SIR: The twin suicide bombings in Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camps and attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Dalori village near Maiduguri, Borno State is, painfully, a gruesome reminder of the toxicity of extremism and the vulnerability of our communities.
Even though it is by no means the same scale and scope experienced in the past when attacks take place right on the heels of the other, the scale of sporadic killings and kidnapping by the blood-thirsty group requires more than just military response to prevent such acts of terrorism from becoming as common in Nigeria, as they are in other parts of the world. The fact that these nefarious attacks are often unpredictable in their nature behoves on our military and all stakeholders to be more proactive after each incident so as to forestall or reduce the impact of future possible attacks.
The recent arrest of a terrorist recruiter, who surprisingly is an undergraduate, further confirms that, indeed, homegrown terrorism has reached an epidemic level due to unchecked spread of terrorist ideology. As a result, Nigeria’s territorial integrity is currently under the threat of terrorist ideology and religious fundamentalists.
The Boko Haram ideology did not spring from the ground neither was it wholly formed in 1999/2000 as it is sometimes portrayed. Much of what passes for Boko Haram’s ideological stand emanates from a misconceived notion that justifies violence as an expressive, oppressive and suppressive tool. Many years ago, as an undergraduate student in University of Maiduguri, I had walked past several open air propaganda gatherings where Salafi-Jihadism is encouraged and no attempt was made to bring such preachers to order. In my opinion, these views, among others, left most communities vulnerable on polarized theological grounds that supported the “US versus THEM” alignments. It also engendered in them the structure of a people who considered themselves as vanguard for the liberation of the oppressed in the society. As expected, this came with strategic and ideological views that have over the years impacted the lives of their friends, families and cronies who have lost or may lose loved ones in the war against terror. It is a collection of these prodigal views that has since become a sort of non-material glue binding this nefarious group together as it seeks to achieve its infamous goals.
Despite much talk in recent times about Boko Haram’s “total defeat”, nothing is heard of any multi-dimensional approach or strategy in relation to an awareness programme that will stop the flow of Salafi-Jihadism ideology propaganda nor has there been any programme to de-radicalize the youths that have been inspired ideologically. If engendered, such programmes will address the various social, economic, political and other factors, including violent separatism and extremism, which engender conditions where terrorist groups such as Boko Haram are able to recruit and win support. The programmes may further ensure that those that are yet to be inspired or radicalized by the sect are protected from extremist ideologies in areas currently within Boko Haram influence and those outside of it.
Most terrorist organizations often inspire their loyalists with uplifting messages and promises intended to create a religious revolution. In the case of Boko Haram, understanding the working narratives they tell to attract and radicalize sympathizers in order to counter such narratives should be the way to go. Exposure to condemnations of isolated acts of extreme jihadist violence by theologians highly respected in the Islamic community may also lead to recantations by some loyalist and total refusal to be recruited by many other sympathizers. This is a key area that needs to be addressed in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
Building trust within the community will also help slow down the wide spread of the ideology and recruitment of young people. The government should create new platforms that will bring ideas for combating extremism from the community itself. Ideas on how to prevent young people from developing sympathy for extremism would be more effective if it comes from illustrious people in the communities. This is necessary because the community is the most immediate and effective level to leverageand gain insight into the minds of the young potential jihadists and understand better how they view Boko Haram in ideological terms.
- David Dimas,
Laurel, Maryland, U.S.A.