Mohammed Buhari- Poverty and Corruption the cause of terrorism in Nigeria

 Mohammed Buhari- Poverty and Corruption the cause of terrorism in Nigeria

 Amb. Mohammed Buhari

The time that this Islamic militant group emerged in the country is yet unknown. There were series of conflicting reports on their emergence in the northern part of the country. Information at the disposal of the different security agencies pieced together by Sunday Tribune of 12th February, 2012 indicated that contrary to the widely-held belief that the Boko Haram started around 2003, the group has been existing since 1995. It was, however, confirmed that the entry of slain Mallam Mohammed Yusuf successfully radicalized the group and opened it to foreign collaboration, especially with the Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Details obtained by investigators revealed that the Jama’atul Ahlus Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad (Brethren united in the pursuit of holy war), also known as Boko Haram, started off its activism in 2001, under the leadership of the late Yusuf. From that year, the group had intensified its propagation of an extreme Islamic doctrine, which sees Western education and democracy as corruptive and immoral (Sunday Tribune, 2012). In 1995, the group was said to be operating under the name Shabaab, Muslim Youth Organization. It operated from the Indimi Mosque, located along Damboa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State and had one Mallam Lawal as leader and another Mallam Usman as secretary. It was learnt that in 1999, Lawal left Nigeria for further studies at the University of Medina, Saudi Arabia, thereby yielding the leadership of the group to the man known as Mustapha Modu Jon, commonly called Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf’s leadership was said to have opened the group to political influences and increased popularity. Although Yusuf’s religious activism was linked to Kano, where he had brushes with popular Islamic clerics, he was said to have laid the foundation for the growth of the organisation. Details about the late Yusuf, however, indicated that, first, he was a favourite student of prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Sheikh Jafar Mahmud Adam and hailed from Gingir village in Jakusko Local Government Area of Yobe State. He was born on 29 January 1970, married four wives and had 12 children.

 Amb. Mohammed Buhari

By year 2000, Yusuf had won the respect and confidence of some clerics and youths at Indimi Mosque. He started presiding over some mosque activities and along the line; he upstaged all the teachers to emerge a leader. Many youths who followed him saw the older clerics as secular and anti-Sharia. According to the report, majority of his followers were largely illiterate youths who engaged in petty trading or had dropped out of school (Danjibo, 2009) As time went on, Yusuf then established his own mosque in an area called Railway Quarters in Maiduguri, while also extending his preaching to the mosques located at Kandahar, Unguwar Doki (near Monday Market) and Millionaire’s Quarters. Investigators were also told that by early 2004, the Islamic sect had grown in states of presence with Borno, Yobe and Bauchi being notable and that some of the converted youths abandoned their studies to join the group. The ready-made army of followers were, however, said to be the Almajiri. It was after 2004 that the sect leaders were said to have established links with the Algerian Salafist Group, now known as Al-Qaeda in Islamic Magreb, (AQIM), which gave them training on combat and use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). From trainings acquired in AQIM, it was gathered that members of Boko Haram were able to show dexterity in handling of weapons and manufacture of what is called “dirty bombs” through IEDs (Danjibo, 2009, Nigerian Tribune 30, January, 2012)

