Home-grown Solutions for a Festering Crisis

Boko Haram and other Security Challenges in Nigeria, by Abdullahi Y. Shehu, National Open University of Nigeria, 2024, 669 pages

Bukar Usman

Areading of Chapter 13, being the concluding chapter of this book reveals that the manuscript was virtually finalised after the February 2023 general elections in Nigeria, but before the new administration assumed office later in May of the same year. However, the issues discussed in the book remain vividly topical.

The book was written while the author was serving at a diplomatic post as Nigeria’s Ambassador. In spite of the demanding nature of the job, he said that he made out time at weekends and during holidays to write the book. And even though he lost the original manuscript, he remained determined and started writing afresh. This kind of determination is a good lesson for public officers who are interested in writing.

Motivations

The author stated his motivations for writing the book in its first few pages. One of the motives was that he was driven by patriotic zeal to contribute to knowledge about the security problems facing his country. He further elaborated on this at p.34 where he said that he wanted to help in boosting better understanding of the phenomenon of Boko Haram and related security issues of banditry and kidnappings, especially in Northern Nigeria with information. In discussing these issues, he focuses on the origins, causes and spread of the insurgency; and assessed Nigeria’s response to the threat of terrorism and analysed the efficiency of Nigeria’s defence and security framework. He then proceeded and made informed recommendations towards improving Nigeria’s security situation and putting an end to the current state of insecurity as well as check future occurrences.

Certainly, monetary considerations are not among the motives as he has declared in his letter inviting me to review this book that the proceeds from this event would be used by his Foundation ‘towards humanitarian assistance to victims of Boko Haram and other violent conflicts in Nigeria.’ 

He also dedicated the book to military, law-enforcement and security personnel who lost their lives in the course of fighting terrorism and other security breaches and threats in Nigeria. Civilian victims of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria are no less remembered.

The author notes that Boko Haram was formed in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, although other accounts suggested that it was formed earlier by other persons. However, it was Boko Haram of Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, Borno State, North-eastern Nigeria, that took to terrorism gradually and eventually launched an armed insurgency in 2009. It was in 2014 that the Government proscribed the organisation along with Ansaru as they engaged in activities that were manifestly terroristic in nature.

And although government declared in 2018 that Boko Haram had been ‘technically defeated’, unfortunately up to the year 2024 when this book was published, we are sadly witnessing its atrocities, albeit on a much lower scale, and living with the aftermath of the impact of its atrocities and methodologies.

To help the reader understand the issues involved, the author devoted Chapter Two of the book to definitions and explanations of the differences between ‘terrorism’ and ‘insurgency.’ He discussed the incidences and manifestations of the two phenomena in Chapter Three. 

As it is well known that, terrorists and insurgents need money to sustain themselves and for their heinous operations, the author discussed ‘terrorist financing’, ‘money laundering’ and several other means through which they raise funds locally and from outside the country at Chapter Six. It is my firm opinion that, these should be areas of particular interest to the academia and more especially the security-intelligence operatives. A clear understanding of the terminologies and their manifestations will greatly be of guidance to operatives in evolving effective system of monitoring and disrupting financial flows to perpetrators of violence and save members of the public from the wicked activities of the criminal gangs.

It should be borne in mind that for the generality of members of the public all they want from operatives and the authorities is to be able to go about their leisure or pursue their legitimate means of livelihood anywhere and anytime unperturbed.

The Issues

Boko Haram is the main subject of the book. This is highlighted boldly in white colour in the title of the book. However, much of the book is based on a review of literature and general discussions on insurgency and terrorism as global phenomena; the factors responsible for their emergence, growth and spread as well as the types of responses and approaches deployed to stop and prevent them. 

The author made copious references to local and external sources backed by staggering statistics, though some of the statistics are questionable because their bases were suspect; particularly, those rendered in percentages are liable to abuse.  He also draws from statements of the principal leaders of the insurgents as well as debriefings of captured insurgents.

