BOKO HARAM AND ISLAMIC BOKO HARAM AND ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM IN NIGERIAFUNDAMENTALISM IN NIGERIA

Professor Osita AfoakuProfessor Osita AfoakuSchool of Public & Environmental Affairs School of Public & Environmental Affairs

(SPEA),(SPEA),Indiana UniversityIndiana University

Bloomington, IndianaBloomington, IndianaEmail: Email: osafoaku@indiana.edu

Office: (812) 855-5971Office: (812) 855-5971

Historical Backdrop to Boko HaramHistorical Backdrop to Boko Haram President Babangida’s foreign policy and Nigeria’s OIC membership President Babangida’s foreign policy and Nigeria’s OIC membership

-1986 -1986 Adoption of Sharia by 9 Northern states (plus partial adoption by 3) Adoption of Sharia by 9 Northern states (plus partial adoption by 3)

since 1999, posing a serious challenge to constitutional separation since 1999, posing a serious challenge to constitutional separation of state and religion of state and religion

December 1980 - rise of Maitatsine in the Northern commercial city December 1980 - rise of Maitatsine in the Northern commercial city of Kano – 5000 lives lost in uprisingof Kano – 5000 lives lost in uprising

Leader – Alhaji Mohammadu Marwa MaitatsineLeader – Alhaji Mohammadu Marwa Maitatsine Maitatsine considered as a rebel among mainstream Muslim clericsMaitatsine considered as a rebel among mainstream Muslim clerics Used adulterated version of the Koran, with his name in place of Used adulterated version of the Koran, with his name in place of

that of Prophet Mohammedthat of Prophet Mohammed Preached against use of modern technologies such as motorcycles, Preached against use of modern technologies such as motorcycles,

automobiles, bicycles, radio, television, wristwatch, etc. automobiles, bicycles, radio, television, wristwatch, etc. Killed in the Kano violence of 1980; his followers continued to Killed in the Kano violence of 1980; his followers continued to

spread his radical message among the urban poor across the spread his radical message among the urban poor across the

northern region; 1985 last major Maitatsine uprising northern region; 1985 last major Maitatsine uprising

Rise of Boko Haram - 2009Rise of Boko Haram - 2009 Boko Haram (Western education is evil) surfaced as “Nigerian Taliban” during Boko Haram (Western education is evil) surfaced as “Nigerian Taliban” during

Obasanjo’s era 1999-2007Obasanjo’s era 1999-2007

Founding leader Mohammed Yusuf, a high school drop out who studied the Koran Founding leader Mohammed Yusuf, a high school drop out who studied the Koran in Niger and Chad and came back with radical religious views; Yusuf established a in Niger and Chad and came back with radical religious views; Yusuf established a sect in 2001 under the name Yusufiyya in Maidugurisect in 2001 under the name Yusufiyya in Maiduguri

Yusuf coopted into Boko Haram between 2001 and 2009 when the sect sparked a Yusuf coopted into Boko Haram between 2001 and 2009 when the sect sparked a bloody uprising in Maiduguri; the 2009 crisis earned the group the name Boko bloody uprising in Maiduguri; the 2009 crisis earned the group the name Boko Haram which reflects its anti-Western ideologyHaram which reflects its anti-Western ideology

Following the 2009 religious uprising Yusuf was killed while in police custody Following the 2009 religious uprising Yusuf was killed while in police custody

Mallam Abubakar Shekau current spiritual leader of Boko HaramMallam Abubakar Shekau current spiritual leader of Boko Haram

Blind commitment to violent fundamentalism and the islamization projectBlind commitment to violent fundamentalism and the islamization project

Boko Haram: Mission Boko Haram: Mission Jihadist conquest to ensure Northern political Jihadist conquest to ensure Northern political

dominance through islamization of Nigeriadominance through islamization of Nigeria Jihad translates to war against Western cultural Jihad translates to war against Western cultural

influence – Western democracy, Western influence – Western democracy, Western education and Christianity, modern education and Christianity, modern governmental institutions and other symbols of governmental institutions and other symbols of Western influence Western influence

Islamic fundamentalism as mobilizational toolIslamic fundamentalism as mobilizational tool The Almajiri System – abused and manipulated The Almajiri System – abused and manipulated

for narrow political ends for narrow political ends 75 percent northern population poor; 60 percent 75 percent northern population poor; 60 percent

live on less than 1 US dollar a day; 32 percent live on less than 1 US dollar a day; 32 percent literacy rate in the north (68 % national rate) literacy rate in the north (68 % national rate)

MembershipMembershipMost members drawn from Islamic clerics Most members drawn from Islamic clerics

and students, professionals, students of and students, professionals, students of tertiary institutions in Borno and Yobe tertiary institutions in Borno and Yobe states (key Sharia states)states (key Sharia states)

School drop-outs enrolled in Madrassa or School drop-outs enrolled in Madrassa or Koranic schoolsKoranic schools

Northern politicians who represent Northern politicians who represent “opportunistic face of Islam” “opportunistic face of Islam”

Dubious members of the state security Dubious members of the state security agencies who help the group with trainingagencies who help the group with training

