows some similar pattern of psychological behavior most especially in the manner of recruiting members into their groups.

Researches have shown that terror groups have the following in common, beliefs, stories, image, and a leader. It is in-line of these understanding that this article will explain the possible danger that Nigeria would need to combat in the face of the daunting challenges facing the nation.

Firstly, what it takes to inspire the beliefs into the consciousness of prospective members is a thin task. While some of their prospective members share in their subconscious some of the terror beliefs, it only require a slight push to inspire and accept these beliefs into their consciousness.

Another is the stories that inspire these beliefs, they are stories that are common to their existences. Stories that reminds them of what their lives are and what it should be. In recent times, some of these stories have some adulterated Islamic faith attached. And due to the faith background of some of their prospective members, they can be savvy by this adulterated teachings.

Thirdly on the list is the image, which represent what they are fighting for. This is the most important aspect of the formation of terror groups. Looking at various terror groups, the image can either be an idea, concept, groups, institution or government. During the IRA in the United Kingdom, the group fight was against the catholic which resulted into countless killings. The Nazi was against the existence of the Jews. And in recent times, the Al-qaeda is against the “imperialism” of the western government. And so is terror groups like Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Tuareg in North Mali and Militant(MEND & co) and Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Finally, Like every societal organization, terror groups have leaders. Some are military leaders, rebel leaders while in recent times, some are spiritual leaders. The leader is the representative of the group and he direct or influence the decisions of the group. There should be no doubt that the Nigerian Security have the full particulars of the leaders of the terror group(s) in the country, it will be important that they do everything possible to apprehend these leaders. Just as the US did to Al-qaeda.

The important question is, if the government is battling with the insurgent group in the northern part of Nigeria, what is the government doing to reduce or mitigate against any prospective member of the group. It will out-rightly be a fallacy if the government does not know that some people might be sympathetic to these terror groups.

The danger will face in this insurgent is not only to put an end to their continuous attacks but to also ensure that we “kill” the idea or ideology behind the terror group. This is a daunting tasks that might takes years but it is imperative that government and the people initiate the process of rebuilding a society about to enter a moribund of decay.

PS: I’ll be sharing how government and the people can help save the unsaved in subsequent article. Stay Tuned.

‘Wale Babatunde (@Babatunde); guest writer
Best Regards