According to his findings, Boko Haram was ‘homegrown’. It grew out of the fertile ground of Borno State as the epicentre before spreading to other parts of the country. In his view, the phenomenon could have been nipped in the bud if only government had heeded intelligence reports and advice of well-meaning individuals and recommendations of committees set up by government at the initial stages. However, elements of disbelief and concocted ‘conspiracy theories’ fouled the air, leading to a tragic miscomprehension of the Boko Haram phenomenon and failure to face the situation squarely. Government was somewhat hesitant in entertaining dialogue and looking into their grievances with an open mind. Initially the military was ill-equipped to face the insurgents’ guerrilla and unconventional mode of operations. 

Even when the phenomenon of Boko Haram spreads, dialogues and deals entered into by lower tiers of government could not hold because of multiplicity of bandits and other insurgency groups. The military is deployed virtually to every part of the country in order to bring respite at great cost to the country. There were allegations of misappropriation of colossal amounts of funds voted for logistics and welfare of personnel.

The author noted accurately that, several other security challenges namely kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes and violent separatist tendencies, existed before the emergence of Boko Haram.   The nation has been grappling with them to this day.  However, sadly, these crises assumed greater and sinister complexities after the manifestation of the Boko Haram terrorism which turned into an insurgency.

Causes

The author identifies the components of the security challenges nationwide as the products of bad governance; some of the challenges date back to the colonial times and lack of proper appreciation of the problems and addressing their root causes. Bad governance is manifested in acts of corruption such as outright embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. There were allegations that through diversion of public funds many members of the governing class acquired properties abroad and fleet of private jets. 

Other causative and factors leading to and fueling terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping include:

– Drugs

– Indoctrination

– Fundamentalism

– Guns and human trafficking

– Hate culture

– Religion

– Revenge

– Ideology

– Poverty arising mainly from lack of job opportunities

– Illiteracy

– Living environment

– Corruption characterised by bad governance and lack of political will to deal with it and associated problems

– Foreign dimensions 

The author acknowledged that poverty cannot be the sole push factor for engaging in acts of terrorism. He cited ample examples in other parts of the world where people got involved in terrorism to promote some causes or ideological beliefs. However, poverty, unemployment and illiteracy worsened by unbearable living conditions, may generate protests and render individuals to be easily recruited into terror and kidnapping cells. A few terror operatives of course could be conscripted against their will as demonstrated by Boko Haram in its operations.

Foreign Dimensions

Foreign dimensions to the activities of Boko Haram were discussed by the author from two broad perspectives: the perspective of Boko Haram and the perspective of the Nigerian Government. From the perspective of Boko Haram, there were sufficient evidence from the pronouncements of the leading personalities, video recordings and debriefings to show that Boko Haram forged alliances with like -minded outside groups that offered logistics, personnel, finance and training facilities. Logos and designation of certain places of operation with foreign names were clear signatures of foreign connections and involvement. 

From the Nigerian government’s perspective, outside supports were varied. Soothing resolutions were passed by the United Nations Organisation and regional organisations, including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States with reference to acts of terrorism in Nigeria and other parts of the world. External humanitarian supports were received from the United Nations Organisation, several aid organisations, foundations and individuals. Government had misgivings that some of the supports were being used as a cover for some sinister motives. Some international organisations focused more on condemning the mode of operation of the Nigerian military to the total exclusion of the horrendous atrocities committed by the insurgents. When it comes to military hardware, there were some reluctances to sell to Nigeria and undue insistence on payments in advance. And even after meeting these conditions, delivery of equipment paid for were inexplicably delayed in what amounted to sabotaging the military campaign against the terror groups. In some cases, there were outright refusal to deliver the hardware and influencing others not to sell weapons to Nigeria.  Yet the countries treating Nigeria in that way in her hours of national needs are supposed to be friendly, or even allies.  The same pattern of behaviour was manifested by more or less the same set of countries during the Nigerian war of national unity.

At this juncture, I wish to strongly advocate that, for Nigeria to ensure and guarantee its existential survival as a sovereign nation state, and end reliance on unreliable outwardly friendly, but double-faced nations, Nigeria should take the path to the development of a national defence industry. It is simply essential. It should be rigorously pursued. Immediately, purposefully. The country has what it takes to do that. Countries facing long-standing multiple sanctions have looked inward and successfully developed defence capabilities that deter predator nations from threatening their existence. Nigeria can do the same and that should be done without delay.

