For some weeks now, the people of Borno, especially the state capital, have resumed once more, the recently near forgotten “sleeping with eyes wide opened”, syndrome.
Reason: The terrorists are back, harassing and traumatising the people with suicide bombing here and there, mostly at nights.
The worst happened penultimate week when attempts were made by the insurgents to take over Magumeri town, the capital of Magumeri local government council, an act that raised serious apprehension and fear.
Recall that the people had been assured earlier that with the decimation and degrading of Boko Haram and the occupation of Sambisa forest by the military, the capacity and capability of the insurgents to attempt the takeover of any town was a closed chapter.
However, but for the decisive and prompt response of the military, the recent unexpected attack on Magumeri by the terrorists would have shattered the already held myth that this was no longer a possibility.
The military itself was shocked and rattled by this act and attributed this to collaboration of the natives with the insurgents.
With the supremacy of the military, the insurgents were been decimated, degraded and scattered. It is the scattered groups that are gradually assuming or have assumed the status of guerillas that are now causing mayhem, suicide bombing and other nefarious activities in various parts of Borno
Speaking penultimate week on the sudden attack on Magumeri by the insurgents, the Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usman, in a statement, said, “It is imperative to state that the preliminary investigation shows that the attackers of Magumeri came from the same community. The terrorists that attacked the village are well known to the people.
“It should be noted that the village was never attacked throughout the period of the insurgency for some inexplicable reasons. The terrorists and their collaborators hibernating in the area were never exposed.”
General Usman went on, “There seems to be unholy alliance between the terrorists and the villagers. It’s high time the people to took up the fight themselves and help the Nigeria Military and other security agencies to protect them.”
Even before now, the army has indicted some politicians and groups in Borno State in particular and Northeast generally, of masterminding the insurgency.
From all indications, the insurgents are now more in guerilla formation, which must be checked to avoid a more complex situation.
Let it be noted that the development of terrorism, which is the height of political violence into guerilla warfare is not difficult: it is sufficient for the government to combat terrorism, and therefore, compel the terrorists to shift their operational base elsewhere for guerilla activities, which are more sophisticated and dangerous to begin.
We might rightly or wrongly be getting to this point now. Remember Sambisa forest or camp zero, to say cautiously, was not conquered as such but abandoned by the insurgents who had perceived the intense pressure of military and were forced to relocate. With the supremacy of the military, the insurgents were been decimated, degraded and scattered.
It is the scattered groups that are gradually assuming or have assumed the status of guerillas that are now causing mayhem, suicide bombing and other nefarious activities in various parts of Borno, especially around Maiduguri, the state capital.
Terrorist acts are not necessarily always aimed at defeating opponents. At times, they are just bent on achieving a particular cause. Should this fail, they create fear and insecurity, intimidating and blackmailing government through various unconstitutional and violent means, including suicide bombing where innocent lives are lost.
Public support is therefore necessary for government to succeed. The security agencies must be proactive.
Their eyes must be wide opened and ears to the ground. They must be the sniffing dogs and suspect anything. They must think of the possible and impossible, and set in motion pre-empty forces envisage and unenvisaged.
Thinking and working at least a step ahead of the enemy is imperative, as this will put the enemy in confusion and disarray in its planning strategies and execution.
There must be constant element of surprise into the enemy’s territory to intimidate and disrupt the planning process and movement of the insurgents.
There is also need for confidence building, synergy and trust within, between and among the security agencies for ultimate result.
Unnecessary competition, rivalry and self-centeredness between and among the bodies will no doubt affect effective coordination of the activities of the agencies, thereby affecting negatively the desired success in the fight against the insurgency.
Above all, there must be extra vigilance within the fold of the agencies to unmask saboteurs or fifth columnists who, out of greed and bitterness, would compromise or do anything to undermine the efforts to stem terrorism.
Besides, it has become imperative for all Nigerians, especially the managers of the security architectures of the nation, to go back to the drawing board and re-appraise the journey so far in this regard.It may be necessary to have a second look at the orientation of Boko Haram, leadership, disciples’ structure, its recruitment pattern and procedure, its teachings, philosophy, the incentives to the recruits, the indoctrination process and other related matters, with a view to adequately preparing a marshal plan to counter effectively the terrorists’ activities.
