The intensification of protest by members
of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as “Shi’ites”, which
the media has reported to have claimed 16 lives in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and
Kano States, is disturbing. As the group continues this fight for the release
of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, anyone with historical knowledge of
the birth and rise of Boko Haram’ will
agree that the existing situation signals danger.
As we all react in anger to these horrible
attacks and boorish protests, we need to also reflect, candidly, on the causes
of terrorism, and adopt the best solutions to restore peace to our agitated
communities. Analysts have in the past argued that terrorism feeds on poverty
and unemployment. I certainly do not buy into this highly publicised link
between poverty or unemployment and extremism. By way of example, Haiti and
Liberia are countries with eighty per cent (80%) of their population living
below poverty line, yet they have not noted cases of extremism terrorism.
Let me also share a personal experience to
back up my assertion.
Many years ago, as an undergraduate student
in The University of Maiduguri, Borno State, I had walked past several open air
propaganda gatherings where physical jihad ideology was encouraged and no
attempt was made to discourage this questionable canon. Many, overtime,
embraced this ideology and began to bring into reality their long desired dream
of fighting in what they see as “a war against the continuous oppression of
their freedom and religion in Nigeria”. It also engendered in them the
structure of a people who considered themselves as vanguard for the liberation
of the oppressed in the society. They remainedcommitted to this dogma even to
death because someone drilled that notion into them. This happened dexterously
because people who lack education and sense of direction are easy to
manipulate.
This prodigal view, which has encouraged
hatred and rancor in most part of the country, has since become a sort of
non-material glue binding this nefarious group together, as they seek to
achieve their putrid goals.
My main point, in view of the foregoing, is
that the theory behind present-day terrorism was birthed from an ideology that
justifies violence as an expressive, oppressive and suppressive tool.
There are many more multifarious reasons
behind the conception and spread of terrorism, most of which are specific to
particular regions or communities, but overall, the reason I have stated above
is, in my opinion, the most common in Nigeria.
By far the most asked question, as it is in
Nigeria today, is what can be done in response to the growing trend of the rise
and rise of a people seeking their own utopian world governed by their own
utopian laws?
To answer the above, I like to start with
the widely proffered solution of regulation of religious activities.
In his piece titled “As Sheikh Dahiru
Bauchi Waters the Seeds of Radical Islam”, a public affairs analyst, Majeed
Dahiru advocated that “To bring this situation under control, religious groups
and practices must be regulated, to ensure the continuous corporate existence
of the Nigerian state.” While this is an intelligent and great proposal, it
might not settle well with our people because, historically, Nigerians have
always seen religious regulation as religious oppression. Every bylaw enacted
to stop noise and environmental pollution or propagating violence has been met
with stiff opposition from the two eminent religions in the country.
Another approach, currently been used in Nigeria,
is military operation. It is true that the government is obligated to fight for
her citizens and defend our land from every attack. However, that might not be
the only solution to ending terrorism. If military operation alone could stop
terrorism, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, would have narrowed or
ended the spread of extremist violence a long time ago.
The recent bomb attack in Maiduguri is a
good example. For what that onslaughtdemonstrates is that however far-reaching,
military measures taken to date, has not and may not quell terrorism in that
locality. It also discredits government’s claim that “Boko Haram has been
defeated”.
As authorities continue to bury their heads
in the sand about this issue, the multifaceted campaign by Shi’ite group may,
however, continue to grow in number and locations, and possibly lead to more
loss of lives.
Giving that history is trying to repeat
itself, there is urgent need to take drastic steps to end this palpable bedlam.
But the question is how?
From so many inklings out there, I like to
highlight four.
First, the continuous incarceration of
religious leaders such as El-Zakzaky, without charging them to court for
offences they are accused of, is nothing but an invitation to anarchy. The
established laws of the land regarding arrest and prosecution should be amply
followed.
Secondly, an approach or strategy in
relation to an awareness forum that will stop the movement of jihad ideology
propaganda and also de-radicalize the youths that have been inspired
ideologically has to be created by working with trusted religious and community
leaders.
If established, the forum’s framework
should address the various religious, social, economic, political and other
factors that create platforms upon which violent and terrorist groups areable
to recruit and win support. The programmes must further ensure that those,
currently within terrorists’ areas of influence and those outside of it, that
are yet to be inspired or radicalised by bigots are protected from extremist
ideologies.
Thirdly, there has to be a complete
devotion to the introduction of a religious curriculum that will attempt to
illumine our people on the difference between what really is a religious
innovation developed in the last few centuries by a handful of overenthusiastic
people and what is truly Islamic.
Lastly, we must learn from past failures,
and going forward figure out which precedents can best inform future responses
to proliferation of perverted religious ideologies.
These, in my assessment, are truly some of
the most viable and best hopes of stopping the Shi’ites’ revolt, and achieving
any form of victory against this monster called terrorism in Nigeria, else the
rise of something worse than ‘Boko Haram’ is all but assured.
Dimas wrote in from Laurel, Maryland,
U.S.A
Source: Leadership
No comments:
Post a Comment