In continuation of the Article published on 14 December, 2018.
One of the solutions to security issues in Nigeria and ways to defeat insurgency which has refused almost all solution is Political solutions in resolving the menace and aggression of Boko Haram.
It has been observed by many political strategists and war veteran that terrorism is an old age phenomenal that cannot just be eliminated by armies no matter how strong and ruthless they are unless there is adequate planning and strategy. There is a necessity for changing the democratic structure that will actually address the problems from the roots in Nigeria. When the crisis started, it was first considered as a Northern and Islamic problem and they were underestimated.
Boko Haram was founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf with their headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State. The official name for Boko Haram is Jamatu Ahl a Sunna lid -dawah wal -jihad. It means people committed to propagation of prophet teachings and Jihad. Boko Haram operates in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. They now have link with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Mohammed Yusuf was born on 29 January 1970, was influenced by the teaching of Ibn Taymiyyah and was under police custody when he was killed.
At the beginning, the federal government foresight did not reach the behind the scene of atrocities of politicians that are sponsoring the menace of Boko Haram as a tool to destabilise the country. It was easily reckoned that they will quickly be suppressed or wiped out like the Maitasines of the 1980s.
At the end of the day, the way it was handled became a gross miscalculation to think a surgical military operation will destroy the terrorist then.
Perhaps this would have been possible where there are no traitors and betrayals. It was clear then that Boko Haram was used to bring down the government of former President, Dr Good luck Jonathan but the organisation has now grown beyond the arms of those who planted them and used them for their selfish cause.
The democratic political solution may therefore bring an end to the crisis. The government must first identify the sympathisers as the beginning of the solution. Then, we need to understand exactly what they want in the real sense even though it is not well articulated. The only Nobel Laureate so far in the history of Nigeria, Professor Wole Soyinka described Boko Haram as the “arrow head of decadence resistance.” So there is a resistance first to Western Education and to modern system entirely, as the name Boko Haram implies. Giving a proper and systematic understanding of their point of view is important to political solution, declaring amnesty alone may not be sufficient, giving money or bribing them will only make them strong and daring. It can’t work!
To maintain peace, we have to sit down and talk with enemy and in the process, your enemy can become your friend. It is possible to bring an outsider as a broker between the government and the terrorists.
If the government successfully negotiated the release of the Chibok girls by the means of third party then it means that negotiations can bring understanding that will create peace. Discussion on table and negotiation brought solution to South Africa after many years of apartheid.
Another political solution is to divide the ranks amongst the enemy. This can be achieved without firing a single bullet.
Creating division within the enemy will reduce their power and will be the beginning of their end. This method of breaking the ranks of enemy is of old age phenomenon as well and has proved to be successful in the past. It needs a careful plan; both military and political scientists have to go back to drawing board to strategise for final victory.
President Muhammadu Buhari as incumbent president even with his military background initially promised to destroy Boko Haram within three months but he has not been able to do that after three and half years on the saddle. As a matter of fact, they are more emboldened now than before under his watch. Therefore, a new plan must surface with political solution as stated above. They are dependent on traitors and support from ISIS including men and weapons.
However, if Political Solution did not work then, military solution is the last option that must follow suit with a sustained attack and must be ruthless. It means the enemy cannot be pacified and unreasonable in all circumstances. Our military tactics has to change. At that stage, we can no longer accept it as internal problems since they have sworn their allegiance to ISIS and are receiving money and weapons from ISIS. We must treat it as foreign and internal aggression.
The solutions and the tactics to be deployed vary and I will discuss them here. I know many people will question my military experience and background to suggest this but I have taken interest in military warfare and strategy since I was a minor and have read history of warfare and tactics that has
prepared me enough to be able to discuss and give suggestion.
- To be concluded next week
Niyi Aborisade is the President, National Movement For Positive Change (NMPC) Worldwide and writes from the United Kingdom.