Targets of recent BH violence Targets of recent BH violence State security agencies – the police and State security agencies – the police and

armyarmyChurches/Christians Churches/Christians SchoolsSchoolsOpen marketsOpen marketsThe media – particularly newspapersThe media – particularly newspapersProminent government officials and private Prominent government officials and private

citizenscitizensModerate Muslims Moderate Muslims United NationsUnited NationsGovernment informants Government informants

Foreign support for BHForeign support for BHTies with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Ties with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

(AQIM) and Somalia’s al-Shabaab(AQIM) and Somalia’s al-Shabaab

Foreign terrorist groups provide funds, Foreign terrorist groups provide funds,

training and weapons to BH militantstraining and weapons to BH militants

West African countries such as Cameroun, West African countries such as Cameroun,

Benin, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad Benin, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad provide sanctuary for BH militants provide sanctuary for BH militants

Sources of Deadly Weapons Sources of Deadly Weapons

SmugglingSmuggling RobberyRobbery Looting of armories or sales from Looting of armories or sales from

servicemen servicemen Influx of illegal alien arms through Nigeria’s Influx of illegal alien arms through Nigeria’s

porous bordersporous borders Illegal arms transfer enabled by poor Illegal arms transfer enabled by poor

surveillance and intelligence gathering of surveillance and intelligence gathering of Nigeria’s security agencies Nigeria’s security agencies

BH far more brutal than other BH far more brutal than other groupsgroups

BH resources – machete, AK-47, bombs, BH resources – machete, AK-47, bombs, motorcycles, cars, suicide bombers, cell motorcycles, cars, suicide bombers, cell phones, internet, websites, media releases phones, internet, websites, media releases through the internet and newspapers through the internet and newspapers

Far more violent than other groups, better Far more violent than other groups, better organized and equipped and probably more organized and equipped and probably more motivated than government security operatives motivated than government security operatives

Very effective at using force or threat of force Very effective at using force or threat of force to instill fear to instill fear

The Government’s “Stick and Carrot” StrategyThe Government’s “Stick and Carrot” Strategy

Stick Strategy – use armed police and Stick Strategy – use armed police and soldiers to crack down on B.H. terrorist cells; soldiers to crack down on B.H. terrorist cells; death of BH leader Mohammed Yusuf and death of BH leader Mohammed Yusuf and hundreds of militants hundreds of militants

Carrot strategy – propose dialogue, possibility Carrot strategy – propose dialogue, possibility amnesty in exchange for peace (like Niger amnesty in exchange for peace (like Niger Delta militants)Delta militants)

B.H. response so far negative B.H. response so far negative Government under domestic and international Government under domestic and international

pressure to not give in to terrorists pressure to not give in to terrorists

Government Response Contd.Government Response Contd.Ongoing move by the Obama administration Ongoing move by the Obama administration

to place B.H. on list of international terrorist to place B.H. on list of international terrorist organizationsorganizations

Is Nigeria’s objection to the terrorist label Is Nigeria’s objection to the terrorist label

indicative of its reservations over US indicative of its reservations over US approach to the war on terror?approach to the war on terror?

The Jonathan administration dialogued with The Jonathan administration dialogued with Niger Delta militants and offered them Niger Delta militants and offered them amnesty in exchange for peace amnesty in exchange for peace

Implications of BH Militancy for West AfricaImplications of BH Militancy for West Africa

Possible spill-over into neighboring countries, Possible spill-over into neighboring countries, especially those with recent history of conflicts (Chad, especially those with recent history of conflicts (Chad, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia)Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia)

The “mimic syndrome” generated by conflicts The “mimic syndrome” generated by conflicts elsewhere elsewhere

Recent call for regional cooperation against terrorism, Recent call for regional cooperation against terrorism, raising question about possible role for ECOMOG, raising question about possible role for ECOMOG, AFRICOM, other multilateral security systems AFRICOM, other multilateral security systems

Regional scenarios pose a serious dilemma for the Regional scenarios pose a serious dilemma for the Goodluck administration which has displayed Goodluck administration which has displayed inconsistency in its approach to BH insurgencyinconsistency in its approach to BH insurgency

Armed militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta region – who negotiated peace with the Jonathan administration – currently mimicked by Boko Haram militants

Implications of BH Militancy for Nigeria Implications of BH Militancy for Nigeria Renewed concerns about credibility of constitutional Renewed concerns about credibility of constitutional

separation of state and religion and secular status of the separation of state and religion and secular status of the Nigerian stateNigerian state

Renewed concerns about constitutional protection of Renewed concerns about constitutional protection of cardinal citizenship rights – choice of religious affiliation; cardinal citizenship rights – choice of religious affiliation; place of residence; profession; life style, etc.place of residence; profession; life style, etc.

Above concerns raised at recently concluded meeting of Above concerns raised at recently concluded meeting of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalitiesNigeria’s ethnic nationalities

BH militancy has prompted renewed calls for Sovereign BH militancy has prompted renewed calls for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) by political activists and civil National Conference (SNC) by political activists and civil society groups across the countrysociety groups across the country

Recent gathering of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities Recent gathering of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities