Terrorism In A Developing Economy

This is the concluding part of this article first published last Wednesday.

Over the years, efforts have been made to understand the profile of
terrorists so as to explain the actions of the individuals through their
psychology and social circumstances. In 2007, an Economist Alan B. Krueger
found that terrorists were not likely to come from a poor background.
Furthermore, terrorists are more likely to have at least a high school or
secondary school education.

In order to avoid detection, most terrorists will look,
dress and behave normally until they have executed the assigned mission. It is
claimed that attempts to establish the profile of terrorists based on
personality, physical or sociological traits are not useful. This is because
the physical and behavioural description of terrorists can fit that of any
normal person. However, it is believed that the majority of terrorist attacks
are carried out by military age men who are between the ages of 16-40 years.

The Psychological Effects Of Terrorism

The most striking consequence of terrorist attacks
whether local or international is the human loss. Since the past 35 years there
have been nearly 20,000 terrorist incidents across the world. Examples are the
hostage taking during the 1972 Munich Olympics, the 2002 and 2005 terrorist
bombings in Bali all of which, claimed over 90,000 casualties all over the
world.

The
World Trade Centre attack in the United States of America on 11th of September,
2001 (9/11) has been the most devastating terrorist attack psychologically the
world has experienced.

Terrorists usually carry out attacks that
result in great fatalities so that its psychological effects on the population
will be massive. As the human population becomes psychologically disoriented or
panicky, the economy becomes negatively influenced.

Panic
which results in uncertainty affects “the patterns of consumption and
investment behaviour of individuals and companies. This can result in distinct
market disturbances or disequilibrium. Among the effects of a terrorist attack
are disruption of population’s spending pattern arising from a fall in
confidence  drop in demand in tourism
industry incertainty of life and extra budgetary spending on
reconstruction and insurance. Other effects are the high insurance premium for
humans and property and the high cost of security and military reinforcement
locally and internationally.

Terrorism In Nigeria

Prior to October 1,2010, terrorism was unknown to
majority of Nigerians from the domestic point of view. International terrorism
may not have been a new phenomenon to many Nigerians but local terrorism was
certainly new. But the bombing of Eagle Square on the 50th.” Independence
Anniversary of Nigeria on October 1, 2010 introduced terrorism in an
unprecedented dimension in Nigeria. The Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta (MEND) led by Henry Okar claimed responsibility for that terrorist
attack in which lives and properties were lost. Ever since then, Nigeria has
not known peace as the bombing of various parts of Northern Nigeria has
continued unabated with a Sect known as Boko Haram which has continued to claim
responsibility.

The Boko Haram sect is rooted in the Northern
part of Nigeria and represents fundamentalist slamic religious group whose
objective is to institute Islamic rule in Northern Nigeria and discourage
Christians and southerners from inhabiting that geographical entity. The sect
has unequivocally rejected western education and Christianity. Their main
targets of attack have been churches and security agents. In quick successions,
they have attacked churches, police stations, the Police Forces Headquarters in
Abuja, the United Nations (UN) building ‘also in Abuja. Recently, tertiary
institutions have also been bombed and many students lost their lives.

The Boko Haram terrorist group has adopted several
strategies to intimidate Nigerians. Its bombing activities have extended to
newspaper Houses accusing them of skewed reporting of its activities. Its most
recent attacks are on telecommunications base stations owned by MTN, Airtel,
Etisalat, Globacom, Multilinks, HIS and Helios Tower. The modus oparandi of the
Boko Haram sect is it issues warnings to the public before its numerous attacks
and despite the many security operatives in the country, the threats of the
Sect are usually fulfilled.

This
unfortunate situation has become worrisome to many Nigerians including the
Federal Government which has sought collaboration with the United States of
America. America has officially declared Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation
in about April 2012 and in June 2012 it (America) placed three Boko Haram
leaders namely: Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid AI-Barnawi on
its terror list. The ,main objective of America
is to move against the Boko Haram
fundamentalist group and to diminish its capacity to execute violent attacks.
Available information shows that Boko Haram has links with North African
AI-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb with which it shares explosives and funds and
relates with other foreign terror groups.