It was reported that many Islamists were not satisfied by the adoption of Sharia law in 12 northern states between 1999 and 2001. They believed that its introduction has been watered down. It was also perceived by these Islamic fundamentalists that an imported system of government based on “Western values” has resulted in ostensible corruption, poverty, unemployment and the continued suppression of “true” Islam in northern part of the country (Danjibo, 2009). Therefore, the best approach to understand the ideology and philosophy of the movement is by explaining the two key words- Boko and Haram. In Hausa language, the word boko is an equivocal term which means either book, Western or foreign; while the word haram is an Arabic derivative meaning forbidden, ungodly, or sinful (Danjibo, 2009. 7; Adesoji, 2010.100). If the words are literally pieced together book haram means book is sinful. But it’s deeper meaning is that, forbid everything Western and Western education- Western education is sinful, sacrilegious or ungodly and should therefore be forbidden (Danjibo, 2009; Adesoji, 2010). What can be drawn make from the above is that, the movement is not only characteristically opposed, but outrightly rejects Western education, Western culture and modern science. Alternatively, it embraces and advocates the propagation of and strict adherence to Islam by all and sundry regardless of anyone’s personal wishes. In line with this objective, the movement seeks to impose Sharia across all Nigerian states (Bumah, 2009). The former leader Mohammed Yusuf said education “spoils the belief in one God”. The sect – full name Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad ("People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad") – seeks to create an Islamic state governed by Sharia law in Nigeria by, seemingly, whatever means it has at its disposal and at whatever human cost it deems necessary (Bumah, 2009). The intent of the movement is aimed at replacing modern state formation with the traditional Islamic state, because Western values run contrary to Islamic values. Umma Mahammadiya- Muslim faithful and Dar-ul-Islam- Islamic community cannot be compromised in the face of Western influence in the Nigerian secular society. Therefore, the moral decadence and evil in the society is as a result of the embrace of Western civilization, and thus, in order to curb such evil, an Islamic society must be entrenched by destroying modern political institutions and infrastructures. The philosophy goes hand in hand with the entrenchment of the Shari’a law in the society. The embedded philosophy of the Boko Haram movement can be inferred to explain the reason why police and armed forces formations, government establishments and properties are the target of destruction by the movement. In addition, it is also an ideological belief of the movement that, any member who fight and die- either by suicide bombing in the process of establishing a Sharia state by destroying modern state formation and government establishment would automatically go to Aljanna- paradise or heaven (Danjibo, 2009). One could then understand the reason why the movement has large and committed followers among the Almajiris- Qur’an trainees who depend on their Mallam- teacher for knowledge, inspiration and their daily survival. The ideology and philosophy of Boko Haram movement was aptly captured by Tell Magazine thus: The mission of the sect was to establish an Islamic state where

orthodox Islam is practised. Orthodox Islam according to him (Yusuf Mohammed, leader of the sect) frowns at Western education and working in the civil service because it is sinful. Hence, for their aim to be achieved, all institutions represented by government including security agencies like police, military and other uniformed personnel should be crushed (Tell, 10th August,2009, p. 34).

Another major issue about this Islamic sect has to do with the strategy being employed in carrying out its activities which have taken series of dimensions since its emergence. This development has made a number of scholars and stakeholders in the country as well as international community to conclude that the sect has different kinds of support from known terrorist nations of the world.   First, the modus operandi of the Boko Haram movement, which has been fashioned after the Taliban in Afghanistan, has made some to conclude that the sect must have sent its members to Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iraq, Mauritania and Algeria for training. Other argued it could be that the Boko Haram modelled itself after the Taliban simply to acknowledge its source of inspiration. Some equally said that it was meant to attract sympathy and support from the Taliban or related groups. Another view was that, it could also be that the links actually exist. For instance, the Operation Sawdust that was carried out in 2005 by the military and the police and which covered North-East geo-political zones of Borno, Bauchi and Yobe, led to the arrest of some Islamic fundamentalists whose activities posed a threat to the security of the Nigerian state. Among those arrested was Yusuf Mohammed, the leader of the Boko Haram movement. These arrests provided the first clues about the links between Boko Haram and the Al-Qaeda terrorist group as those arrested along with Yusuf Mohammed revealed they had been trained in the act of terrorism in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Iraq. Items recovered during the operation included maps and diagrams of government establishments and of some directions to specific government buildings in Abuja (Tell, 17th August, 2009, p. 69; Danjibo, 2009, p.15). Recent reports in the Nigerian and foreign press about the activities of such groups as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (SGPC) in Algeria, Tablighi clerics from Pakistan, and Wahabist missionaries from Saudi Arabia in Northern Nigeria, as well as the report of the training of some fundamentalists in Al-Qaeda camps in some foreign countries, offer proof of Boko Haram’s links with fundamentalist groups around the world are to certain extent true (Adesoji, 2010). It is abundantly clear from the available evidence that the sect is against anything that has to do with western values in the country in general and northern part in particular. This could be seen in a large number of attacks being unleashed on the Nigerian State with a view to achieving their objectives. It is pertinent to have a glimpse of the attacks.

Major Incidents of Boko Haram Attacks since 2009 up till date:

July 26, 2009

Boko Haram launches mass uprising with attack on a police station in Bauchi, starting a five-day uprising that spread to Maiduguri and elsewhere.

