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I’m a lover of animals, particularly domestic animals. And that was why I took interest in studying their behavioural pattern. My interest in animals was the reason I kept an Alsatian dog when I was in Lagos and Enugu. Also, while in Markudi as the Chief correspondent of the now rested National Concord newspaper, I had a gorilla as a pet. These animals I once kept were not like the ferocious soldier ants also known as formicine ants. The animals, while I kept them, were friendly, provided me protection and companion. But that was years back.I no longer keep animals.These days, I rear birds(chickens) and also nurse fishes.
The brief commentary on animals above brings me to an issue that tugs at the heart of our country: The raging bloody insurgency in the Northern part of Nigeria parented by the 16- year old Boko Haram’s blood chilling mayhem in that part of the country. Boko Haram has since begotten a plethora other terror groups namely the Islamic State’s West Africa Province, ISWAP, armed fulani herdsmen often termed bandits, Mahmuda, Lakurawa among others- all splintered from Boko Haram.
For a a clearer understanding of my juxtaposition of the insurgents and soldier ants, just imagine the ferocity with which the latter invade homes and make life uncomfortable for occupants of such homes, and then picture, in your mind’s eye, Boko Haram and other insurgent group’s daily festival of blood and destruction. Soldier ants are biologically known as formicine ant. Formicine ants, also known as formic acid ants, are sub family of ants characterized by their lack of a functional sting and the use of formic acid for defense. Instead of stinging, they spray formic acid from an opening called an acidopore located at the tip of their abdomen This subfamily includes well-known ants like carpenter ants and black garden ants. Like the ants, the Boko Haram terrorists and their offshoots sting their victims by annihilating them. Boko Haram terrorists and the terrorist group that splintered from it are brutal, beastly. They mercilessly slaughter their victims on the roads, in the farms, in the homes, in places of worship, in the markets-just everywhere!
The Boko Haram insurgency began on a low key in 2007 when under the umbrella of religion, a set of extremists embarked upon civil disobedience in parts of Northern Nigeria, refusing to acknowledge or respect the authority of government. They had termed certain aspects of the constitution, government orders and social provisions including western education as “haram” or sin. They would later swell in rank, attracting jobless, poor, hungry and gullible youths. 18 years on, Boko Haram has blossomed and multiplied in great number like soldier ants. The questions that agitate the minds of security observers are, why has the Nigerian military not been able to defeat the insurgents? Why has the military not been able to stop the insurgents’ underground recruitment and obliterate their cells?
Who are the local and foreign collaborators oiling the wheels of Boko Haram and other armed insurgents?
Many have argued that massively killing the insurgents may not solve the problem. They insist that the only way to end the insurgency is to starve the insurgent groups of membership by blocking their underground recruitment network and cells.I had once interviewed a repentant Boko Haram member in Maduguri, the Borno state capital, I think that was sometime in 2018, while on a guided tour of the war-torn areas of the state. The repentant terrorist had disclosed three major factors contributing to the easy recruitment of northern youths into the insurgent groups :
1.Lack of employment
2. Indoctrination and teaching of false religious doctrines
3.Poverty.
The ex-Boko Haram combatant argued that failure of some state governments in the North to regulate religious preachers was the reason many of such preachers feed vulnerable youths with false doctrine which in turn fuels radicalisation; a validation of Karl Max’s assertion that religion is the opium of the poor.According to reports, Nigeria’s unemployment rate has fluctuated between roughly 5% and 33% from 2018 to 2025. Statista reports a rate of 5.07% in 2018, 5.21% in 2019, and 5.74% in 2020. However, other sources indicate a significant rise, with one report stating it reached 33.3% in 2020. The National Bureau of Statistics informs that the unemployment rate was 5.3% in Q1 2024. Projections for 2025 and beyond vary, with Trading Economics forecasting an average of 5.0% in 2026 and 4.8% in 2027
Economic experts are of the view that poverty exacerbates crime and breeds deviants in the society.Financial inducements, according to security experts, play a major role in the festering insurgency. For example, some of the women and children security forces rescued from insurgents’ captivity willingly made themselves available to the insurgents after financial and food inducements. Statistics indicate that Nigeria’s Poverty Rate Trend From 1960 to 2024 – poverty rate has significantly increased from 2018 to 2025, with projections showing that over half the population is now living in poverty. In 2018, the poverty rate was estimated at 40.1%, but by 2024, it had risen to 56.0%, with 129 million people living below the national poverty line. This represents a substantial increase of 15.9 percentage points in just six years.The World Bank also notes that an additional 42 million people have fallen into poverty since 2018/19.
Notedly, heavily armed gangs often referred to as “bandits” have intensified attacks in the northwest and central areas regions of the country killing thousands and abducting people for ransom. The number of death incurred by Boko Haram and other insurgents notwithstanding, northern youths, in droves, are still getting enlisted into the insurgent groups without baiting an eyelid. Unfortunately, heavy casualties suffered daily by the insurgents have proved that death is not enough deterant for the youths. Security sources put the number of insurgents recently eliminated by Nigerian troops at 7,000 which roughly equals to three populated residential areas of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja. Reports emanating from the military, though positive and encouraging, suggest that more efforts need to put into the war against insurgency.
It is heartwarming to note that military authorities recently reported that more than 150 bandits were killed in a military operation which involved ground troops and Airforce fighter jets. Ground troops and the Nigerian Airforce are indeed doing a great job of eliminating the insurgents the same way soldier ants are eliminated with insecticides when they invade homes.Kudos to the Nigerian military!
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Bravo, Buba Marwa boys (I)
They are disciplined. They are well coordinated. Their training and investigation skills are almost flawless. I’m talking about the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. Their operational activities around the country are exemplarily and result oriented. What we are witnessing is the the relentless effort of a visionary and dedicated leader and administrator, tested and trusted. Mohammed Buba Marwa, a retired Army Brigadier- General is the man. Under his salutary leadership,the NDLEA has performed exceedingly well.
Since his appointment in 2021 as the head of agency, Marwa has left no one in doubt about his capabilities at reforming and repositioning the NDLEA by injecting new vitality and patriotic fervour into it.No wonder operatives of the agency are now affectionately called the “Marwa boys”. Nigerians continue to applaud and appreciate the NDLEA for declaring total war on drug lords. The recent arrest of a popular Lagos-based prophet alleged to have been involved in the importation of 200kg worth several millions of Naira is one of the gains of the war. His arrest which was dramatic further gave credence to the effort of “Marwa boys”.(To be continued)
