What does Boko Haram really want?

Nigeria is recording a litany of dark days and mourning as Boko Haram Islamists heartlessly engage in the killing of several innocent pupils as they have done at the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. The attackers reportedly arrived at the college at about 2am when the pupils were already asleep. During the encounter, they were said to have set locked hostels on fire, before shooting and slitting the throats of those who tried to climb out of the windows while some were said to have been burnt alive in which 40 houses, hostels, classrooms and staff quarters were razed down.

This national calamity and a few others that happened thereafter show that there is the need to urgently appraise and curb the activities of this notorious group that kills people as if human life is nothing. This can no longer be tolerated. There has been so much confusion and apprehension about this faceless group, which is glaringly driven solely by an exclusive, strange and queer religious ideology. Nothing seems to appeal to the sect other than a virulent and inhuman disposition which promotes sheer wickedness, mass murder, arson, abduction and anarchy. It has always been obvious that Boko Haram abhors orthodox Islam that preaches peace and, like similar jihadist groups everywhere, by seeking to violently overthrow the existing order by imposing Sharia rule based on its own parochial and narrow interpretation of Islam.

Then we should ask: Who are they really fighting? Is it the government? Is it Western education alone, which it says is evil? Could it be politicians who do not reason its own way in view of the fact that it dictates the tune of the sound in the polity? This could go on and on. Nobody really knows. But then, why on earth will a sane individual invade a school and attack young and innocent children while asleep? With this latest massacre, many people have concluded that all known efforts by the government to bring a lasting solution to the crisis might have been deadlocked. Wait a minute, what does Boko Haram really want? Honestly, I have tried to justify why the insurgents could decide to go this militant, but I am at a crossroads. Although one indisputable fact is that the Boko Haram fanatics have never pretended to be what they are not.  They have never given the slightest disposition that they are engaged in a crusade for economic opportunities or inclinations. This is logically so after all, any group or individual struggling for economic opportunities should not be seen destroying economic assets. It is logical.

One is perturbed that more than five year years now, this sect has inflicted so much harm on the Nigerian nation that I keep wondering if it is really sure of its moves by ever reflecting on what it hopes to achieve with this continued and dangerous posturing in spite of an olive branch extended to it by the government in the name of amnesty, which was totally rejected. Then, how much has the sect been able to achieve with the numerous innocent souls sent to their early graves? Will somebody, please, tell me what is sensible or what could be the justification for the dastardly killing of schoolchildren? Are they the ones preventing Boko Haram from getting better deal form the powers-that-be? When a few amongst the insurgents were caught a few months ago, on terror allegation, were the victims responsible for the calamity that befell them? Were they the ones who commandeered the Joint Task Force to fish them out of their hideouts with the aid of offensive, assault weapons and ammunition?

At a time, the spokesperson for the Boko Haram sect had attempted to explain why the hostilities against the Nigerian people had been intensified. Or, were we told on a good authority that the founder of the sect was meant to be shot dead by law enforcement agents when he was captured alive? So, were the innocent children in Yobe State murdered in atonement for the extrajudicial murder of its leader, Muhammed Yusuf? Or, were the various public offices attacked by the sect, such as the United Nations building in Abuja, harbouring state agents that had launched war against enemies of peace in the society?  I still find it shocking that pupils could be brutally slaughtered in their sleep just like that. I think this is one murder too many.

An honest advice that I want to give members of the Boko Haram is that Nigerians are completely tired of their prolonged and horrifying attacks on many hapless fellows that remained unprotected by their government, which has failed, as a constitutional matter and obligation, to protect lives and property.

Raising a similar red alert a few days ago, was the embattled Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, who raised the alarm when he met with President Goodluck Jonathan after another horror attack on his state and expressed concern that  the country’s Armed Forces were less equipped and poorly motivated than the enemy they were meant to curtail. Without mincing words, anyone who has followed events in the North-East in recent times would know that the governor had actually stated the truth. Rather than see this as a wake-up call, what did we and Shettima get other than a bashing from Mr. President’s spokesman. Must we continue this way?

While every form of illegality and criminality should be discouraged, I don’t believe, however, that the final solution to the menace of Boko Haram lies in the exchange of gun power. I sincerely believe that genuine resolution of the impasse should be through negotiations while the deployment of troops cannot be ruled out. Therefore, the first step in this direction is to allow the two parties to have a common ground to discuss and sort out issues. This approach should be able to bring a lasting peace that we have all been yearning and praying for. But without further delay, Boko Haram members should drop their guns – which have not been helpful at all – and opt for the peace option because human life is too precious to be wasted.

On a final note, it should be realised that all the agitations by Boko Haram – whether real or speculated may not be attainable – in view of the plural nature of our society. Boko Haram may be a product of perceived injustice within the system. That is the more reason why the sect should be at the front burner of discussion at the proposed National Conference offered by the Jonathan administration, by sending its representatives to pour out their minds. Until then, these killings must stop now!