Poverty And Terrorism

‘My Name is Poverty,

I did not Cause Terrorism’

On a bus to Gashua from Damaturu en route Babangida, the bus driver out of sheer thoughtlessness and tactlessness that a Christian could be in the bus decided to playback a recorded message from an Islamic cleric. I could sense that I was the only non-Muslim in the bus which did not bother me. What spurred volcanic adrenalin in my system was the inciting, instigating, inflaming and irritating message that was oozing out of the karaoke speakers. Then I knew I had only one option which was to remain dead silent throughout the journey and inaudibly pray that my phone did not ring because my ringtone then was “Let somebody shout Alleluia”. When the bus stopped at the park, I quickly alighted and walked very fast to my destination.

This is the picturesque of what happens in parks, bus terminals, inside taxis and buses in the north. The fragile peace in the north is always truncated by preaching from some Islamic clerics which triggers spates of violence. One tends to ask why peace in the north is so fragile. It is not unconnected to the Jihad which finally broke out in 1804, when Usman, elected Imam (leader) by his followers, declared a jihad, or holy war. Within a few years, aided by his son Muhammad Bello, Usman was in charge of most of Hausaland; the capital of Gobir fell in 1808 and the sultan was killed. Usman’s forces turned east toward the Kanem-Bornu Empire, which, however, effectively checked their advances by 1812. The 2011 post election violence was triggered by utterances made by an aggrieved presidential candidate who was idolized. This single handedly boiled the whole northern region.

Those that are familiar with the terrain of the north will testify to the fact that terrorism cannot be totally attached to the poverty level of the region alone. Although, poverty could be one of the latent factors that sparked the boko haram insurgency, the teachings of fanatic Islamic clerics has contributed worse. The United States and the United Nations would gladly want us to believe that poverty is the main cause of the insurgency. If poverty fuels insurgency, how do we explain the radicalism of Jihadi John, who left his comfort zone and wealthy lifestyle to join ISIS in Iraq? What about Abdulmutallab who almost blew up a Detroit bound plane was he also poor? Even the eccentric Abubakar Shekau does not look emaciated or malnourished in the videos released.

The problem is not poverty alone because the northerners are not the only poverty ridden folks in Nigeria. What we are fighting is ideology and not government bad policy. Boko haram successfully feasted on Islamic radical teachings which were reinforced by Islamic clerics. Islam in itself is not bad as it were; Sociologists believe that no religion is the best. Islam was only infiltrated by sheer wickedness. The Quran 60:8 – (Be righteous and act justly toward those who worship another god) is a verse that could be said to be non violent in the same Quran that extremists use as the basis of insurrections.

Boko haram as an ideology based on radical Islamic teaching led by late Muhammed Yusuf has metamorphosed into a deadly monster which is in alliance with ISIS. This new birth has catapulted the ideological boko haram to the heavens as a dreaded terrorist close knitted organization. Globalization is now a tool for global terrorism. Since Gaddafi’s death, Libya has been in chaos and weapons from Libyan’s arsenal are finding their way into the hands of boko haram, thereby strengthening their terror base. Same goes with Mali. In a bid to create a New World Order, we now have a ‘New World Disorder’. This is because; the world is fighting a monster that has shattered global peace.

This new face of the world, took this monstrous mien since the 9/11 unforgettable event. In a swift swoop, the United States went to war to curtail terrorism. But their greed for Iraqi oil has plunged the world into a bigger terror web – ISIS. America has an explanation to make on the surge of insurgency in the world.

Presently, Islam is seen as synonymous with terrorism but the real Islam is not a violent religion. Boko haram has outgrown the tenets of the religion and now feeds on its alliance with global terrorist network. The menace was not nipped in the bud by our ‘assumed’ leaders when boko haram was planted in Kannama before its spread to Maiduguri. The more they are killed, the more they multiply. As the military is using its sophisticated weapons to liberate villages and towns previously occupied by the terrorists, boko haram is busy using their brainwashed, indoctrinated and programmed female suicide bombers to cause havoc in Kano, Maiduguri and other vulnerable places in the north.

Not until Islamic Clerics start telling Muslims in mosques that killing people is bad then we can start thinking of living in peace in the north. In the same vein, efforts should be made by their leaders to de-radicalize their teeming population of extremists. I don’t seem to see any genuine reason that will motivate sane Homo sapiens to kill because of 7 virgins chimera facilitated by some Islamic clerics. If proactive measures are not taken, boko haram will still metamorphose into something more deadly.