Worsening insecurity in the North

The nation was regaled with pictures of alleged insurgents in complete disarray. Towns like Chibok were recaptured and TV pictures beamed from such locations. Freed captives told horrific stories of their treatment by Boko Haram insurgents and there was a belief in the air that all would soon be well. Cynics expressed their belief that […]

The nation was regaled with pictures of alleged insurgents in complete disarray. Towns like Chibok were recaptured and TV pictures beamed from such locations. Freed captives told horrific stories of their treatment by Boko Haram insurgents and there was a belief in the air that all would soon be well. Cynics expressed their belief that it was al an election campaign gimmick which would soon fizzle out. Worse still rumors began to surface that the “victories” were as a result of operations by foreign mercenaries and troops from neighboring countries. Be that as it may it was clear that some sort of success had been achieved and the tempo need to be kept up. Bok Harm once controlled territory that was larger than some European nations, but had been pushed back by the offensive. Upon assuming the office of President and Commander-in-Chief Muhammadu Buhari instructed that the military high command move its headquarters to Maiduguri to be closer to the field of operations.  This was expected to have positive results in the battle but the opposite appears to be the case as Boko Haram activities appear to be on the increase. The bloodshed is said to be increasing after a directive to intensify violence during the holy month of Ramadan. Hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks after the latest surge in violence. As is the habit with the terrorists soft targets such as mosques, churches, restaurants, and other public places have been bombed. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks they have been linked to Boko Haram who have carried out similar operations in these areas. Furthermore that explosion at Yantaya mosque came as leading cleric Sani Yahaya of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bidia organization which preaches against Boko Haram and in support of peaceful co-existence of all religions was addressing a crowd of Muslims during Ramadan. There is little doubt that the offensive against the insurgents has lost momentum. In Zaria 25 government workers mostly women were killed in an explosion. The victims were health workers and council staff attending a verification exercise. The event was organized by the Kaduna State government and as a result Governor El-Raufai has cancelled such activities and advised citizens to shun crowds. There are those who believe that the increased Boko Haram activities are as a result of the removal of checkpoints in the affected areas. However there are differences of opinion on the matter with some Governors calling for their re-instatement and other supporting the removal. Those in support of the removal point out that no terrorist has ever been captured or detained at a checkpoint and they only serve to increase the pains experienced by the general public and provide avenues for both corrupt practices and extra-judicial killings. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu claims that Boko Haram attacks have increased since President Buhari took office in May. In reaction the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) claim that the current spate of bombings are actually “the desperate pangs of a dying monster” in which lone wolf bombers have replaced previous coordinated actions of seizing and holding territories”. According to spokesperson Lai Mohammed necessary structures for effective coordination of the battle against the terrorists have been put in place both within and outside the country. Whether or not this is the case it is quite clear that a new impetus must be given to effectively put an end to the Boko Haram menace. It is imperative that government finds out why the military stopped doing what was evidently working and how come insurgents who once on the run are now once again on the offensive.