The recent suicide bombing in some parts of Borno State underscores the need for a more ferocious fight against terrorism in Nigeria. We cannot continue to be reactive to such acts when precious Nigerian lives are being wasted on a regular basis. Using women to prosecute these wicked acts is a dangerous dimension to the seemingly unending war against the Nigerian people by sundry terrorists in the country.
A study discovered that Boko Haram has used more female suicide bombers than any other group. A few days ago, they targeted a wedding, the victims’ subsequent funeral and a hospital in Gwoza town in Borno State to unleash the orgy of terror in the state. The one who attacked a funeral was said to have disguised as a mourner. Over 30 people, including children and pregnant women, reportedly died in the deadly blasts while over 40 people were reportedly wounded.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the coordinated attacks, calling them desperate acts of terror. He warned that the purveyors of wanton violence would have certain encounter with justice. Noting that the attacks were an isolated episode, the President said his government would not allow the nation to slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood. Amnesty International Nigeria and the United States Mission in Nigeria also condemned the attacks. They variously described them as horrific and complete disregard for human life.
What propels the terrorist acts in the first place is wrong religious indoctrination. Boko Haram members, for instance, believe that western education is sin. They regard other people who don’t subscribe to their beliefs as infidels who do not deserve to live. Even when they die in the process of trying to kill others, like in this instant case, they believe they are paradise bound.
It is disheartening that despite years of existence of the terrorists, no concrete solution has been found to their menace. In 2014, Boko Haram terrorists abducted about 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State. Some years after, close to 100 of the girls are still in captivity. Over 1,000 students have been similarly kidnapped for ransom in the North. Sometimes, travellers are waylaid and killed for no just cause. Over 40, 000 people have been killed and over two million others displaced in the campaign of terror waged by different terrorist groups in Nigeria.
This is why Nigeria is among countries mostly impacted by terrorism. In the Global Terrorism Index for 2023, Nigeria had a very high terrorism impact among the 163 countries assessed with a score of 8.065. The country reportedly ranked 8th among the top 10 countries with the highest level of terrorism in the world. The country is also among the least peaceful countries in the world. In the 2023 Global Peace Index, Nigeria ranked as low as 144th. The deadliest group in Nigeria happens to be the Islamic State West Africa. Boko Haram is also very deadly. Its mission is to abolish western education and establish an Islamic state in Nigeria. All these have given the country a bad image and could scare away investors.
The security agencies appear to be overwhelmed by the enormity of security challenges confronting us today. We sincerely feel that the government should beef up the manpower of the Nigerian military. The current numerical strength of our security forces may not be enough to match the expanding number of terrorists and bandits in Nigeria. It should also adequately equip our various security agencies and give them the mandate to weed out terrorists in our midst in no distant time.
The recruitment of new operatives in the security agencies should be based on strict adherence to laid down procedures. The character of the people being recruited should be properly examined before they are recruited. This is to avoid infiltration by some terrorists.
The nation’s borders should be adequately policed as terrorists from neighbouring countries, especially Niger, often infiltrate our country through those porous borders. They hide in different forests from where they launch their attacks on hapless Nigerians. It was reported recently that jihadist fighters from the Sahel crossed into Nigeria through the Benin Republic border.
In previous editorials, we had emphasised the need to beef up intelligence gathering and sharing as a way of curtailing terrorism. We reiterate that it has become more expedient now than ever before. The government should go beyond mere condemnation of terrorist attacks to do something tangible. The primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people. We cannot have security challenges and be wasting money on frivolous things that add little or nothing to the common good of the people. Enough of wasting of innocent lives in Nigeria.