September 7, 2010

Boko Haram attacked a prison in Bauchi, killed about five guards and freed over 700 inmates, including former sect members.

October 11, 2010

Bombing/gun attack on a police station in Maiduguri destroys the station and injures three by the group

December 24, 2010

The group carried out a bomb attack in Jos killing 8 people.

December 28, 2010

Boko Haram claims responsibility for the Christmas Eve bombing in Jos that killed 38 people

December 31,201

The group attack a Mammy market at Army Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, 11 people died

April 1, 2011

The group attacked a police station in Bauchi

April 9, 2011

The group attacked a polling center in Maiduguri and bombed it

April 20, 2011

A bomb in Maiduguri kills a policeman.

April 22, 2011

The group attacked a prison in Yola and freed 14 prisoners

April 24, 2011

Four bombs explode in Maiduguri, killing at least three.

May 29, 2011

Bombings of an army barracks in Bauchi city and Maiduguri and led to death of 15 people

Journal of Arts and Contemporary Society

Volume 4, September 2012

May 31, 2011

Gunmen assassinate Abba Anas Ibn Umar Garbai, brother of the Shehu of Borno, in Maiduguri.

June 1, 2011

The group killed Sheu of Borno’s brother, Abba El-kanemi

June 7, 2011

A team of gunmen launch parallel attacks with guns and bombs on a church and police stations in Maiduguri, killing 5 people.

June 16, 2011

Bombing of police headquarters in Abuja, claimed by Boko Haram. Casualty reports vary.

June 26, 2011

Gunmen shoot and bomb a bar in Maiduguri killing about 25 people

August 16, 2011

The Bombing of United Nations Office in Abuja, killing over 34 people by the group

December 25, 2011 January 6, 2012

Bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, killing over 46 people

The Sect attacked some southerners in Mubi killing about 13 Igbo

January 21, 2012

Multiple bomb blast rocked Kano city , claiming over 185 people

January 29, 2012

Bombing of Kano Police Station at Naibawa Area of Yakatabo

February 8, 2012

Bomb blast rocked Army Headquarters in Kaduna

February 15, 2012

Koton Karife Prison, Kogi State was attacked by the sect and about 119 prisoners were released and a warder was killed.

February 19, 2012

Bomb blast rocked Suleja Niger State near Christ Embassy Church, leaving 5 people seriously injured

February 26, 2012

Bombing of Church of Christ in Nigeria, Jos leading to the death of about 2 worshippers & about 38 people sustained serious injuries.

March 8 2012

An Italian, Franco Lamolinara and a Briton, Christopher McManus, who were Expatriate Staff of Stabilim Visioni Construction Firm were abdicated in

2011 by a splinter group of Boko Haram and were later killed.

March 11, 2012

Bombing of St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos resulting in the killing of 11 people and several others wounded.

April 26 2012

Bombing of three media houses (Thisday Newspaper in Abuja killing 3 &2 security officers& injured 13 people; Thisday, the Sun & the Moments newspapers in Kaduna killing 3 persons & injured many others

April,29,2012

Attack on Bayero University, Kano, killing 13 Christian Worshippers, a senior non- academic staff & two Professors

April 30, 2012

Bomb explosion in Jalingo, claiming 11 persons and several others wounded.

•. June 8, 2012 (2012-06-08). "Four policemen, three civilians killed as blast rocks Borno Police Command hqtrs in Maiduguri". Punchng.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•.  Batam, Armstrong (2012-06-03). "Suicide car bomber kills 12 in Nigeria church". Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. "Bomb at Nigeria police station kills many-witnesses". Uk.reuters.com. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•.  "8 killed in Nigerian church blast, clashes". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•.  June 10, 2012 (2012-06-10). "Suicide bomber attacks church in Jos, gunmen kill worshippers in Borno". Punchng.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•.  Associated Press in Kaduna. "Nigerian church blasts kill 21 in Kaduna state". Guardian. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. "At least 50 dead in three Nigeria church bombings, reprisal attacks". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. UPDATE 1-Bomb explodes in Nigeria capital, no casualties-agency". Uk.reuters.com. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Nigeria suicide bomber targets Maiduguri mosque". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Mshelizza, Ibrahim (2012-07-14). "Suicide bomber kills 5 at northeast Nigerian mosque". Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Gunmen invade VP Sambo’s family house •1 killed •4 die as suicide bombers move to Sokoto, bomb AIG’s office, police station •Residents flee Maiduguri over bomb scare". Sunday.tribune.com.ng. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. "Title of article". Dailystar.com.lb. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. red dead in Kaduna’s bomb explosion". Channelstv.com. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•.  August 28, 2012 (2012-08-28). "Explosion rocks Maiduguri, injures JTF members". Vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. "UPDATE:Fresh bomb attacks in Maiduguri injure JTF members". Channelstv.com. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Nigeria church bombed in Bauchi, Boko Haram flashpoint". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•.  Inusa, Funon (2012-09-23). "Suicide bomber kills 2, wounds 46, at Nigerian church". Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Blast outside Nigerian bar kills one, wounds 11 -witness". Uk.reuters.com. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Blast in east Nigeria's Taraba wounds eight: official". Uk.reuters.com. 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. "Nigerian soldiers open fire after blast, 35 killed - hospital". Uk.reuters.com. 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Kaduna church hit in Nigeria suicide bomb attack". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-10-28. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

