Boko Haram is escalating its terror campaign in oil-rich Nigeria in a bid to create an Islamist state. A few days ago they kidnapped 129 girls from a school, hours after setting off a bomb that left 71 dead and 120 injured. They destroy churches and mosques to send a message to Muslims that support the Christian majority North, along with beheading people with chainsaws. On our Facebook page we asked our readers: ‘Why do you think the world is not taking a more punitive stance against the seeming inaction by the Nigerian government? And, how are the actions of Boko Haram justified in the name of their belief system?’ We present a selection of views.
It’s not for oil
I’m Nigerian and I want to correct people who think that the Boko Haram are fighting in an oil rich hub, they aren’t. Their stronghold oil is yet to be discovered, so it’s not possible. Apart from this, members of the group are not Muslim at all. They are a bunch of lunatics, who use their religion, Islam, to escalate their terrorist activities. They are burning down mosques, attacking Muslim houses. This shows that Muslims in Nigeria are actually their prime targets. Recently, one member of the sect publically confessed that people in the group were not praying five times a day. All they do is harm others. How can you call them Muslims? The recent abduction of school girls shows how reckless they are. I believe they are only tools used by foreign countries or internal politicians for personal gains.
From Mr Babangida Bashir Bangiskhan
Kano, Nigeria
Is it a military cabal?
Boko Haram is not an Islamic sect because all their practises and ideologies are different from what Islam teaches. Gone are the days when someone would explain what is and is not said in the Quran. Now we can read and understand what Quran supports and what it doesn’t. I am Nigerian and I strongly believe that the Nigerian army and the federal government are behind Boko Haram because Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria had once said something that showed a link between the group and the cabinet. Former Nigerian Chief of Defence Owoye Andrew Azazi had also testified to the link with the cabinet before he died in December 2012, in a naval helicopter crash.
From Mr Labby Owoboye Labby
Oyo, Nigeria
Personal beliefs
I agree that the suffering Nigerians need to be heard. The world needs to be aware that faith cannot be used as a means to rule over anybody. Faith is spiritually inclined, we all believe in God in our own ways. All we need to do is respect one another and know that there is a higher being that created us and gave us life.
From Ms Airen Lyfe Loanzon
Dubai
‘Criminal gangs’
This sort of warlords persist because the media grants them popularity status by tagging them ‘Islamic sect’ rather than ‘criminal gangs’.
From Mr Shuaib Yousuf
Lokoja, Nigeria
Don’t tolerate them
Oh my God! What do they want? Why doesn’t the government reconcile with this group for the sake of the civilians? It is so sad that innocent people are suffering because of this group. Why are they being tolerated?
From Ms Julie Acido
Manama, Bahrain
Fight for oil
It’s not about Islam. Nigeria is an oil rich country and any well-informed person can figure out what the real story is behind that.
From Mr Mohammad Omar Qureshi
Sindh, Pakistan
Don’t blame religion
There will never be a reason to murder innocent people in the name of God. I don’t know who are they worshipping. They are just brutal criminals.
From Mr Leo Bangi
Abu Dhabi
War is not a solution
Shame on those who spread violence in the name of their religion. Violence is the worst thing and if you look into history you will realise that violence has never led to a solution. Whenever one reads about the history of any war that has ever happened, one often wonders that it was pointless and could be solved with a simple talk or discussion. Violence is not a way to solve any problem.
Fom Mr Jameel Baig
India
What about the Middle East?
When do we all ask why isn’t the world taking a stance in this situation. I think the question also is, why aren’t the Middle Eastern countries taking a stance?
From Mr Richard Roddam
UAE
Games by USA
This is another one of those games played by the USA against Islamic countries. They supply arms to the local public and make them revolt. I hope this game of theirs ends soon.
From Mr Mohammed Papad
Dubai
Don’t call them Islamists
Why do these people or the media call them Islamists? Islam does not believe in kidnapping young girls from a school. Islam does not believe in destroying churches and mosques to send a message to Muslims or even Christians. They are not Islamists.
From Mr Muhammed Shaakir
UAE
Defaming Muslims
Who is Boko Haram funded by? The US obviously, but all the Middle East gets blamed. Let’s not call Boko Haram an Islamic jihadist organisation. Islam is a religion of peace and believers of Islam would never destroy sacred places or take innocent lives. Prophet Mohammad never preached extremism nor is it mentioned in the Quran. So, those who are defaming Muslims call themselves jihadists. They are people who have secret motives behind their actions, these reasons need to be exposed.
From Ms Fatima Al
Sharjah
Agents!
People who are a part of the Boko Haram group are not Muslims. They are agents assisted by the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Western world to destroy or weaken the North, where the majority of the Muslim population lives. God is watching us all. So we need prayers from our brothers worldwide.
From Mr Abdulkadir Shehu
Nigeria
Religious divide
It is really sad that some people are talking against Christianity. Stop dividing Nigeria based on religion. Look through the history of Nigeria; nobody can accuse Christians of instigating or unleashing terror on anyone. It is a fact. Pray to God that people defacing Islam as a religion are stopped and that soon there is an end to needless killing and bloodshed.
From Mr Ojo Abiodun Alaba
Lagos, Nigeria
Cruel ‘animals’
They are the animals, who don’t care about the lives of innocent humans, be it children, girls or women. Shame on them! If they are followers of Islam, they must know that their religion says, killing one man is like killing all humanity.
From Mr Farooque Dahri
UAE
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