Causes
Of Terrorism In Nigeria

Earlier
in this paper possible factors that can engender terrorism have been enumerated
to include, poverty resulting from exploitation, inequitable distribution of
resources and dominance of resources by some ethnic groups. Others are the
imposing of a particular form of government, economic deprivation of the
population and religious fanaticism.

In Nigeria, although the Boko Haram which is the main
terrorist group claims that they are on religious Jihad, it must be noted that
the causes listed above also apply to them. They are among the reasons for the
mass destruction of their fatherland. The Islamisation of the North and
expulsion of Christians and southerners cannot be enough reasons for that sad
history of Nigeria. Mr. Johnnie Carson, US Assistant Secretary of State for
African Affairs said Boko Haram activities were thriving in  Nigeria because of Nigeria’s economic
problems. Many observers have disagreed with this elementary theory. This paper
lends support to that position.

Nigeria
is a developing economy with the hope that by the year 2020 it will be among
the 20 developed economies in the world. It is a tall dream that is realisable
with diligence, commitment and industry. Unfortunately, these vital ingredients
are in great short supply in our country which casts a doubt on the realization
of the 202020 vision/dream. Everything said about terrorism in this  paper so far has negative connotations. Can
terrorism have any positive influence or benefit for Nigeria’s developing
economy? It is doubtful.

The pre-occupation. Terrorism has a mono agendum which
is to destroy as much as possible. It has no programme of reconstruction to
engender a better life. Therefore, terrorism on its face value does not hold
out any benefit. All it has to offer are negative outcomes such as: loss and
maiming of lives, destruction of valuables which reduce the quality of lives,
discouragement of investments and capital flight occasioned by insecurity.
Other depressing outcomes are the uncertainty of life and living, elevation of
poverty, increase in the prices of goods and services, increased cost of
security and the fact that the faceless nature of terrorists makes it difficult
for them to contribute to solving perceived problems and so, contribute nothing
positively.

The Church and Terrorism Reduction

The theme of this conference is “Obey the word of God
Diligently”

In view of this
what should be the attitude of the church towards terrorism? What role
should it play to stem its tide especially in Nigeria? In its full content
Isaiah 1:19 states, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of
the land; if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Verse 20).

“Obey the world of God Diligently” implies that in every
situation Christians find themselves, they should be guided only by the spirit
of God which is untainted and does no wrong. In the context of terrorism, it
means that Christians must do nothing to support or appear to encourage
terrorism. The church has a responsibility to condemn terrorism in its
totality. It can accomplish this by condemning injustice in society in any form
and any where it exists, and by taking practical steps to reduce religious
excesses.  The Church could remove itself
from political and economic absurdities, expose corruption rather than encourage
it, deemphasise prosperity attainment through prayers and miracles and
encourage achievement through industry based on positive actions. Beside, she
church also encourage skills acquisition programmes for members that are
unemployed and so, encourage wealth creations shun illegally acquired wealth /
donations from its members and discourage unwholesome competitive spirit among
its members, and live with its means and discard beggarly spirit as it is
unbiblical. The church should regularly speak out against unjust Government
actions, and desist from supporting the illegality of Government because of the
desire for patronage (financial and materials support from Government).

The apparent competitive spirit for material acquisition
which pervades the church today should be discouraged.

The emphasis of the church should be to harvest souls
for the Kingdom of God. The church is inadvertently gradually relegating this
original mandate and placing more emphasis on materialism sermon or prosperity
gospel.

Christians are the soldiers of Christ who must win souls
for the Kingdom of God and it is the church that must prepare them for that
assignment. Terrorism is a product of discontent of some aspects of society’s
activities such as greed, religious bigotry, bad governance, corruption arising
from materialism, absence of integrity, etc. The church must not only condemn
these vices but must discourage its members from partaking in them.

The focus of the church should be on taking its members
to Gods Kingdom where no materials wealth will be entertained.

Dr Nnamdi .S. Okoroma

Senior Lecturer
and Director, Institute of Education, Rivers State University  of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo,
Port Harcourt