Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Fear as Nigerians brace themselves for likely civil war

Slain Boko Haram member - Babakura Fugu

Nigeria is in a high state of alert after recent bombings and killing have increased in its northern states. Nigerians are scared and no one knows where the next bomb will explode. Mant others are just unhappy with the way in which the country is being led. The US is getting jittery too about the state of affairs in Nigeria and top Army officials have pointed fingers at Al Qaeda for the upheaval. 



Barely 72 hours after holding a peace meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Babakura Fugu, a brother-in-law of the slain Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf was killed by unidentified gunmen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, last week.

Fugu’s death occured amid indications that the Yusuf’s family is split over the late Fugu’s meeting with Obasanjo and allegations that a division might have erupted over monetary gift allegedly given to the family by Obasanjo.

Fugu’s killing has forced the government to strengthen security in Maiduguri with the Joint Task Force placed on red alert.

The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Mr. Simeon Midenda, confirmed the death of Fugu. He said: "The gunman pulled a Kalashnikov rifle from inside the folds of his traditional robes and shot Fugu to death. No one else was wounded in the attack and the gunman apparently walked away."

A top security source, who spoke in confidence, said: "The spokesman of Fugu family, Babakura Fugu, who, on Thursday, received ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Boko Haram mediation talks has been killed. The attackers were said to have been led by one of the deceased’s younger brothers.

"It is evident that other members of the sect felt Babakura Fugu should not have been the person to talk on their behalf. There is evidence of envy. Again, the money Obasanjo allegedly gave the Fugu family could be another cause of the killing.

"Normally, any money they (the Boko Haram) get either through gifts or other means is shared into five places for widows of Boko Haram leaders; Zakat for the less privileged members; Sukrah-the highest ruling organ of Boko Haram; and other members. This time around, it could be Babakura Fugu defied the formula."

Another source added: "Some Boko Haram members were not happy that Babakura Fugu opened discussion with Obasanjo, who is a Christian. They have assumed that talking to a Christian is like breaking a fundamental principle of the sect, which is seeking to impose Sharia on all the 19 Northern states.

"Some Boko Haram members were also unhappy with the over one-hour audience Babakura Fugu had with Obasanjo. They felt he must have let out some secrets about their operation to a military man, who fought a civil war and rose to the rank of a General in the Nigerian Army.

"I think some aggrieved Boko Haram members felt Obasanjo came on a spy mission instead of peace talks. Certainly, this killing pointed to a split within the Boko Haram leader’s family. Some wanted peace talks, but those in the extreme opposed it."

A military source, who spoke in confidence, said: "This development has confirmed the fears of the Federal Government that Boko Haram has expanded beyond what its slain leader, Mohammed Yusuf had envisaged."

The source added, "We have a fresh challenge on hand because everybody was looking forward to the peace initiative of Obasanjo.

Security has been heightened in Borno, Bauchi, and other Northern states. It is apparent that the sect might not embrace peace."

Prior to the killing, there were indications yesterday that the Federal Government may ask other former Heads of State and key Northern leaders to team up with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to negotiate with Boko Haram to stem the tide of bomb explosions in the North.

But a prominent Northern leader, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has urged all Nigerians, including Northern leaders, to rally round Obasanjo in his latest peace mission to Boko Haram leaders.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the presidency is happy that Obasanjo had frank talks with the family of the slain Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf on Thursday in Maiduguri.

A top source said: "Everyone had a psychological relief with ex-President Obasanjo’s initiative because the session in Maiduguri was far-reaching. Already, we know the mindset of members of the Boko Haram sect. We are pleased that they are not opposed to peace and negotiation with the government.

"After preliminary talks with Boko Haram leaders by Obasanjo, the government had contemplated plans to raise a compact team of past Heads of State to team up with Obasanjo to have a comprehensive negotiation with the sect.

"We want former Heads of State like Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; ex-President Ibrahim Babangida; Chief Ernest Shonekan; Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Northern leaders to be part of a sustainable peace process in the North.

