SIMON ALLISON OF THE GUARDIAN OF LONDON In some ways, the latter incident, despite being less expensive in terms of lives lost (so far, at least; the eventual fate of those schoolgirls is still unknown), is the more concerning because of what it shows us about Boko Haram’s strength. First, the group was able to overpower the soldiers who had been sent to the school to provide extra security – not exactly a glowing recommendation of the ability of the armed forces to protect Nigerian citizens. Second, in flagrant contradiction of the government’s claim to have forced them out of their strongholds, the militants clearly have the facilities and resources to hide 100 terrified school girls, indicating a level of organisation and security that should have the authorities extremely worried. The attack on the school was also particularly symbolic. The name Boko Haram loosely translates as ‘Western education is forbidden’, and the group encourages parents to send their children to Islamic schools instead. The attack on the school in Borno is a punishment and a warning to those who disobey. This approach makes sense, in a strange, twisted way: it is at schools that children are inculcated with the theoretical values of the state – in Nigeria’s case, a commitment to secular, liberal democracy – and it is these values against which Boko Haram fights, wanting to replace them with a strict commitment to Islamic Sharia law. This is not an unreasonable position. The Nigerian state has, by and large, failed its population. It may be awash in oil wealth, but none of that trickles down into the population which has yet to see much in the way of material benefits from an independent Nigeria. Who wouldn’t be looking for an alternative?
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 20:35:12 +0000
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