2014.05.23 

Guest Contributor, Saajida Malvina asks a few important questions about the alleged abduction of the Nigerian schoolgirls.

Boko Haram’s terror mandate to establish a pure Islamic state ruled according to Shariah, has been well publicised throughout the mainstream media. However many analysts believe the group is motivated by inter-ethnic disputes as much as religion. In order to assist certain marginalised communities, eradicate poverty, fight corruption and unemployment, Boko Haram was formed. Police killed Muhammad Yusuf, the founder of the group in 2009 and his deputy Abu Bakr Shekau took over. Whilst a military commander apparently linked Al-Qaeeda to Boko Haram, there is no actual evidence of this, and international targets have been limited. In November 2013 however, Boko Haram was declared a terrorist organisation by the US government.

Crimes Committed By Boko Haram: 

• Assassinated Muslim leaders who condemned Boko them,

• Bombed police headquarters in capital Abuja,

• Attacked 60 police stations in 10 Northern and Central states,

• Killed more than 200 police officers,

• Targeted places of worship including mosques and churches,

• Kidnapped Western tourists and young women/girls.

Boko Haram have been routinely kidnapping girls from May last year and only the kidnapping which occurred in April 2014 made international headlines. The move towards kidnapping women as a tactic appears to have come to hand after a similar strategy was developed by the Nigerian Authorities from December 2011. The police began to detain the wives and children of militants in a bid to put pressure and negotiate with the group. During 2011-2012, more than 100 members with no evidence or links  to suggest that they had any connection with Boko Haram attacks, were arrested. This included the relatives of Boko Haram leader Abu Bakr Shekau and obviously became a source of grievance. In a 2012 video message Shekau threatened: “Since you are holding our women, just wait and see what will happen to your women…” The kidnappings thus began, and in a 2013 video released by Boko Haram, Shekau demanded the release of family members and wives or warned of more kidnappings.

The Questions 

Questions arise as to why Nigeria has failed to act. Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathon admitted that the whereabouts of the girls are still unknown. Amnesty International claims security forces were aware that armed convoys of Boko Haram members were approaching the town Chibok (where the mass kidnapping occurred) 4 hours prior to the attack.

Here are few points that fellow Nigerians are asking. 

• Where are the parents of the missing girls?  ~ Wole Soyinka

• Why has the government not published pictures of the kidnapped girls? ~ Wole Soyinka

• Many vehicles are needed to transport the girls. Who saw them? ~ Godswill Alpabio

• How were they transported?  If the girls were made to walk in the bush, how come no villagers saw them? ~ Godswill Akpabio

• If the girls were said to have been transported in trucks (Hilux) assuming 10 girls per truck, that means 23 trucks for the girls and 7 for the insurgents? Why no sightings of them?

• Why were the principal and teachers not touched?

• What was the principal’s reaction during the incident?

• Some of the girls allegedly escaped and not one was shot, contrary to the past MO wherein they were shot. Did they really escape or were they actually freed?

• The Nigerian government paid N1 million each to the parents of the girls?  What was this money for?

No doubt all these questions, together with the current geopolitical machinations in the region leave us with a distant tinny taste of being played by all parties involved. What is really going on?

Disclaimer: While Radio Islam retains the right to edit and modify guest contributions, Radio Islam makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information included in guest contributions, or those found by following links within the text. Radio Islam will not be liable for any errors or omissions in information relayed in guest contributions. The views and opinions expressed by guest writers or in the comments section do not necessarily state or reflect those of the editors.