Boko Haram and sundry matters

The anger of the followers of Mallam Muhammad Yusuf against the Nigerian establishment is a reflection of the frustration of many a northern youth against the morally bankrupt northern elites, and unlike in other parts of Nigeria where anger and frustration of the youths can be vented through kidnapping or wanton destruction in the name […]

The anger of the followers of Mallam Muhammad Yusuf against the Nigerian establishment is a reflection of the frustration of many a northern youth against the morally bankrupt northern elites, and unlike in other parts of Nigeria where anger and frustration of the youths can be vented through kidnapping or wanton destruction in the name of agitations for more amenities or resource control, in the north obviously any revolt against the existing injustices in the society is more likely to take a religious dimension.

I may want to reiterate that the manner of reporting the crisis by many Nigerian newspapers and the way the security agencies responded, especially the Nigerian police, was embarrassing and tactless. Nobody can justify the gangster-style shooting of the alleged financier of the Boko Haram, late commissioner Buji Foi, the killing of Muhammad Yusuf and his aged in-law.  Exterminating the sect leaders is by no means exterminating the followers or the sect entirely.  The governments in the northern states, the ulemas and the Boko Halal elites would have to do a lot to remedy the situation and make education accessible to all, reduce seriously the chronic poverty, create jobs and ensure due process when it comes to elective representation and reduce their excessive arrogance. Possibly, that may stop northern youths joining sectarians groups like the so-called Boko Haram.

Jafar Lawal Dabai, Kaduna Polytechnic, [email protected]