Boko Haram, UN Bombing and Islamist Terror

Boko Haram (meaning "Western or non-Islamic education is a sin") is a Nigerian Islamist group seeking to impose Shariah law in the northern states of Nigeria. The group presently has a loose structure and chain of command and seems to have no clear leaders. The official name of the group is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad” but residents of Maiduguri, where it was formed in 2002, called them Boko Haram because of its strong opposition to Western education, which it sees as corrupting Muslims. Loosely translated from the local Hausa language, this means Western education is forbidden. Though it thrived apparently relatively undisturbed for several years, it only became known internationally visible following sectarian violence in Nigeria in 2009. Most of the violence was initially tactfully attributed to land and family tussles and the socio political tensions common to poor societies with inadequate and inequitable social safety nets.  The Christian bodies, who in recent past in especially Jos area – the middle-belt and also the Northern states, had suffered much human and material losses raised largely unheeded warnings against the underestimation of this group and the jihad agenda even as Nigeria contemplated introducing Islamic Banks and the violence continued unabated.  On July 11, 2011, the major reputable educational institution, the University of Maiduguri shut down its campus citing security concerns. Many began to flee the region.

Boko Haram eventually became bored with attacking Churches and torching homes of defenceless citizens and terrorising even other conservative Muslims to come under the strong grip of fear (making conversion near suicidal) and found the right nerve to attract the attention it craved.  On August 26, the UN headquarters in Abuja was blown up by a suicide car bomber, leaving at least 20 dead and dozens more injured - a Boko Haram spokesman later claimed responsibility. Nigerians were dumbfounded and many are still in shock.

Many claim Boko Haram has become a socio-political tool available to those who would want to see needed shifts in the balance of power, economic development and especially those aggrieved that the present President did not permit the prematurely terminated tenure of the late previous Islamist President to be succeeded by another Muslim.  CNN reported that the Nigerian Islamic militant group Boko Haram claim it bombed U.N. offices in Abuja last week because the world body is a partner "in the oppression of believers,"  ... any Nigerian with western education and their allies are now added to their hit-list.

Many are observing for what the next step will be as a supposedly neutral body the UN may consider an unplanned foray into the arena of resolution of vicious religious battles of a different kind.

As expected, religion may be blamed and the solution to embrace atheism or forbid “radical faith” altogether will be considered by some given the potential for the worst continental crisis in recent times and perhaps the only option for a peace that the UN will want to broker. It is also probable that Boko Haram will be swiftly quashed under the force of superior military intelligence and actions.  To address allegations of bias, it cannot be ruled out that the UN will flood its offices with more Muslims and Imams to give the impression of an institution with appropriate correctness in its diversity ... even as Boko Haram is quickly graduated to the martyrdom status it longed for.  How can a “neutral humanist” effort address a complex religious conflict without contemplating the easy solution of compelling contending forces to both give in ... paving the way for a world without faith or to promote a new brand of faith – salt that has lost savour.

As it steps into the arena of religious conflict, one must watch the UN – already known for its penchant for humanist dilution of Christian faith and preference for lukewarm, unified approaches even when doctrine and spiritual differences make this blasphemous. 

We need to pray more than ever for we are in times that may soon strongly demand for a global peace that is really not peace ... even as attempts to relegate the Prince of Peace will ultimately be fruitless. Our God reigns.

I Thessalonians 5 [1]  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2]  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3]  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4]  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5]  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Maranatha