AfropolitaniQ

Contributor: Onyedika Achilike

HAVE YOUR SUSPICIONS  BEEN CONFIRMED ?

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria —October 20th 2012

Last Saturday, in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, Shuaibu Mohammed, a top ranked member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, was captured in the house of his uncle, Senator Ahmed Zanna. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa issued a statement late Friday saying soldiers caught Shuaibu Muhammed Bama “in a serving senator’s home.”

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa

The senator denies this incident ever occurred in his dwelling, insisting that the arrest took place in the house of Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor of Borno state. Based on these recent events, one can readily deduce that Mr. Mohammed has close ties to key northern politicians and therefore, this arrest supports the long speculated belief that Boko Haram is a plot by politicians of the predominately muslim north.

Boko Haram is a sect, which has sought to bring about total Islamic rule in the Multi-religious country for over a decade. In an attempt to establish a stronghold in Nigeria, they have resorted to violent upheavals such as church bombings and various acts of violence in recent years. As a result of this sectarian violence, thousands of innocent civilians have met fatal brutalities. The government’s intelligence has shown its weakness as very few have been held accountable or brought to justice for such attacks.

This recent arrest of a Shuaibu Mohammed gives insight as to why our leaders’ “actions” continue to prove futile: it is countering to simultaneously fight and shelter terrorists.

In summation, it is quite glaring that we cannot depend on or trust our leaders to provide this nation with the most basic fundamental: safety. President, Goodluck Jonathan and his cabinet continue to prove their incompetence in ensuring a safe Nigeria, thus civilians are left in utter dismay as one man says “Allah” and another says “God”.