"President Goodluck Jonathan wants to use the peace talks to prove his commitment to the unity and oneness of Nigeria. He is ready to bring key members of the Council of State on board.

"Jonathan’s mindset is open on dialogue with Boko Haram leaders; he wants Nigeria to say bye to violence or any act of terrorism. If the late President Umaru Yar’Adua can do it in the Niger Delta, the President also is ready to make a statement that the violence in the North can be arrested."

The source could, however, not give further clarifications on the government’s plans with the killing of Babakura Fugu. He merely said: "This is certainly a setback; I will get back to you."

On his part, a former Special Assistant to the President (National Assembly Liaison), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said: "Every Nigerian should support the initiative of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to bring peace to this country. Yar’Adua started it by making peace with the militants in the Niger Delta. Obasanjo’s initiative to meet with Boko Haram leaders is a good idea. This is the kind of work that our elder statesmen should be doing now for this country. And this is why they are members of the Council of State.

"My only quarrel with Obasanjo is that he is still playing partisan politics. It is high time he disengages from partisan politics. He will be more effective in playing this kind of role if he stays away from politics."

Notwithstanding the killing of Babakura Fugu, a group, Community Defence Law Foundation has thrown its support behind the Presidency’s dialogue with Boko Haram.

The group made its position known in a statement by its Programme Manager, Uzodinma Nwaogbe in Abuja. The statement said: "The recent visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the family of murdered Boko Haram’s leader, Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, Borno State is a welcome development.

"The visit, whether it is private or on behalf of the Federal Government, is commendable and would be described as one of the smartest moves by the government at ensuring a lasting peace in Nigeria in recent times." It called on former leaders such as Shagari, Alex Ekwueme, Gowon and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar to join in the peace talks.

Later in the week, Nigeria's opposition coalition called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order a probe into the murder of a relative of the slain leader of Islamist sect Boko Haram, a statement said.

"We call on ... Jonathan to, as a matter of urgent national importance, set up a public inquiry to unravel the death of Babakura Fugu, brother in-law to the late leader of Boko Haram," Mohammed Yusuf, the CNPP said in the statement.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) said in the statement that it condemned the killing of Fugu at his residence in Maiduguri, the capital of northeastern Borno state.

The probe panel, to be composed of genuine patriots, could be "a panacea to the gridlock which is threatening the peace of our dear fatherland", the CNPP statement said.

About an hour after the killing, a text message was sent to some media outlets, including AFP, purporting to be from Boko Haram and appearing to threaten the lives of Obasanjo and those who facilitated the meeting.

"This is to inform Nigerians that the days of Obasanjo and his henchmen including Shehu Sani are numbered," the message said, referring to a prominent rights activist in Nigeria's north who helped facilitate and attended Thursday's meeting.

Obasanjo held the meeting in the neighbourhood where the sect's headquarters and mosque were located before the military destroyed them during a deadly assault that put down the 2009 uprising.

Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of shootings and bomb blasts, mainly in Nigeria's northeast, but it has also claimed responsibility for last month's UN deadly bombing, and an attack on police headquarters in Abuja in June.

In the 26 August attack, the bomber drove his vehicle through the Abuja headquarters' two security barriers, then crashed into the reception area before detonating the explosives.Boko Haram is fighting for the establishment of Sharia law in Nigeria.The blast was powerful enough to bring down parts of the structure, where about 400 UN personnel work, and blow out the windows of nearby buildings.
Loosely translated from the local Hausa language, Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden". For two years, the I Islamic group has been targeting government and mounting a campaign of killings.

The group is alleged to have had contacts with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which operates in North Africa, and al-Shabab in Somalia.

There is a great unease in Nigeria as those who do not support Sharia prepare to fight back. There are also suggestions that the US and the UK are looking at ways to quench the uprising to protect their interests in oil rich Nigeria. Also, there is talk about prolific oil bunkering and kidnapping going on in the Delta areas. Nato may therefore be drafted in to help stabilize the volatile situation brewing in Nigeria at the moment in case war errupts.




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