What has Nigeria done to stop Boko Haram?

What has Nigeria done to stop Boko Haram?

A year has passed since 276 Nigerian girls were kidnapped, making it one of the most heartbreaking assaults against humanity (‘Sense of helplessness in Nigeria’, Gulf News, April 15). Having spent their birthdays in captivity, those unfortunate and helpless girls have become a year older. This is beyond religious battles — it’s a criminal act perpetrated against innocent young women. Nigeria’s military and police force’s incredibly weak and disorganised response to the kidnapping of these school girls underscores the issues with the country’s security: poor intelligence, lack of force, readiness and training. There is very little evidence of a strategy, along with well-founded public suspicion and a paucity of trust in the government’s concern for the welfare of its citizens and their children. The Nigerian government’s response here is non-existent.

Boko Haram is without question one of the most evil and threatening terrorist entities on the planet, and the kidnap should be treated as a crisis, requiring immediate and international attention. The root of this crisis must be addressed. Nigeria’s conflict has been seen in some circles as a local problem, keeping it relatively low on the international agenda. Its military has struggled with corruption, low morale, equipment shortages and allegations of human rights violations. Nigeria needs large-scale security sector reform along with the political and economic integration of marginalised North Eastern communities. International military action, possibly including a multinational force, should be deployed to fight Boko Haram. The US and other countries should train and assist the Nigerian military force.

From Ms Madhu Madan

UAE

Educate, to end terrorism

It is disappointing to see that no real progress has been made in the efforts of finding the Nigerian girls who were abducted last Spring, however I don’t think it’s fair to say that all we need to do is annihilate the extremists. Although we may rid ourselves of the persons involved, the ideology will live on and potentially become even stronger through increased resentment. Increasing education in these areas is the only way to smother the fire of extremism, which begins with imprudent and ignorant perceptions and teachings.

In the case of the Nigerian girls, there most likely is room for more effort on the part of the Nigerian government and, hopefully, we will begin to see stronger action taken by their newly-elected government. However, it will never be this simple in countries where militant groups like Boko Haram are deep-rooted in all aspects of society and prey on communities through their fear. These poor abducted girls were not the first, nor are they the last. As Amnesty International stated, over 2,000 women and children have been abducted. Additionally, geographical difficulties cannot go unnoticed. Dangerous territories and illegal border smuggling are real factors to consider. Thus, although it is disappointing to not see progress, it is not surprising, considering the harsh gang mentality prevalent in the communities through the coercion of Boko Haram.

From Ms Lili Maria

Dubai

Where are the Western superpowers?

As one year passes, with no information on the fate of hundreds of innocent Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram, the world just continues to wait silently. Are there any serious efforts being made to locate them? The situation exposes the hypocrisy of the developed nations as they are reluctant to get involved in an operation intended to ensure the safe release of children from the hands of perpetrators, as they would have done in other countries where they have vested interests. Perhaps Nigeria has nothing substantial to offer to the powerful nations, so anything that happens in their land would be watched with indifferent callousness. The Western world has a big role to play in creating an environment of peace in the entire world, with the support of the United Nations. The wars in the coming years would have little to do with gaining economic and military supremacy, but they are likely to have everything to do with ideological polarisation. When it comes to the radicalisation of youth, many incidents have proven that its effects are not restricted by geographical boundaries.

From Mr V. I. Mohammad Sageer

UAE

Helping the wrong side

The African continent is considered the cradle of civilisation, but it carries an unfortunate history of violence and carnage. A continent that should be known for its breathtaking natural beauty, has instead been notorious for slave trade, tribal wars and genocide for centuries. Due to its troubled history, this part of the world was shaken by the news of the kidnapping of 267 Nigerian girls by Boko Haram militants. But it has become nothing more than 8pm news, where a person like me, sitting in his air-conditioned room while sipping hot tea, can only condemn the oppressors with lethargic views — nothing more than that. Who is responsible for this incident? If one requires an honest answer, then it is logical to place the blame on countries that manufacture weapons and sell them to groups like Boko Haram without any shred of morality and sense of responsibility.