•. Mohammed, Garba (2012-10-28). "Suicide bomber kills 8, wounds 100 in Nigerian church". Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

Sources: Punch17, June, 2011, Punch 27, February, 2012, Punch 23, February, 2012, Guardian 20, February, 2012, Guardian 12, March, 2012, Nigerian Tribune 30, January, 2012etc.

The above foregoing analysis of the activities/attacks of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram has revealed that not less than 1,200 persons, including the civilians, security personnel have been killed since its emergence up to February 2012 (Punch 16, February, 2012, p2). Also significant in the analysis is that, the activities of sect over the years have taken different trends and dimensions. The sect has graduated from cruel drive by attacks on beer parlous to bombing of security buildings, public buildings and Christian institutions.

National Security and the Management of Domestic Terrorism in Nigeria: A Case Study of Boko Haram Issue The maintenance of law and order in Nigeria in recent times has been very challenging such that the ability and capacity to manage our National Security by the Security Agencies is being doubted by the citizenry. Primarily, the Federal Government is charged with the responsibility of using the military, police and other security agencies to protect every citizen from all forms of security threats and incidents like armed robbery, kidnapping, civil disorder, large scale violence, insurgency, killing, bombing and other forms of security breaches. However, the opposite appears to be the case, judging from the spate of unfortunate series of violent attacks, killings and bombings being carried out by the so-called Boko Haram since 2009. The negative impact of this ugly situation on the country generally cannot be estimated on the economy as well as human lives and property. In fact, the state of affairs of the country over the activities of the dreaded Islamic sect is now a big source of worry to all lovers of the country, especially, the Security Agents who are receiving all sorts of odium from the top Government brass and the citizens. It is therefore pertinent to ask this question, what went wrong?

The finding of a study by some private security experts has identified militancy mismanagement as part of the causes of the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria. From the position of Cesare Lambroso on causes of crimes, it is evident that certain crimes are committed as a means of protesting against the state or establishment rather than being biological (Cited in Dearn, 2011). Simply put, only below ten percent of the society population will naturally have the passion and pride to commit any type of crime. The same is applicable to Nigerians, after all it is said that we are the happiest in the world. The issue here is that our brothers and sisters who have taken to domestic terrorism, in the Niger Delta region through the formation of various youth militias and that of Boko Haram in the northern part of the country are saying that since nobody wants to listen and engage them, perhaps, violent as a means of expressing their grievances may the best option. Of course, this has proved to be a truism because once these groups carried out their attacks, the Government will be calling for a dialogue. Research has also revealed that in Nigeria, the militant incidents have been targeted mainly at Governments and her Institutions and Officials, although, with innocent Nigerians and sometimes, Foreigners as casualties. To a large extent the remote causes of the violent crimes is inherent in failure of good governance by the political elites and their collaborators since the return to civil in 1999.

