Terrorism And Violent Crimes In Nigeria; A Critical Appraisal Of The Causes, The Innocent Of Religion, Law And Good Governance As A Lasting Solution.

By Stephen Peter Okangla

Introduction

Many a time terrorism and violent crimes have been linked with religion by different Authors and writers alike. It is also true that terrorist and perpetrators of other heinous crimes hide under the umbrella of their extreme believe to unleash terror on defenseless members of the public and most at times on Government facilities and military formations. What then is terrorism? Should we define it according to Nigerian factor? Who are these terrorist, are they strangers or members of our community? If they are members of our community then they could be our brothers and sisters! What must have pushed them into this heinous crime? Religious terrorism has three main features namely: it is led by a cleric believe to have divine authority; religious radicals draw from religious scriptures to justify or explain their violent acts and recruit new members; the group considers destruction as a necessity and would not mind sacrificing themselves for the struggle.[1]

The term Terrorism is highly contested and has no single and one meaning. Enders and Sandier present terrorism as “the premeditated use of threat of use of extra normal violence or brutality by sub-national groups to obtain a political, religious, or ideological objective through intimation of a huge audience, usually not directly involved with the policy making that the terrorist seek to influence”.[2] Peter Chalk defines it as “the systemic use of illegitimate violent that is employed by sub state actors as a means of achieving specific political objectives, these goals differing according to the group concerned”.[3] Chomsky considers it to be “the use of coercive means aimed at populations in an effort to achieve Political, religious or other aims”.[4] Most at times when terror is lunched or violent crimes erupt it is the masses that suffers as politicians often go about with chain of fire spitting convoy hence they are “untouchable”.

Through the activities of terrorist and other armed group using the scriptures (Qur’an and Bible) as its foundation, many have bought the idea that religion is the cause of Terrorism. However, the Writer is of the view that religion in its nature cannot be a footing for maiming and wanton taking of innocent lives because human life is decreed sacred and reckless taking of same is forbidding in the scriptures. Both the Bible and the Qur’an uphold the sanctity of human life and there provisions have never compromised in that regard. Although the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid’awa Wa Jihad (also known as Boko Haram), the ISIS backed Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) have on several occasion openly backed their crusade and justified their act of killing and destructions by radical and extreme interpretation of the Holy Qur’an to gain public sympathy and support, the writer believes that such radical and extreme interpretation does not in any way reflect the letters of the Qur’an hence un-Islamic. Buying such message of the terrorist is tantamount to coup of the mind and “religion amnesia.”

Sometimes in Northern Ireland, the Catholics and Protestants used terror tactics against each other.[5] Same tactics was used severally by terror group in Egypt, Somalia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and others. It would also amount to poverty of the mind to ascribe such act in Northern Ireland to Christian teaching. The birth and steady growth of terrorism and violent crimes in Nigeria are issues to lose sleep on, however in order to effectively defeat and ward off this evil from our society, we must first of all disabuse our mind on the factors responsible for these ugly phenomenon by making a U-Turn on our view on religion.

This research therefore posits to sheds light on the Causes of terrorism and violent crimes in Nigeria, it seeks to x-ray the innocent of religion and to lay emphasis on law and good Governance as a lasting solution.

Causes of Terrorism and Violent Crimes in Nigeria

As emphasized earlier, religion cannot be completely thrown away regarding its linkage to terrorism, this is because non state actors have predicated their activities on the scripture. However, the interconnectedness of terrorism with religion cannot stand a good judgement. It is rather as maintained herein a picture drawn by terrorist to elicit sympathy from the public, hence it remain a baseless argument as no religion in the world approve of terrorism, violent crimes and host of other vices.

A brief voyage into the discussion I had with my brother weeks ago would lead us into the causes of Terrorism and Violent Crimes in Nigeria. Few weeks ago I had a discussion with one of my brothers, a Soldier (whose name must not be mentioned) serving at one of the military base in Borno state. Good evening sir, he said. How is your location I asked? Cool and calm he replied. He then continued, some Boko Haram members surrendered at our location last week, if you see then, very malnourished, they can do anything for one square meal. Boom! What came to mind immediately was poverty and hunger!

