Reminiscences Of 9/11 Attacks

September 11 is like the millions of other days for all nations, except for the United States of America whose existence and super power myth was threatened 10 years ago on that day by an Islamic fundamentalist group called al-Qaeda. September 11, 2001 was a day of infamy never to be forgotten in the US and across the world. There was despair in the dust borne and depression across the United States.

The horrendous event of that day, which is christened 9/11 in America today, touched people around the globe and evoked reactions of anger, sorrow, incredulity, fear and mourning. It was not a tragedy of a single nation, or of a single person. The whole world was overwhelmed with sadness and shock, watching innocent souls perish in a mindless act of terrorism.

The Ground Zero of the decimated World Trade Centre (WTC) was a site of unbelievable destruction. Shortly after the attack, the WTC became a magnet, drawing people from around the world to share their grieves, disbelief and bewilderment. World leaders came. Ordinary people came; all writing their sentiments and names on an unadorned plywood barrier where the WTC had become twisted steel and ashes, as the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs painted it.

As noted by many people, the September 11, 2001 bombing of the twin towers World Trade Centre, and America’s defence operation and security building, Pentagon was not just one of the most saddest events for America, it was a challenge on America’s super power myth.

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of that mindless attack which left not fewer than 4,000 dead. Expectedly, the pains, agonies and nostalgia of the British attack was re-echoed all over the United States.

In what the US reportedly made the most security fitted national engagement, the American citizens rolled out drums, albeit in sober mood, to recall the hate and mass murder visited on America and its economy by the event of September 11, 2001. While they mourned the victims of the bloody attacks, they also celebrated the heroes who staked their lives to save their fellow country men and women at Ground Zero.

As a pre-event for this year’s anniversary of the 9/11, not fewer than 40 international television channels in US, have  been running documentaries and programmes on the 9/11 holocaust, since August 28. Some of these stations such as CNN, Fox TV, History Channel, MSNBC, Science Channel, among others, gave accounts and revived the gory  moment of the  terrorist attacks in their programmes.

The holocaust masterminded by al-Qaeda at the behest of its kingpin, Osama bin Laden, who US at last tracked and killed in Pakistan on May 2, this year, was so chilling and nearing freezing point; just as the desperation and ingenuity put into use by 19 al-Qaeda agents who hijacked four  passenger aircrafts, three of which struck and reduced the twin towers  WTC in New York and the legendary Pentagon into a heap of rubble and masonry, was incredible.

From the computer stimulation of the flight track, the first plane had taken off from Boston for San Francisco. A few minutes after take-off, it did a detour to the left towards its targeted destination in New York, and in no time, rammed straight into the first tower of the tall structure building of the WTC. The second aircraft came a little after and struck the second tower.

Forty-five minutes later, the third passenger aircraft came and crashed into the Pentagon at Arlington, Virginia, the very heart of America’s defence operations and security hitherto thought to be invincible, and thus collapsed eight wings of the legendary structure.

In less than one hour, the four hijacked planes had hit three targeted destinations, with the fourth one crash-landed into an open field in Shanksville, the remote woods of the State of Pennsylvania. The speculation is that the fourth airline targeted either the White House or Capitol Hill before one of its hijackers, who was afraid of being overpowered by the passengers, reportedly urged the one piloting to roll over the plane and force it to crash.

For nearly 10 years after the attack, America’s strength to track down the 9/11 masterminds, especially Osama bin Laden was met with cynicisms and doubts. And for the period the hunt for bin Laden lasted, the myth woven around America as an invincible fortress and a country where all things are possible was at its lowest ebb.

In spite of the tough talk by the former US president, George W. Bush, under whose watch the September 11, 2001 event occurred, Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda group was insurmountable.

On May 2, this year, however, America reaffirmed her timeless creed that out of many, she is one. She finally got her most hunted enemy, Osama.

Since the 2001US attacks,  the security of the world, not just America alone, has been on the tenterhooks. Like a contagious disease, terrorism has been touching more nations. America’s bold reactions against the 9/11 assault and its unbridled fury of  revenge against the terrorists, have since driven al-Qaeda and global terrorists out of the United States; and has therefore made them find sanctuary in other countries like Spain, Somalia, Sudan, Maghreb, Afghanistan, India, London and Nigeria.

On March 11, 2004, the al-Qaeda  merchants unleashed terror on Spain where they bombed some trains that left about 200 people dead and almost 2000 injured. The same scenario was painted in London on July 7, 2005, when train bombing killed over 52 people in the centre of the city.

Mumbai, India’s largest city had its own share of the gory tale on November 28, 2008, when Pakistan Islamists painted the city red and crimson in 10 coordinated attacks that killed 164 people and wounded at least 308. The latest of this suicide epidemic was hosted by New Delhi, also in India last Wednesday, September 7.

Of all the countries that suicide bombings have found sanctuary in the last 10 years, Nigeria appears to be the most safe haven. Between October 1, 2010 and now, about seven major suicide bombing attacks have been unleashed on the nation.

The October 1, 2010 attacks said to have been perpetrated by al-Qaeda happened near the Eagle Square, Abuja, the venue of Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary celebration, killing not fewer than 12 people. On December 24, 2010, another set of 38 Nigerians was killed and 74 injured in a series of bomb attacks in the central city of Jos and north-eastern Maiduguri; while the December 31, 2010 bomb blast at a beer garden of a military barracks in Abuja left four persons dead.

Suleija town, near Abuja had its own gory tale to tell on April 8, this year, when suicide bombers detonated a bomb at an electoral agency office, killing 11 and injuring 38 persons.

On May 29, this year which  marked  Nigeria’s Democracy Day and the swearing-in day of President Jonathan as newly elected president, Nigerians woke up to the rude shock of another bomb blasts in two places – one at an open air beer drinking spot in northern Bauchi and another one on the outskirts of Abuja.  About 18 people lost their lives, while 31 were injured in the attacks. Meanwhile, on June 16, 2011, at least, two people including the suspected suicide bomber and a police officer were killed and seven people wounded during a bomb attack on the police headquarters in Abuja. The same day, four children lost their lives in a separate attack in the northern town of Damboa, near Maiduguri.

The latest of these suicide bomb attacks in Nigeria was recorded on August 26, when the terrorists attacked and decimated the United Nations (UN) office in Abuja, leaving 23 dead and many people injured.

All of these attacks, except the October 1, 2010, were said to have been perpetrated by a northern based Islamic fundamentalist group, called Boko Haram, who claims is fighting against Western education.

The spate of these terror attacks has begun to stretch the world’s economy. For instance, for the past 10 years, America has been battling with a weakened economy because of the costs of fighting the war against terrorism. The recent bitter debt ceiling debate between the US presidency and the US Republican dominated Congress lends credence to this.

In Nigeria too, several millions of naira have been deployed into fighting terrorism. But unlike the US which has succeeded in checking further attacks since the September 11, 2001 attacks, Nigeria is still confused as to how to route out this terror group or at least deplete its rank.

Boye Salau