For example, before the government could response to the agitations of the people of the Niger Delta, through Amnesty Programme, over the years the people have suffered from neglect, political marginalization, environmental degradation as a result of oil spillage and oil exploration without adequate compensation by the Nigerian State and the Transnational Oil Companies operating in the region through the provision healthcare, schools, infrastructures and other corporate social responsibilities (Adesote, 2010). The same case is applicable to Jama'atu ahlus sunnah led da'awati popularly known as Boko Haram. According to its founder, Muhammed Yusuf, in an interview, "the law enforcement agents are fighting me because of my faith in Islam and belief that Western education is a sin". Recently, the Group demanded the trial of the former Borno State Governor, Alhaji Buhu Sherif and institutionalization of Sharia in the 12 core States of Northern Nigeria, prosecute those who killed their leader, among others. As can be deduced, the Group is making some demands, which they believe that are real and achievable (Dearn, 2011). Despite the fact that most of their demands are certainly not achievable, they deserve attention. The Boko Harm may have a point here because as they claimed purest Islamic Group, they are disenchanted the way their political leaders whom they had respect for now practice Islam. Contrary to Islamic injunctions, their political leaders, we can agree with them, have resorted to barbaric acquisition of wealth, indecent personal life styles which are offensive to Islamic culture, their political and economic subjugation and social alienation of them. Since they could not have access to the perceived "Islamic dissidents" to lay their complaints, domestic terrorism becomes their only means of venting their anger to the Governments and the helpless Nigerians (Dearn, 2011). Since domestic terrorism is now the major security challenge facing Nigeria, then, how best can we abate it? According to Dr Ade Abolurin, the Commandant- General, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), security was everybody's business; hence no citizens must be apathetic to matters related to enhanced security in the country (NAN, 2012). As a way out, the country, especially the Governments must embrace Democratic Policing instead of Militarized Policing of the Nigerian Polity. In practicing Democratic Policing, all the civil courtesies are accorded to the Citizens. By this we mean that our Leaders must sufficiently interact and dialogue with them irrespective of their perceived jaundiced reasoning and behaviours so that their bottled up angst will never result to violent complaints in the name of killing, bombings, among other heinous crimes committed against the State and the innocent citizens (Dearn, 2011). The Government and Security Agents should understand that Preventive Security Management is now in vogue worldwide and as such efficient and effective Security Management is no longer measured with the quantum of Armed Personal Carriers, APC, hilux pick up vans with siren, assault rifle, canisters, and so on that are deployed in major streets. For example, the former Inspector General of Police (Mr. Hafiz Ringim) after receiving costly security equipment’s from the Borno State Government declared that the days of Boko Haram were numbered, and in fact within few days they struck to totally demystify him and his men by taking the war to his office, thereby justifying the above assertion (Nigerian Tribune, 12 January,2011). This is to say that Governments and the Security Agencies should deploy more financial and human capital resources to the management of security intelligence and surveillance. After all, these criminal elements are living among us. In other words, no matter their operational modalities, some members of their community know who they are, what they are doing and how they operate; which simply means that with proper security public enlightenment programmes and projects, they can be easily fished out and dealt with according to law before they can cause security breaches. An important institution that has crucial role to play in resolving conflicts that usually result to militancy attacks is the National Orientation Agency (NOA). Based on the demands of the Islamic sect, of which some of them may not be feasible, we think that, the first, assistance they need is re-orientation. Perhaps based on the earlier indoctrination they had received, they need to be engaged by NOA and be re-oriented and re-integrated into the Nigerian Agenda which is based on Unity in Diversity. They should be made to understand that they do not have any other country than Nigeria and as such, they stand to gain more in a united, virile, and strong Nigeria than disintegration. They can simply be reached and engaged via their community and enlightened religious leaders since they appear to have lost confidence and trust in their political leaders, who in their opinion have desecrated Islam. The Federal Government, on the other hand, should be more determined and proactive in facing the current challenges through revisiting her domestic and foreign policies. First, suspected Nigerians who were said to be sponsors of this dreaded Islamic sect in this present security quagmire should be tried according to the law. A situation where suspects and intelligence reports suspect some people and they are not questioned and/or tried, simply because they are highly placed does not augur well for the nation. Certain facts are obvious if we must solve these security issues totally! For example, we must determine who recruits, brainwashes, feeds, trains, habour, arm and protect these young lads who unleash these mayhems. Not until these real enemies of the country are fished out, prosecuted and punished, if found guilty, most of the efforts of the Government would be nothing but smokescreens and hogwash (personal analysis). The need to fight domestic terrorism in Nigeria generally calls for re-evaluation of her foreign policy most especially on national security. The government must establish cordial relations with developed countries such as the U.S, U.K, Australia, Germany,and the United Nations in wiping out terrorism through different programmes and approaches. For instance, in February 14, 2003, National Strategy for Combating Terrorism in the U.S emphasized the role of international cooperation, law enforcement and economic development         in      countering         terrorism. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030214-7. For example, Australian government have developed programme towards fighting terrorism in their country. Some of these programmes centered on the need to fight against poverty through promoting conducive environments to growth and effective delivery of services , addressing problem of weak governance and the establishment of a programme which focuses on building counter- terrorism capacity such as border control and regional co-operation ( www.ausaid.gov.au/publications). Other country in the crusade against terrorism is the United States of America. With the attack of September 11, 2001 which led to the bombing of World Trade Centre and Pentagon in Washington D C by Al-Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden, the American President, Mr George Bush took frantic effort to tackle terrorism by declaring onslaught against terrorism and terrorists (Nigerian Tribune, Monday 12 March, 2012, pp 1-2)