From Mr Khurram Shahzad

UAE

Nigeria needs strong leadership

It is indeed unfortunate that even after one year, there has been no trace of the 276 school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram. This is disappointing on several fronts. The failure of Nigerian authorities to search for these innocent girls speaks volumes about their incompetency and to some extent, their weak intentions as well. Had the government been serious about finding these girls, they would have stepped up the offensive against the Boko Haram, which they did not do.

If the government lacks enthusiasm, self-confidence and courage of conviction, then it is futile to expect that they would find the missing girls anytime in the near future. The role of the international community is also questionable here. Had the same incident happened in some other, more developed nation, would they have reacted in a similar way by just expressing their sympathy? Don’t these girls deserve more help and support from other nations, as their government is clearly failing? A country progresses only as much as its leader’s imagination. A good government in Nigeria can strengthen the law and order situation and at least assure the citizens that such incidents do not recur in the future.

As for the 276 schoolgirls, we hope and pray that they are safe and sound wherever they are and that they are reunited with their families some day. Prayers have power and, sometimes, life is purely lived only on hope.

From Mr Suhas Inamdar

UAE

Ill-equipped and unsuccessful

It was with a profound sense of shock and dismay that the world reacted to the terrible tragedy that occurred in Nigeria a year ago. How quickly time passes. One can only shudder to imagine the fate of so many young girls at the hands of such ruthless perpetrators. What is even more tragic is that while efforts were made to find them and get the girls back, they did not succeed. I think the Nigerian government was ill-equipped to go in pursuit of them and the geographical hurdles helped the terrorists to get away and disappear. I feel it is quite a hopeless situation and with each passing day, the chance of their recovery is very slight. Perhaps they have all been taken to other places, sold into slavery or married off. It will be a miracle if the girls are found. In order to keep the candle burning, the world must rally and put pressure on the Nigerian government and, if need be, use international help to continue their efforts to search for them. There has to be a way to find them no matter how bleak and difficult the road ahead is. My constant prayers are with all the girls and their families.

From Ms Umbereen Rahman

Dubai

No mercy for the murderers

Daesh, Boko Haram, Al Shabab and Al Qaida are not just terrorists, nor are they politically motivated. They are not motivated by religion because there is no religion with tenets that approve of what these miscreants do. The members of such groups are simply kidnappers, rapists and murderers.

As such, they should be caught and suffer the only suitable penalty — that of death. Pacifists may be outraged and human rights activists incensed, but the rights of every decent, normal and moral living human being must be protected and there can be no forgiveness or second chances and no jail cell wasted on them. Eradication and annihilation for those who captured the Nigerian girls is necessary. Only the harshest of penalties can be the means to eradicate this growing problem.

This is a global problem and, as such, should be eradicated by a global effort — a committed and severe effort of full force. For the abducted girls and their families, for the victims and the families of bomb attacks, killing sprees and mass murders, it is time to stop talking and to stop writing and saying how terrible this all is — it is time to act, decisively. Some may say that this opinion is no better than those we are suffering by. I would respond by saying: find another effective way to stop this evil and I will be the first to offer my congratulations.

From Mr David Woodward

Dubai

Change in governance had an impact

The easiest of all things for any terrorist organisation is to abduct and torture helpless civilians of whom, the most defenseless surely are the young. We live in such a highly technology driven world that it is not hard for the common man to believe that efforts have been meagre in locating the Nigerian girls. The world has become so self-centred that before lending a helping hand, even those who are powerful first look at what they get in return.

When the incident happened a year ago, Nigeria was in the last year of governance under the former president. With a general election looming in a matter of months, the superpowers of the world didn’t want to waste their efforts and resources by supporting this West African nation, for they themselves didn’t know who would ascend to power after the elections. With a new government at the helm now, and due to the plain fact that the new government has just come into power, there may be a greater possibility that we will now see some action from superpowers. Of course, not with the intention of helping the victims, but with their eyes on some solid returns in the form of oil, which Nigeria is rich in, along with other natural resources. Whatsoever be the interests of those superpowers who can still assist in recovering these kidnapped young women, let us be hopeful of at least some action now from these mighty ones, to bring the girls home. After all, better late than never.

From Mr Rejees Choolayil

UAE

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