The author observed, perhaps correctly, that the Nigerian Government did not press hard for international support from outside the immediate neighboring countries bordering the theatre of the war against the insurgency. From the experience of the Nigerian Civil War or war of unity, it was good to keep them out. However, given the era of globlisation with no respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity, one needs not invite outside powers. They could have gate-crashed; and in fact they were somehow indirectly involved remotely: they don’t need to be physically on the ground. After all, current warfare is not fought by military hardware alone. The author gathered that when trouble broke out somewhere in Europe, their attention was diverted to where their hegemonic interests were at more perilous stake.

The author concludes that while government efforts have not successfully addressed the problems from their roots, international support has fallen short of expectations in terms of promises and measurable results; and that Boko Haram and other security challenges facing Nigeria are products of bad governance as earlier adverted to. 

Solutions

The author in a nut shell strongly recommends that solutions to Nigeria’s terrorism and insurgency problems squarely lie in the ‘home front’ and on government addressing the problems from their roots. While external support may not be entirely discounted, he advocates that government must have a sustainable agenda for the youth population; combating corruption, ensuring accountability, and providing transparent and fair justice to all, must take their true place in our national life. All this are predicated on demonstrable and observable ‘political will’, however defined, and conducting credible elections. He underscored the point made in our National Defence Policy that, security is the cornerstone of development and progress as well as guarantor for the well-being of citizens and stability of the state. Furthermore, it is emphasized in the Nigerian Constitution that ‘security and welfare’ of the citizens are the primary functions of government.

Flow of ideas

I recall that some years back a lady, Maria Sokenu of blessed memory came from Wema Bank and met Chief SO Falae then Secretary to the Government of the Federation in his office at the presidency, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. The meeting took place in my presence. She came purposely to sell the idea of the establishment in Nigeria of a bank similar to ‘grameen bank’ in Bangladesh. The proposal received instant approval from higher quarters. The name, ‘bank of the poor’ was rejected in favour of “peoples’ bank”. In no time the first bank with that name was established in Ajegunle and subsequently spread to other parts of Nigeria; it later metamorphosed to what is now called ‘community bank’ or ‘microfinance bank’. The point to bear in mind here is that ideas could flow to the public service from anywhere. The author has devoted a lot of time to write this well-researched book, and his antecedents indicate that he knows what he is talking about; the public service should therefore do well to look into the points he has made and see what use could be made of them for the betterment of Nigeria’s security situation. 

Mentorship

AY Shehu, the author, graciously credits me as being his mentor. It is true we were together in the federal public service and interacted very closely. The interaction continued to date. He may well have gathered some ideas in the course of our interactions. Beyond that, he was on his own. He followed his religious injunction that says one should seek knowledge even unto Siam (China). And so, he went not quite to China but to the then Hong Kong, that later was returned to China, to acquire a PhD. degree. I did not read up to PhD level. He went into teaching and became a professor. I didn’t. He became an international public servant of repute, interacting with various leaders in the West African sub-region. I wasn’t so privileged. He represented Nigeria as a top diplomat at Ambassadorial level, and was accredited to one of the most powerful nations of the world. In the process, he garnered a great deal of exposure and experience. Aside from the two books being presented today, one of which he asked me to review, he had written several other books in the past. The two books being presented today may not be the last from him. He has set the pace for fellow public officers, both serving and former and indeed every Nigerian, to emulate. By so doing, ideas are contributed to help advance our dear country to a stage we and succeeding generations would all be proud of. 

And so, here is a mentee who has outperformed a mentor in many respects. I thank him very much for the kind compliments and wish that God gives him long life in good health and the wisdom to further consolidate and share more of his worthy ideas for the betterment of Nigeria and humanity at large.

• Usman, OON, former Permanent Secretary in the Presidency and current President of the Nigerian Folklore Society, writes from Abuja.