Our leaders, especially, the political elites should have a total re-think in terms of delivery of dividend of democracy to the electorate and comporting themselves while holding public office. The failure of western democratic system was said to be one major reason for this ugly situation. The region where this dreaded Islamic sect originated from has the highest poverty rate, and thus the poorest region in the country. According to Dr. Yemi Kale, Statistician General of the Federation said at a Press Conference in Abuja that North West and North East geo-political zones recorded the highest poverty rate in Nigeria with 77.7% and 76.3% respectively (Nigerian Tribune, Tuesday 14th February, 2012, pp1-2). A situation where Nigerian politicians only associated with barbaric acquisition of wealth and property through public corruption and to the chagrin of the impoverished Nigerians is now part of the violent reaction by the people. Undoubtedly, this flagrant and wanton display of this ill gotten wealth relatively induces some weak-minded citizens to take to criminality and violence as means of survival in a society that does not have any plan for them. As a result, at any slightest provocation, people resort to violent crimes as an alternative means of complaint. Besides, one could equally be tempted to engage in act of criminality as alternative means to survive. Thus, it is high time our leaders lived up to their constitutional responsibilities to the citizenry. The Anti-graft agencies are expected to be proactive rather than remain as toothless bulldogs. Another important strategy of combating domestic terrorism in the country is for the government to revaluate her domestic policies. First, for the purpose of promoting national security in the country, the adoption of holistic approach which includes both preventive measures and long-term measures towards addressing conditions conducive for the spread of domestic terrorism be pursued vigorously. In fact, it is expected that these two elements should form a key compromise among the parliamentarians in the National Assembly by adopting the strategy through consensus. It could reiterated that conditions conducive for the spread of domestic terrorism include: “poverty, prolonged unresolved conflicts, lack of rule of law and violations of human rights, ethnic, national and religious discrimination, political exclusion, socio-economic marginalization and lack of good governance. Therefore, effective implementation of this strategy would result in “commitment to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and the determination to pursue and reinforce development and social inclusion agenda at every level, especially on youth unemployment, and as well could reduce marginalization and the subsequent sense of victimization that propels extremism and the recruitment of terrorists (United Nations General Assembly, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/288, A/RES/60/288, New York, 8 September 2006,Pillar I). More so, the need for partnership between governments, civil society and civil society organization (CSO) towards shorter-term preventive counterterrorism in the country is paramount. For example, interaction between governments and CSOs on the issue of small arms and light weapons can help to check its proliferation in the country. Similar efforts can also flourish between government and non-governmental experts seeking to address the threat of illicit transfers of biological, chemical, and nuclear materials to potential terrorists in the country if government re-evaluates its domestic policies. In other developed countries where the CSOs have been integrated into counter-terrorism, they are now making conscious and significant contributions on measures to prevent terrorism in the implementation and monitoring of security sector reform activities, which are linked to a state’s ability to carry out effective law enforcement and other security-related counterterrorism measures. Some CSOs, especially research organizations, also foster closer, cooperative initiatives involving states and other stakeholders to improve and raise awareness of threats and encourage collective action to address vulnerabilities (http://www.sgpproject.org).