• Poverty: poverty has been one of the engineering factors of terrorism and violent crimes in Nigeria. Research has shown that north has the highest number of poor people in Nigeria. One would wonder even with the numbers of Leaders produced from the same region? Yes! Poverty has pushed several people into terrorism and violent crimes and it is further exacerbated by the fact the Government are careless about improving the standard of living. Of course one would expect nothing less but to take up arms against Government from people whom their daily terror is hunger while their leaders amass ill-gotten wealth for their unborn children. It is a notorious fact that a hungry man is an angry man! Boko Haram, ISWAP Bandits and other armed group are well financed by their sponsors locally and internationally who capitalizes on their helpless state of squalor in the country and equip them to challenge Government’s might and legitimacy which mostly results in loss if innocent lives and properties.
• Corruption: Corruption plays no little role in the act of terrorism and violent crimes in the country. It is a factor which fuel terrorism and violent crimes. Public officers and Politicians should be wary of the fact that their act of corruption caused and worsen insecurity in Nigeria. Politicians in Nigeria are shamefully unapologetic on looting public funds and diverting same for their selfish interest. This act alone is a fuel to the already burning fire. No religion approve public servants to steal public funds. The conflicts in the Niger Delta involving the Militants is as result of corruption. Same with the Bandits, Boko Haram, ISWAP and even with IPOB in South East. Corruption is endemic in Nigeria, it is present in every sector so that those who could not cope are compel to hew out a leaving from crime. What could have promoted the demand for the Implementation of Sharia in the North? Could it be that the people are fed up with the corrupt act of their leaders and the moral decadence they comfortably live with? Is demand for Sharia wrong? Wait a minute! Do the Leaders actually want Sharia? NO! they do not! Corruption has become the new normal! Both Christianity and Islam are built on justice, Equality and freedom but when they masses see no hope, when they see no future they take up arms!

Although, Boko Haram and ISWAP have not clearly come out to state what they really want. However a voyage into the formation stage unravels the Mistry. They have at some point demanded for the full Implementation of Sharia in Borno state of which the state government under senator Ali Modu Sheriff agreed to and even went ahead to create a ministry of Religious Affairs and appointed one Alhaji Buji Foi who was then Yusufiyya’s national secretary, a platform under Muhammed Yusuf campaigning for the Implementation of Sharia in the state.[6]

However, Senator Sheriff failed to implement Sharia and the group began preaching in the state and winning and converting members of the public. Then the police was used against then on several occasions, to disrupt their gathering and killed their members including their leader. Boom! What started in form of a movement is now a full blown terrorist organization, well equipped, with international support! They may have a good motive for demanding Implementation of Sharia but the manner they went about it hurts both the Qur’an and the Constitution. But corrupt Government officials and moral decadence have engineered the movement and now terrorism. Under no circumstances must terrorism be justified, but we must also show to our leaders that their chronic act of both religious and constitutional negligence is the reason for the bone in our throat.

• Radicalization: this is another factor which fuels violent extremism in Nigeria. It is a driving force and a very rooted form of teaching and recruiting members into terrorism. It is a truism not only in Nigeria that terrorist take solace in infamous ideologies, spread same in their immediate environment, recruit and at times conscript followers into their radical group. It should however, be understood that radicalization is not an activity or a function that happens once and dissipates into the thin air, certainly not the case. Radicalization is a process that begins with the embrace of an ideology. The ideology becomes the fuel the radicalized feeds on to grow, and more he or she feeds on this ideology the more ossified they become.[7] Like their counterparts around the world, Terrorist group in Nigeria draw inspiration from early radicals and are fed with the same extreme interpretation of the scriptures. Many of this radicals and doctrine are known to us, however digging into the history of radicalism is a research for another day.
• Poor Governance: this is the most Principal factor that has resulted in terrorism, and other violent crimes in Nigeria. Corruption, poverty, hunger, marginalization, inequality, proliferation of small arms and light weapons among others are all products of bad Leadership in the country. Poor governance across all level of government is the bane of Nigerians and it has practically given birth to the innumerable challenges that confront our lives and corporate existence. Terrorism, Banditry, Violent agitations, kidnapping are all children of poor governance. Nigerians are not at ease the dwindling economy and rising inflation all points to this menace. Poor governance has sent many out of school, taken food away from several table and pushed several others into criminality. It is on this sad note that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR former president of Nigeria, remarked that “if we don’t take care of these 14 million out-of-school children in the next ten years or so, they will be the terrorist, armed robbers, and kidnappers of the future”.[8]

Also, the sultan of Sokoto and the President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, attributed the problems confronting Nigeria to citizens’ misdeeds, corruption and political recklessness.[9] The most disastrous mistake we make is that at every electioneering season men who have nothing to offer are continuously recycled. This has been the cause of death, destructions, kidnapping, violent agitations and numerous atrocities that is befalling Nigeria.

The Innocent of Religion

Religion is a collection of belief system, cultural traditions and world views relating humanity to spirituality as well as moral values.[10]  No religion in the world gives a go-ahead to terrorism and violent crimes. It is rather a victim of extreme and radical interpretations. The fact is that all religion most especially Islam and Christianity forbid the killing of innocent people. Verses from both the Bible and the Qur’an can be used to support this. The Holy Bible in Genesis 9:6 provides: “whoever shed the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” Deuteronomy 5:17 “thou shalt not kill”. The position in the Holy Qur’an is not different either, Qur’an 6:51 provides: take not life which Allah has made sacred except by a way of justice…” Qur’an 5:32 “if anyone slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it will be as if he slew the whole world and if anyone save a life it will be as if he saved the life of the whole world”.

