by Benson Agoha
Boko Haram continues to pose a major security threat for Nigeria.
* Culled from Woolwich Online...[WOOLWICH ONLINE ].
Boko Haram continues to pose a major security threat for Nigeria.
More than 200 girls are still missing after their kidnap by the terror group, two months ago, even though negotiators have been working hard to secure their release.
An Emir was shot dead two weeks ago after their convoy was target by Boko Haram. They were on their way to attend a funeral of another Emir - that of Shehu Abubakar, the Emir of Gombe.
Last week, Boko Haram reportedly raided another village and took 20 women - adding to thier already large female haul.
On Sunday June 8, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade issued a press release in which he said the Army intercepted a female suicide bomber in Gombe state.
According to the statement the suicide bomber "had primed herself with improvised explosive devices concealed under her Hijjab" before she was stopped by troops acting on intelligence report.
The report said "a terrorist group was plotting to attack Barracks around Gombe, using female suicide bombers".
The was being searched when the bomb detonated, killing her and a military personal while wounding another.
Twenty four hours later, the Army Chief issued another press release announcing the death of 50 terrorists, killed after their planned raid on communities was frustrated.
The statement said, the troops "conducting anti-terrorists campaign in North-Eastern Nigeria have successfully averted attempted massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa States.."
Acting on intelligence, the troops halted the terrorists as they filed out of the forest around 10pm on Saturday June 7, 2014.
Items recovered from the gun-men included "30 rifles, 36 Hand Grenades, 7 Machine guns and 11 Rocket Propelled grenade tubes, 3,500 rounds of ammunition, 6 smoke grenade canisters, locally fabricated guns and 4 vehicles.
Four soldiers were reportedly wounded in the operation and were taken to the military hospital for treatment.
This is no doubt the result of quality intelligence provided by Nigeria's local and international friends and sympathisers who rose to the challenge posed after the groups leader, Abubakar Shekau, threatened to sell the kidnapped school girls into slavery.
The fact that Boko Haram continues to harrass the country amidst negotiations proves the point that the group is insensitive to the hurt they have caused, not just to Nigerians, the children and their families about whom they evidently care very little, but also to the affront they unleashed on the international community.
The world agrees it can disagree on many things but are united in the condemnation of `slavery'. No one who has experienced it in its different ramifications - and we are not just talking about Africans - finds anything good about slavery and last week, the Queen's speech also highlighted it.
The primary motivitations of Boko Haram - to reverse civilisation, on the platform of some archaic belief that is not even religiously substantiable - is abhorable. And they have saught to make that mark.
From their numerous attacks on communities, the police, the army, the emirs, churches, and school children, the group has shown no regard for constituted authority or for the international community.
Boko Haram is the `Nigerian factor gone too far', but with the political and military might of her international alleys, Nigeria has a rare opportunity to now sort out, not just Boko Haram, but the ugly ritual incidence of sectional groups springing up to oppose the `incumbent' and make the country ungovernable simply because he is from `the other side' of the country.
* Culled from Woolwich Online...[WOOLWICH ONLINE ].
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* Benson Agoha is the founder of Woolwich Online.
* Follow me on Twitter: @bensonagoha or @woolwichonline.