The UK Department for International Development, for example, has noted that: Improving civic awareness of security issues is a starting point for improving relations between the security forces and the public, creating a national consensus on a reform programme, and building political coalitions to sustain the process. Civil society can also play more specific roles by facilitating dialogue, monitoring the activities of the security forces, and expressing views on security policy as well as providing policy advice. This may be particularly useful where state capacity is weak: the role of legislatures or other government departments in analysing security issues, for instance, can be greatly enhanced by assistance from specialist external campaigning groups or think tanks providing research and analytical support (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/supportingsecurity.pdf). Professional associations, Non- Governmental Organization (NGO), are critical sources of technical expertise and can act as independent contractors and carry out underground implementation of much counterterrorism-related capacity building. They are seen by many people as independent and reliable partners in the promotion of national security. The capacity-building effort and the capacity-building assistance channeled through them offer many advantages over government-to-government assistance. A Professional association such as the Nigerian Bar association is crucial to strengthening the rule of law in the country. For example, in America, the American Bar Association conducts relevant rule of law programs worldwide on, among other things, anti-corruption, criminal law reform, human rights and conflict mitigation, and legal education reform. The International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC), an umbrella organization for associations of legal and human rights experts with experience in rebuilding justice systems, for example, works to conduct assessments of the legal and judicial systems in wartorn countries and to implement programs to help rebuild those systems. ILAC has recently carried out counterterrorism (specific training) on behalf of the government of Sweden (Eric, Alistair, and Jason, 2008). This is a challenge to the Nigerian Bar Association.

Development of good partnership between the NGO and the CSO towards fighting terrorism in the country is crucial. They both help to increase public awareness and understanding of human rights issues in the context of waging an effective campaign against terrorism, including by undertaking research and action at the local and national levels. By promoting the rule of law, engaging the media, sharing best practices, and disseminating other information, they help to bring attention to human rights abuses and encourage governments to improve their own adherence to human rights norms. As acknowledged in the “Club de Madrid Series on Democracy and Terrorism,” “human rights organizations have continued to monitor the situation in most countries, and the information at their disposal has formed a valuable database for analyzing the long term repercussions of momentarily devaluing respect for human rights in favour of short-term security. Civil society actors on their own can articulate how respect for human rights and the rule of law is an essential part of any effective strategy to address the complex terrorist threat and its different forms and manifestations. (Asma Jahangir and Fateh Azzam, 2005). On a final note, government can equally curtail the menace of the militants generally by engaging non-serving security experts, especially, retired military, police and paramilitary officers who live in all the communities of the country, mostly in the areas of security intelligence and surveillance. These ex-officers who have various security expertise and experience arising from their previous trainings and exposures while in service are in better positions to educate and re- orientate members of their communities on the negative impact of militancy on our collective existence and national development.

CONCLUSION

The foregoing discussion has clearly revealed the challenges of domestic terrorism and the national security in the country. It is equally obvious that domestic terrorism in the country especially since the return to civil rule in 1999 has constituted a serious threat to national interest, peace and national security and as well led to internal population displacement, violation of fundamental human rights among others. Therefore, having known a number of factors responsible for this ugly situation among which include, failure of good governance, issue of neglect, poverty, high rate of unemployment especially among the youth, and so on, what is expected is that the government in particular should brace up to its constitutional responsibilities by addressing the problem through critical appraisal of the suggestions advocated for in this paper. It is interesting to note that if the government is not proactive towards addressing the challenge of domestic terrorism, most importantly with the trends and dimensions with which the dreaded Islamic sect popularly known as Boko Haram is carrying out its nefarious activities in the country, it is likely the country experience another civil war which may invariably lead to disintegration. In addition, the business of security is everybody’s responsibility. Thus, every responsive and patriotic Nigerian who believes that he/she has no other country except Nigeria should co-operate with the Nigerian State in finding lasting solution to this ugly situation. For instance, in America, the issue of security is seen as a concern to every patriotic American. For example, if a crime is being committed in America and a passer-by sees it and refuses to report the incident to the law enforcement agents, and may be later on, it was discovered that there was a passer-by that the camera caught seeing that crime being committed and never reported the case, that passer-by is as guilty as the person who committed the crime. This shows that everybody has a role to play in the promotion of national security. The need for adequate collaboration and partnership between the governments, Non-governmental organizations as well as the civil society organization as advocated in this paper is also critical in the crusade towards addressing the challenge of domestic terrorism in the country.