Terrorism is no doubt a global security problem. The frightening phenomenon manifests itself in forms of suicide bombings, arson, kidnapping, murder, false imprisonment, and the like, all of which deny peoples of their rights to life and personal liberty.
Incidentally, more and more people are resorting to outright violence in diverse forms to achieve their aims, whether good or bad. But are such terrorist acts ever justifiable as a rational measure in redressing any perceived injustices or wrongs to individuals or groups in a human society?
Although, certain doubting Thomases in Nigeria had argued otherwise even the Umar Faruq Abdulmutallab episode, can the socio-political realities in the country, in connection with armed robberies, bombings, kidnapping, hostage-taking, arson, bombings, and other heinous crimes against the citizenry be described as terrorist acts at all?
In a recent edition of Awake! an attempt is made at describing what actually constitutes terrorist acts: “There are political implications when the term ‘terrorist’ is used. Many groups consider themselves to be freedom fighters, not terrorists.” The magazine further quoted a writer as saying “terrorism involves (1) acts aimed at non-combatants and (2) the use of fear for dramatic purpose, namely to instill fear.”
Despite that reasons of alleged oppression, maltreatment on the grounds of race, religion or nationality; revenge for perceived wrongs and religious motivations are often advanced as factors fuelling terrorist acts, it is yet inconceivable to realise the imperious social, economic, physical and psychological implications of terrorism on the populace in general.
Aside from prevalent armed struggle peculiar to the Niger Delta axis of the country over time culminating in hostage-taking and its attendant adverse consequences, other forms of civil disturbances such as kidnapping in the East, internecine wars in Plateau State, and endless bombings have been the bane of marked socio-economic and political development in the country.
Confrontationally claiming responsibility for such latest destructive acts as bombings are Islamic fundamentalists called Boko Haram, based in Borno State. The religious sect’s members consider themselves as religious fighters advocating the adoption of Sharia legal system and subsequent abolition of Western education in its entirety.
More disturbing is the fact that even the seemingly helpless military formations, barracks whose officers and men are constitutionally required to protect lives and property of fellow compatriots are not being spared of bomb attacks lately.
From Maiduguri, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Jos, Suleja, Nassarawa to Abuja and environs, many innocent lives have been smothered, whereas scores of others who have managed to survive such dastardly attacks with tattered limbs and disfigured physiques now live in agony for the rest of their lives. Many families also, have been destabilised: with lots of children suddenly torn from their mothers, fathers and siblings; hopes dashed; and businesses worth several millions of Naira destroyed in violent attacks.
Of significant to recall is the heart-rending episode of the National Youth Service Corps members evacuated back to their home states from the North in the wake of the April 2011 general elections. Unfortunately, the fear of returning to their places of primary assignment in the North is the beginning of wisdom. Many of them have been instructed to write to the NYSC Secretariat for eventual redeployment to their home states, following continued uprising.
On the economic front, attracting the much-needed Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the economy will yet remain a mirage. No right-thinking investors will commit their hard-earned money into any investment opportunities, without considering the commensurate factor of adequate security for investment to thrive and ultimate returns on investments (ROI).
The Federal Government should urgently step up security surveillance across the country. Officers and men of the nation’s armed forces must be re-trained and immeasurably empowered with needed defence tools and equipment to tackle this insecurity challenge headlong.
The bomb manufacturing factory reportedly discovered somewhere at Rafin Guza, near Kawo, in Kaduna, recently must be destroyed, while those allegedly bankrolling the illegal operations there have to be brought to book.
At this juncture, any careless, inciting pronouncement as made by a former Vice-President from Adamawa State, who equally contested his party’s presidential nomination with President Goodluck Jonathan. He had said: “Those who make peace peaceful changes impossible also make violent changes inevitable.” Is anyone still under an illusion that the manifestation of the statement he projected at the time is really rocking predominantly the North today?
There should be increased investment in education and poverty alleviation programmes, especially in the North. The Boko Haram sect members should be called to order and offered more education and enlightenment to understand the fact that the global world is embracing knowledge-based economies. After all, energy experts have contended at different fora, that Nigeria’s crude oil and its current huge receipts will not last forever.
It needs restatement that terrorist acts are never justifiable as a reasonable measure of redressing any perceived injustices or wrongs to individuals or groups. The debilitating consequences of such malevolence are far-reaching on all. But then, who still says there is no terrorism in Nigeria as of now?
