Part 2 of 2-part series.
By Mike Odeh Akatu
[Abuja] Despite the deaths of some of its leaders, insurgencies linked to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are gradually spreading to states in the Northwest of Nigeria — Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Niger, according to security experts interviewed by TruthNigeria.
These non-state threats include Boko Haram [Western learning forbidden] and the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP). As reported previously, the combined strength of the two groups is approximately 7,000 fighters.
In addition, Boko Haram members are collaborating with a local Al-Qaida affiliate called Ansaru, which is believed to have hundreds of armed men based in Kaduna. Ansaru has bases in Birnin Gwari, Damari and Giwa counties in Kaduna, Northwest. Similarly, it is embedded in Niger State and Nasarawa state, North Central Nigeria where its members launch attacks on Benue communities.
Why should the West care? London based Security expert David Otto was asked.
“Because Both Boko Haram and ISWAP are all dedicated to the destruction of Western values in Nigeria while seeking to impose Islamic caliphate in the country,” he said to TruthNigeria. ISWAP is closely linked to ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and the former leader of Boko Haram, Shekau also swore allegiance to ISIS in 2016.
“These Jihadist groups are not only anti-democratic, but their mission is to overthrow democratic institutions and replace democracy with autocratic Sharia states. If they succeed in Africa , they’ll replicate it elsewhere in the West, Otto told Truth Nigeria. According to the Global center for Responsibility to protect says about 35,000 people have lost lives with more than 2 million rendered homeless since Boko Haram began its campaign against the Nigerian state.
“If the West and US wants to preserve democracy in Africa they must care about fighting insurgency anywhere in Africa including Nigeria, he said.
“The ability of the insurgents to flee to either Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon whenever the Military go after them have hindered and effective fight against the terrorists, said Otto. He advised that Nigerian government should strength the military cooperation between Cameron, Chad and Niger so as to effectively contain and tackle the insurgents.
Boko Haram Fled Lake Chad
Boko Haram members had to leave the Northeast after the group was dislodged by ISWAP in 2021, according to Otto. They needed to obtain funds in order to sustain its activities, therefore, they moved to Birnin Gwari in Kaduna, Zamfara and katsina state areas rich in minerals and opportunities to do kidnap for ransoms, Otto told TruthNigeria.
“Anywhere you see Boko Haram members in the Northwest, you will see there are mineral deposits. They mine the mineral resources and sell them in the Niger Republic and Chad. They buy sophisticated arms with the proceeds,” he said.
“In fact, nearly all the terrorists groups in the Northeast of Nigeria are present in Kaduna, and they are the ones kidnapping students and train passengers,” Otto added. “They are also collaborating with local bandits in Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna to kidnap for ransom. Otto warned that ISWAP, regardless of its failed attempts to link up with major terrorists group in the Northwest, will soon follow Boko Haram to the Northwestern states.
A retired Senior Army officer, Col Hassan Stan Labo, in an interview with TruthNigeria agreed with Otto that Boko Haram now seeks to dominate the Northwest, having suffered defeats in the Northeast.
All security experts interviewed warned that the prevailing strength of insurgent armies supported by thousands of radicalized bandits in the Northwest, are capable of overrunning airports, railways, major highways and strategic posts due to short staffing of security forces. The Nigerian Army moved to prepare for a possible attack on the Federal Capital Territory by staging 2-days of maneuvers on Oct. 24-25.
Tribal Affiliation, Religion and Region Factor into the Conflict
“We need to understand that counter-insurgency operations are not a purely or strictly military affair,” said Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Sani, a security consultant and the founder of Kalthum Foundation for Peace, to TruthNigeria.
“It is a holistic approach that involves good governance, justice and fairness, economic opportunities, inclusion for the majority, education,” Sani said.
“There is no government presence in some of the local government areas, so we have a lot of ungoverned spaces, Sani explained.
” In some areas the police are missing in action, and they are responsible for local policing — the military is not responsible for that. Also, house numbering and street naming are important. We must have a valid database to know who and their whereabouts is in the North-East. At the moment this doesn’t exist. All these are needed if we want the military to defeat insurgency,” Sani said.
Former President Buhari Dropped the Ball
Labo also gave his reasons as to why the military had been unable to defeat Boko Haram and ISWAP over the years. He placed the blamed squarely on the former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“If you take a look at the history of Nigerian military and it’s achievements in Liberia and Sierra Leone, you will agree with me that the military can defeat the terrorists any time.
“The problem was that the former President Buhari never wanted the insurgents to be defeated due to religion and tribal affiliation”, the retired officer complained. Buhari’s body language suggested that a low Support for decisive victory over the bandits .The military officers, on seeing the body language of their company, they just followed suite, Labo said.
“Even governors of some states in the North who are mainly Muslims and are of the same tribe with Buhari do not want the fight against Boko/ ISWAP,” Labo said.
Mike Odeh Akatu covers crime and terrorism for TruthNigeria from Kaduna.