Right to life is so fundamental that no one is allowed to interfere with it. Do I need to write more on this before we believe that religion is innocent in the spate of killings, maiming and destructions going on in Nigeria today? It is clear that the Boko Haram, ISWAP, Bandits and other armed group do not what is in the Holy books, neither do they preach same. Most at times Islam is mixed with the dirty water of terrorism, but the repeated use of the terms adl (justice), rahmah (compassion), hikmah (wisdom) and ihsan (benevolence) in the Qur’an should inform a careful listener that the religion has peace as its central message hence it cannot be the informer of terrorism.[11]

However, if any religion disregards love, affection and compassion as its essence, it drops into dire vortex of ideological dogma, as it is in the case of the Boko Haram and ISWAP. Therefore, any interpretation that admits violence and killing would be a mere provincial reading of the religious texts agitated by purposeful intentions aimed at political goals.[12]

Law and Good Governance as a Lasting Solution

From time immemorial, Law and Good governance have been the magic that has kept nations in peace and progressive. It is however, a sad tale that such is not present in Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria as opined by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, is not that there are no laws in Nigeria it is the absence of political will to implement the laws and making of malignant and obnoxious Policies that is our undoing. None Implementation of laws and the want of good Policies in Nigeria has been the sustaining factor of terrorism and violent crimes in the country. I will not dwell much on this because it is a common knowledge that the Implementation of existing laws, making and Implementing good policies and cultivating good governance by our leaders will heal our wounds, quench the furnace of terrorism and banditry, and block all roads to kidnapping, violent crimes, agitations and host of others.

Of course you don’t expect anything less than violence in a country where Government serve as road blocks to justice, equality, freedom and where the President derives pleasure in attending a jamboree-like gathering rather than visiting and sympathizing with those whose loved ones were inhumanly and recklessly burnt alive in a bus for nothing! This is the sad reality today in Nigeria. Our leaders seat in their comfort and rehearse what has become a mantra “I will crush you, don’t dare me” without actions. When as a leader you care more about “self” you have chosen to chase away, equity, equality, justice, unity, peace, development, and progress and by such invites destructions and terror thereby causing your subjects to lose sleep. In a nutshell, the Implementation of laws, polices and good governance in Nigeria will cause and secure a lasting solution to the reign of terror and lingering crisis in the country.

Conclusion

It has been established in this research that religion is not the cause of terrorism. Terrorist and other armed group who interprets religion as the foundation for their wanton and reckless taking of lives and destructions do so for political and economic than religious reasons. Also, it is established that the Government play a key role in the emergence of terrorism and violent crimes in the country hence they are guilty as the terrorist. Further, it has also been registered that terrorism and other violent crimes are not insurmountable as they could be controlled through carrot and stick approach and by the implementation of laws, good Policies and the cultivation of good governance.

Summarily, to have a united and progressive Nigeria, in the words of Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, our leaders must untie several unholy knots which hold our society to ransom, match words with action and retrace her step completely. Our religious leaders must also teach and interpret the scriptures the way it is to avoid extremism and religious radicalism.

Stephen Peter Okangla, is a pupil of law at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. He is an enthusiast of Legal research, corporate practice, ADR, Constitutional law, Criminal Law, Taxation, Oil and Gas, International Law, Human Rights, Litigation, Lecturing and Governance. He is open for training, mentoring and opportunities. He can be reach via email: stephenokangla@gmail.com  Phone/WhatsApp: 08132040369.

[1] Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, “Religion, Terrorism, and National Security; Untying the Unholy Knot”. Islamic Law and Contemporary Issue in Nigeria, P. 105

[2] ibid P.104

[3] Peter Chalk, “The Evolving Dynamic of Terrorism in the 1990s.” Australian Journal of International Affairs S3: 1999, Page 151

[4] Noam Chomsky, 9-11 New York: Seven stories press, 2001 p. 19

[5] Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, “Religion, Terrorism, and National Security; Untying the Unholy Knot”. Islamic Law and Contemporary Issue in Nigeria, p.100

[6] ibid

[7] Clement Mosindi, “Global War on Terror: the Nigerian Dimensions” (the blessing publishers) p. 77

[8] https://www.thecable.ng/obasanjo-if-we-don’t-address-14m-ou-of-school-children-theyll-be-terrorists-kidnappers-in-10-years/amp <accessed 14th December, 2021.

[9] https://newswirelawandevents.com/corruption-political-recklessness-cause-of-nigerias-problems-sultan/ <accessed 14th December, 2021.

[10] Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, “Religion, Terrorism, and National Security; Untying the Unholy Knot”. Islamic Law and Contemporary Issue in Nigeria, p.102

[11] ibid, p.101

[12] https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/998-1-4438-1680-9 < accessed 11th December, 2021.