Nigeria And Terrorism

How does Nigeria look at terrorism? What role does she play or would continue to play on terrorism? These are questions some people across the world may continue to ask.

Nigeria as the giant of Africa is at the forefront in any world events that would bring about peace and co-existence. She abhor terrorism in all its ramifications. She is among the nations that fight against terrorism anywhere in the world.

However, as Nigerians from all walks of life celebrate the new year, the media is abuzzed with names of personalities and groups which had recorded an impressive feat in the outgoing year.

Names of individuals such as Lamido Sanusi the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor and the former Governor of the bank, Chukwuma Soludo are ringing bells in the ears of many media organisations.

However, for Newswatch Magazine, Niger Delta militants are the men of the year, considering their cooperation with the authorities in the successful implementation of the amnesty programme.

However, for this writer, the real man of the year 2009 is Farouk Mutallab reason for this is that 23 years old son of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, former Nigerian Bank chief stands taller among the 140 million Nigerians inview of his escapade in the world of terrorism.

He has trad where even those who called themselves Maradona could not tread.

Had the boy succeeded, what could have been the fate of the 278 passengers on board the plane and their families?

Although the federal government and some well meaning Nigerians have condemned the incident, but the most significant aspect of it, it that terrorism has shown that it has no boundary.

It has also shown that even those born with silver spoon could become terrorist over night.

However, the most important aspect of the event is that the threat to Nigeria’s image problem is not the militants demanding for equity and fairness in the Niger Delta, but the religious zealots and fundamentalists who have little or no regards for lives.

It would be recalled that since the Maitatsine crisis of 1980, thousands of Nigerians have been sent to the world beyond by religious zealots.

The recent Boko Haram crisis in some parts of the North and others before it has shown that Nigeria is fast becoming a fertile ground for the breeding of terrorists.

If speculations in the media are anything to go by, the United States Government may brand Nigeria as one of the “axis of evil” and this would further damage the already battered image of the country.

The Federal Government however, has a responsibility to ensure that this does not happen. Against this background, the government should beam its security searchlight towards the north pole where thousands and one terrorists live, by stationing men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), in every nooks and crannies of the area.

Similarly, a law to regulate worship, should be promulgated in this country as anyone found professing any belief or ideology that is antithetical to the peace and stability of the country should be punished.

The Federal Government should muster enough political will to deal with this monster called religious extremism before they dragg the name  of the country deeper into the mud.

Summarily,   I reason  that the real; man of the year 2009 is not the Soludos neither is it the Lamidos, but is Farouk Abdul Mutallab.