Boko Haram, Chibok girls and over-hyped foreign intervention - Fatima Goni

With the euphoria, razzmatazz and hullabaloo that greeted the news that a number of advanced nations like the United States of America, France, UK and China have resolved to genuinely assist Nigeria in fighting insurgency, one had thought terrorism would have long ended by now.



This highly over-hyped military and technical assistance as promised by these nations rekindled hope that the inglorious days of Boko Haram and its proponents are over. This planned intervention was no doubt needed at that point in time to halt the activities of the Boko Haram group from escalating.

The group was becoming ferocious and more daring in their attacks. In their quest to make good their threat to annex some parts of the country, they chose to detonate bombs in places like Jos, Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. So, considering the frightening dimension the war was assuming, Nigeria sought to approach countries for some form of support and help.

Expectedly, the countries approached by the Federal Government didn’t only agree to offer technical and military assistance to Nigeria, but pledged to join ongoing global campaign against the Boko Haram group. With these reassuring remarks by these nations, Nigerians waited with bated breath to see how Abubakar Shekau and his men would be fiercely crushed.

“Upon arrival, some of these experts, through their embassies in Nigeria outlined areas through which they intend to help Nigeria in winning the insurgency war. The news of their arrival went viral on social media. Even the conventional media wasn’t left out, as most national dailies adorned their front pages with pictures of foreign troops arriving the country.

A number of these countries promised to offer expertise, while others agreed to send in military professionals that will study, analyse and review the activities of our military after which they’ll offer advice on the way forward.

It is now more 100 days of abduction of the Chibok girls and more than a month since these foreign nations ‘deployed’ their troops and other terrorism experts into the country to assist Nigeria to end insurgency, yet nothing tangible has been heard of their contributions.

The question on the lips of many is, did these nations truly match their words with actions or their move was only an attempt to earn some respect? I share in the concern of those who feel nothing much has been heard about these ‘helpers’ months after their arrival. Obviously relying on their military strength and expertise, they had boasted, fumed, bragged and vowed to crush the Boko Haram sect within weeks.

Four months after, they have not been able to make any significant difference. One hardly hears about them. We don’t read about them and their ‘activities’ in the media, not even in our burgeoning social media. Is it that these foreign soldiers and security experts are working behind the scene and wouldn’t want to be heard or seen?

There are obviously more questions than answers on their ‘engagements’. Now let’s reflect on the activities of our own home-grown military vis-a-viz the entire security community.

What in the first place warranted the coming of security experts from foreign nations? Was it that our own security guys were not doing well or lack what it takes to defeat terrorism? Answers to these posers aren’t far-fetched.

Our security men are the best you can find anywhere around the world. We have heard or read beautiful stories of how our military and policemen had performed brilliantly in a number of global peace-keeping missions. They have several awards in their kitty to show for their efforts at such interventions. Truth be told, despite the challenges these men go through, they still do their very best to discharge their duties effectively.

Speaking recently on Nigeria’s preference to foreign military to our indigenous military men, a security expert, Max Gbanite said: “But what really pains my heart as a Nigerian is that the same members of the international community that allege that our military are incompetent have not demonstrated their own competence”. Continuing, Mr Gbanite stated: “Another thing that disturbs me is the manner that the media bandits figures and throw it in the air without being very sure of the number of casualties.

Those things are part of Boko Haram’s strategic communication pattern.I have lost count of the number of security men so far lost since the war against insurgency began in 2009. Soldiers, policemen, SSS and para-military establishments all have bitter stories to tell in their determination to tackle insurgency in the country. Unfortunately, these guys who are perennially out there trying their best to protect lives, property and watch against external aggression hardly get any form of commendation or support from Nigerians.

I think we have to really work on ourselves. We hardly appreciate or have considerable confidence in ourselves. While we sincerely need the assistance of advanced nations to overcome some of our challenges, especially insecurity, we shouldn’t expect them to do that at the expense of their country. Were we expecting the USA to deploy half of her troops to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram? Very impossible!

The most these foreign nations can probably do is to just complement whatever effort put in place by our government. Do we expect them to completely takeover the terror war? Unfortunately, our military men rarely get applause from Nigerians whenever they attack the Boko Haram group. People sit in the comfort of their rooms to summarily write off the military as an organisation not worth its name.

These men are waging serious war against terror elements. Sadly, since the military busies itself with the task of constantly engaging terrorists in fierce battles, some wrongly feel it should be more visible in the media than at the war front.

We must resolve to encourage and support members of our local intelligence community to discharge their duties effectively. Insurgents are our common enemies, let’s do our best to crush them.

FATIMA GONI, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Kano.