Reorientation: Switching Gears

semantics: terrorist group or insurgency?

“Insurgents” are honorable fighters, while “terrorists” are not. A key difference is that an insurgency is a movement – a political effort with a specific aim.

Terrorism is not an end in itself. Terrorism can be a subset of an insurgency, or it can be an act of violence by criminals or crazies who want to strike out at anyone especially a government. For instances, free-standing acts of terrorism such as the Oklahoma bombing.

BH cannot be neatly categorized as one or the other as its origins are rooted in grievances over poor governance and inequality in Nigerian society AND it has characteristics of terrorism.

The fact that so many refer to BH as the “insurgents” (news articles, occasionally myself on this blog) shows that people see some legitimacy in what they are doing. For instance, public service in Nigeria is so corrupt that they (the Gov.) may be considered criminals to some and BH is considered the honorable camp for standing up to it.

The Nigerian Army reports killing members and sympathizers of BH. However, there are also reports of innocent people being accused and killed.

Yet, their targeting of innocent civilians characterizes the group under the title of “terrorism.” It’s all blurry, but if one must define the group it is best to say they are an insurgency that utilizes acts of terrorism–OR–a terrorist group with characteristics of an insurgency (the goal originating in the political realm).

Cronin depicts the transition to “insurgency” as not good news as it means they have gained legitimacy or some following by those around them.

Yet on the streets of Kano, the government is more readily denounced than the militants. Anger at the pervasive squalor, not at the recent violence, dominates. Crowds quickly gather around to voice their heated discontent, not with Boko Haram, but with what they describe as a shared enemy: the Nigerian state, seen by the poor here as a purveyor of inequality.

“People are supporting them because the government is cheating them,” said Mohammed Ghali, the imam at the mosque where the two Boko Haram members pray. Imam Ghali is known as an intermediary between the militants and the authorities, and while open backing for the group can put almost anyone in the cross hairs of the Nigerian security services, there appears to be no shortage of Boko Haram supporters here.

“At any time I am ready to join them, to fight injustice in this country,” said Abdullahi Garba, a candy vendor who came into Imam Ghali’s office.

One resident argued that Boko Haram made some effort to protect civilians. “They told us to move away,” said Mohammed Danami, a motorcycle taxi driver, describing a devastating police station attack on Jan. 25. “They said, ‘We are not here for you,’ ” he recalled.

Somebody...anybody?! Buhari??? — Somebody…anybody?! Buhari???

what can nigeria do?

Factors for stable security of a state–how is Nigeria coping?

A competent domestic police force and corrections system ⊗ 81% of citizens polled reported paying a bribe to the police. 92% of citizens rate the police to be highly corrupt (Transparency Intl.).
An efficient and functioning civil service or professional bureaucracy ⇒ Goodluck Jonathan is out May 29, 2015…potential to get better but still grim as so many individual actors are used to their corrupt ways.
An independent judicial system that works under the rule of law ⊗ The Investment Climate Statement 2013 reports that citizens face long delays and frequent requests for bribes from judicial officials to expedite cases or to obtain a favorable ruling.

A professional and disciplined military accountable to a legitimate civilian government ⊗ nope. Maybe with some training and adequate weaponry.

A strong executive/legislative leadership capable of national governance ⇒ Capable? Sure. However, Goodluck Jonathan and other individual actors in power seem to make poor, selfish choices thus far.

***Transparency International – Nigeria Corruption***