COULD BOKO HARAM BE STOPPED IN THREE MONTHS?

COULD BOKO HARAM BE STOPPED IN THREE MONTHS?

“You need to brace up and continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well coordinated joint effort which will bring a desired end to these insurgencies within three months...

In the course of carrying out this assignment you must be accountable for all men and equipment placed under your command. Your troops welfare must be uppermost in your mind, take care of them and make available what is due to them.
Concerted efforts should also be made to ensure judicious use of resources that are available to you in the search for solution to these challenges

On our own part we shall be ready to give you the needed resources to achieve this feat. You will recall I have been to several countries with the sole aim of canvassing for global support to eliminate terrorism from Nigeria...”

The words of President Muhammad Buhari during the decoration of the chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja; the new service chiefs are Chief Of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief Of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Chief Of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and Chief Of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.

They were appointed by President Buhari on July 13 and their appointments were confirmed by the Senate on August 4. 

Since the above statement were spoken by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; the media had gone wild on the matter inferring that Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the serving chiefs  to end Boko Haram’s bloody six-year Islamist insurgency within three months.

The contrary is the case from my reading and understanding of the phrase, Mr. President was only encouraging his serving chiefs to work towards the end of insurgency and it was his “desire” rather than a “demand”. 

There is no country in the world that has managed to end insurgency including the United Kingdom, Russia, China and even the United States; the fact remains that they have managed to reduce the opportunity of a terrorist attack by enhancing the capacity of their security infrastructure to detect and disrupt potential terrorist attack including boosting their ability to take the fight to the terrorist source...

DOES NIGERIA SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE OFFENSIVE RATHER THAN FIRE-FIGHTING?

There is no doubt that Nigeria security infrastructure could inflict serious damage on the jihadist movement infrastructure and with the assistance of other relevant stakeholders; drive the terrorist group underground. Does that really mean that Boko Haram has been defeated? Definitely No!

Violent extremism and Islamic radicalisation could be reduced but not completely eradicated within 3 MONTHS because the current security infrastructure is not capable to deliver that task yet for many obvious reasons:

1.      Defective Internal Security Structure – Internal security should be the sole responsibility of Nigeria Police Force but they do not have the capacity or personnel to deliver such a service within 3 months

2.       Corrupt Security Officials – Nigeria security agencies have lots of corrupt and security risk individuals across the service; it is impossible to clear up the system within three months and also deliver the complete destruction of the Boko Haram infrastructure simultaneously

3.      Security Skills Set – Whilst, the leadership of Nigeria security infrastructure might be capable of delivering the strategic goal of eradicating Boko Haram; that could not be said of the different levels within the security infrastructure. Nigeria is currently working with different countries across the world to up-skill the security personnel which is an admission that they are not ‘fit for purpose’ at the current time to deliver a total victory

4.      Nigeria Intelligence Loophole – Nigeria security services do not have the level of intelligence superiority to deliver the eradication of Boko Haram because there are no evidences to support the assertion that there is an effective intelligence hub essential in the ability to defeat jihadist movement. Nigeria Immigration Services admitted recently that 24,000 people were banned from travelling abroad with many aiming to join ISIS yet two kano youths were arrested in India searching for avenue to join ISIS.

5.      Lack of Grassroot Security Resilience Framework – At the moment, the war against insurgency seems to be solely the responsibility of the Federal Government and there are no tangible state government security policy to boost security resilience at local and state government level; thus even if the Federal Government is able to defeat Boko Haram then there is still the challenges of how to maintain the victory at grassroot.

The jihadist militia, Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, has waged a violent campaign for a separate Islamic homeland in the northeast which has seen more than 15,000 deaths since 2009; the battle to win heart and mind is just beginning.

Over 900 people have dead in Nigeria alone since President Muhammad Buhari came into power but it is important to highlight that he has accompanied lots within the last few weeks in position; boosting morale and enhancing security.
The fear is that the members of the jihadist movement will hide within the community as sleeper cells and cause havoc at will. It is important to highlight that members of this sect have been indoctrinated and that they twisted some passage of the Quran to suit their narrative.

They have been taught to live within the community like normal citizens until they are ready to cause havoc and they misquote the Quran to justify their action:

"Let believers not take for friends and allies infidels instead of believers. Whoever does this shall have no relationship left with Allah – unless you but guard yourselves against them, taking precautions." (Quran 3:28; see also 2:173; 2:185; 4:29; 22:78; 40:28.)

Al-Tabari's (838-923 AD) Tafsir, or Quranic exegeses, is essentially a standard reference in the entire Muslim world. Regarding 3:28, he wrote: "If you [Muslims] are under their [infidels'] authority, fearing for yourselves, behave loyally to them, with your tongue, while harbouring inner animosity for them... Allah has forbidden believers from being friendly or on intimate terms with the infidels in place of believers – except when infidels are above them [in authority]. In such a scenario, let them act friendly towards them."

Regarding 3:28, the Islamic scholar Ibn Kathir (1301-1373) wrote: "Whoever at any time or place fears their [infidels'] evil, may protect himself through outward show."

As proof of this, he quotes Muhammad's companions. Abu Darda said: "Let us smile to the face of some people while our hearts curse them." Al-Hassan said: "Doing taqiyya is acceptable till the day of judgment [in perpetuity]."

That is why it is impossible to eradicate Boko Haram within three months except human rights of the citizens would not be observed

About the Author

Temitope Olodo is an expert in Preventive Terrorism, a Diaspora Analyst and a Public Policy Strategist based in the United Kingdom. One of Africa’s foremost diaspora security experts in Europe and a subject matter expert on Boko Haram

Temitope, worked for Her Majesty’s Government in many sensitive strategic roles including the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) managing de-radicalisation projects aimed at vulnerable youths attracted to Al-Qaeda doctrines; Community Engagement Consultant for London 2012 Olympics, managing Cross-Border Crime Project; Equality & Diversity Adviser in the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Assistant Director in UK Border Agency. Also, he served as a Special Police Constable with the Kent Police.

He was President of British-Africans In Government (B.I.G) and he is currently the Chairperson of Nigeria Diaspora Security Forum (NDSF), a think-tank of Nigeria security and human right consultants based in the United Kingdom.

Temitope is an author of 8 books and a regular guest on radio/TV programmes providing commentary on security and Nigerian national matters. In addition, Temitope the British born- Nigerian is the recipient of GAB’s award on Security. He holds two bachelor degrees in Political Science (BSc) and Law (LLB), a postgraduate qualification in Employment Law as well as a Master Degree (MSc) in Human Resources.

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