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| UN President Ban Ki-Moon; and Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru |
Wednesday’s announcement by the State Security Service that elements of the Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, were responsible for the August 26 suicide attack on the United Nations House in Abuja, marked the beginning of a disturbing dimension to the group’s violent campaign, which aim is still a subject of conjecture.
Eyewitnesses stated that the lone suicide bomber obviously studied his target and knew when best to strike.
He chose the early hours of the working day, around 10: 26am when he was sure most of the over 400 staff of the UN would have arrived.
Official visiting time to UN House is also 10am. By this time, visitors are expected to have either made their way into the building or would be waiting to be cleared for entry.
The bomber, who has been identified by the militant group as 11, drove at a speed of 100km per hour using the exit gate, tearing down the two gates in quick succession as he headed towards the main reception located in the main building.
A security source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media, said, “The first casualty was a security man who tried to stop the bomber from using the exit gate.
“He achieved his mission because he hit a part of the building which shook it to its foundation and caused maximum damage.”
The suicide attack, which has so far claimed 23 lives and left several people injured, came a little over a month after a similar attack on the Police Headquarters also in Abuja left scores dead and several others also injured.
What apparently began as a local agitation to settle domestic disputes has degenerated into perhaps, a battle for international recognition.
Security analysts have suggested that this could be a move by the group to attract “foreign investments” to its armed campaign.
It is believed that the high profile target was a sign by the Nigerian group which is said to have links to other extremist groups such as Al-Qaida and Al-Shabab of its readiness to collaborate.
The UN House attack, which was the first of its kind on any international agency in Nigeria in recent memory, has raised questions about Nigeria’s preparedness to handle the ever-growing threat to its national security.
As has always been the case after such attacks, condemnation of the mindless killing of innocent civilians came from all over the world. The United States, Britain, France, the State of Israel were among the first to condemn the act and offer not only condolences to the affected families; but also assistance in combating the menace.
However, the sad incident raised calls for soul searching.
When Boko Haram, began its violent campaign a few years ago, it was considered a “local problem” confined to Borno State.
An attempt to violently crush them led to the capture and subsequent controversial extra-judicial killing of their leader, Mohammed Yusuf.
This further emboldened the group, which hitherto targeted police formations, citing police provocation as reason.
The murder of Yusuf and scores of his supporters was the last straw, which broke the camel’s back, prompting members who survived the purge, to go underground and later resurface with deadlier force.
The group has spread its campaign to states in the north east and north central states.
It recorded successful raids on Police and Military targets before gunning for the UN House.
The Islamic sect also claimed responsibility for an attack on the Mogadishu Army Barracks and the June attack on the Police Headquarters all in Abuja; the culprit(s) are still at large.
While those in authority are yet to figure out what the problem really is, criticisms about its overall response to the situation are not in short supply.
The Nigeria Bar Association through its President, Joseph Daudu, while condemning the recent bombing, said it was time government owed up to its primary duty of providing security for lives and property.
Daudu said, “Everybody condemns the spate of bombings and we think that it is being exacerbated as a result of breaches in security.
“The present security reaction to it that I see; which is inconveniencing the people- long queues of vehicles, I think is not the solution.
“The solution is thorough intelligence work leading to the unearthing of those involved. It is a pointer to the weak security structures that we have.
“A society where you can even pass a police security check point with any criminal exhibit just by paying a small amount of money cannot prevent this sort of terrorist attacks.”
As a way forward, the NBA said, “The first thing we want to see disappear is policemen collecting money at check points because it gives the impression that the country is very porous.
“And as soon as the country is porous anybody can pass through.
“So, it is additional punishment when you line up in queues for about three or four kilometres and you don’t have any bomb detection materials, you just check vehicle booths and allow people to pass.
“I think people are being punished for the lapses of security agencies and the leadership.”
Like most Nigerians, members of the diplomatic corps working in the capital Abuja are concerned about their personal safety as well as the safety of their missions.
Diplomatic conventions set limits to how much diplomats can say while making public comments regarding the security situation in their host countries.
More so, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, on assumption of office announced that Nigeria would no longer tolerate “unguarded utterances” about our domestic affairs from diplomats operating on our soil.
However, in private some have been honest enough to express reservations about the professional conduct of Nigerian security officials especially the police.
One said, “It will take a lot of political will on the part of your leaders at all levels to change attitudes. You cannot get the kind of intelligence you require to deal with terrorism- which sadly has come into your country, unless attitudes improve.
“Leaders must stop using appointments into top levels of sensitive security positions as a form of political patronage.
“The security services must see their jobs as a calling for greater good and work to restore public confidence. Until this is done, I am afraid very little can be achieved.”
The diplomat also said government on its part must improve conditions to attract the best hands adding that the appalling state of facilities in police facilities, especially training institutions does not inspire confidence.
Obviously reacting to calls for improvements in security arrangements for foreign missions, the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with ambassadors accredited to Nigeria.
Both men assured them that no effort would be spared to ensure their safety. It remains unclear how far these assurances have gone to assuage the feeling of growing insecurity in the land.
A report by the US-based National Intelligence Council, titled ‘Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World,’ lists Nigeria among nations it classified as an ‘arc of instability’ which could lead to state failure if certain actions were taken.
The report read in part: “Unless employment conditions change dramatically in parlous youth-bulge states such as Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Yemen, these countries will remain ripe for continued instability and state failure.”
As expected, the report released in November 2008, elicited angry reactions from Nigerian government officials, yet the stark reality remains.
The report of an education survey carried out by the National Population Commission in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the National Bureau of Statistics paints a gloomy picture of the state of affairs, especially in northern Nigeria, the epicentre of the current spate of violence.
In the report titled, ‘Nigeria DHS EdData Survey 2010: Education Data for Decision Making,’ the NPC painted a gloomy picture of education, particularly in the Northwest and Northeast parts of the country.
According to the report, 72 per cent of children of school age surveyed in Borno State (incidentally the national headquarters of Boko Haram), had never been to school.
Its north-western counterpart, Zamfara State has 68 per cent of its school age children classified as out of school. In between them the two states account for the highest number of out of school children nationwide.
With high birth rates and a growing number of unemployed and often times unemployable army of youths, the consequences can better be imagined than experienced.
All these coupled with the unhealthy rivalry among security agencies form a lethal mix which could further weaken national security cohesion.
Reports of ethno-religious considerations being brought to bear on the consideration of security reports is another source for concern.
While the political leadership and security agencies grapple with the myriad of socio-economic and security challenges, it is hoped that all concerned will ensure that national unity triumphs. This, to a very large extent, can guarantee that Nigeria takes a step back from Armageddon.
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