Biafra: United Nations must sanction Nigeria government; its Northern youths, for effrontery on human rights violations

By Xylem Chukwubatista

For Biafra Choice Writers

Before I proceed with this article, please allow me to draw your attention to a statement made years ago by an American journalist/reporter name withheld, it says: "All Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims." This implies that research carried out by both local and international media on terrorism security intelligence proved that, "terrorism in the world" is mostly perpetrated by Muslims under an Islamic agenda.

Note: the objective of this article does not in any way suggest that "Christians" cannot, or have not participated in terrorism but to clearly bring on board and make the point straight that "Muslims" are found more on terrorism according to both local and international reports, and that makes the Muslims the Ultimate terrorist sect that has ever existed on earth.

The Origin of Boko Haram

The dreaded Islamic group known as Boko Haram is said to have emerged in 2002 under the leadership of Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri. Yusuf had a strict, fundamentalist interpretation of the Qur’an and believed that the creation of Nigeria by British colonialists had imposed a Western and un-Islamic way of life on Muslims.

Yusuf however set up a religious complex, which included a mosque and an Islamic school. Many poor Muslim families from across Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries, enrolled their children at the school. But Boko Haram was not only interested in education. Its political goal was to create an Islamic state, and the school became a recruiting ground for jihadists with the sponsor of top ranking Northern elders, northern political elites e.g President Muhammadu Buhari among others.

The most commonly accepted translation of the name “Boko Haram” in the indigenous lingua franca Hausa, is: “Western education is forbidden”. Boko originally means fake but came to signify Western education, while haram means “forbidden”. It has also been translated as “Western influence is a sin” and “Westernization is sacrilege”

The group’s official name is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”. Boko Haram is also active in Chad, Niger and Northern Cameron.

Nigerian government going against Human Rights, committed genocide on Boko Haram. Authorities from a task force known as Operation Flush II in Maiduguri confronted Yusuf’s followers in 2009. While the group was very much peaceful in its agitation, no fewer than 117 Boko Haram members were wounded. Abubakar Yusuf angrily denounced the security forces and called on his followers to rise up against them hence many of their peaceful members were massacred in genocidal attack carried upon them by the government.

In a violent campaign that stretched some five days they attacked police stations and engaged in gun battles before the military brutally cracked down. Nigerian government got them cheap because they (the government) had allegedly promised them (the sect) negotiation and peaceful-talk. So the government fooled them and they let down their guard.

Yusuf was eventually captured by soldiers and then handed over to police, who shot him dead. Police claimed he tried to escape when they killed him, but witnesses said he was executed. His body was shown on state television and the security forces declared Boko Haram finished. What a laughable declaration.

Months later, a video later emerged of alleged security forces ordering people they suspected of being Boko Haram members to lie on the ground before shooting them dead. Around 800/900 people were killed in this round of violence perpetrated by the Nigerian supposedly "Armed Forces".

Boko Haram then re-emerged in 2010 with assassinations and a major raid on a prison more than a year, having gone underground. Yusuf’s deputy, Abubakar Shekau, who police claimed had been killed in the 2009 uprising, began to appear in videos as the group’s new leader.

Attacks gradually grew more deadly and sophisticated, particularly with the use of explosives.

Boko Haram designated a Terrorist Group by US In 2013

Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram - which has caused havoc in Africa's most populous country through a wave of bombings, assassinations and abductions - is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.

Boko Haram promotes a version of Islam which makes it "haram", or forbidden, for Muslims to take part in any political or social activity associated with Western society. This includes voting in elections, wearing shirts and trousers or receiving a secular education.

Boko Haram regards the Nigerian state as being run by non-believers, regardless of whether the president is Muslim or not - and it has extended its military campaign by targeting neighbouring states. The group's official name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad.

But residents in the North-eastern city of Maiduguri, where the group had its headquarters, dubbed it Boko Haram.

Boko Haram at A Glance

Founded in 2002

Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state, and went haywire bombing everything in sight – United Nation’s office, churches, schools; as well as abductions and murders of Christians.

Current Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari used Boko Haram in 2011 as wheel power to campaign (and on coming into power eventually in 2015, he has released many of them from prison and paying them compensations with which they restocked their arms depots).

It was designated a terrorist group by US in 2013 (after Obama stalled for many years against better counsel)

Boko Haram declared a caliphate in areas it controlled in 2014, and laid siege on Nigerian government and soldiers under mayhem in 2015

Nigerian government declared Boko Haram technically defeated in 2016 by Chief of Army Staff, Buratai, alongside Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information.

In spite of all these, some Northern youths, who from all indications are part sponsors of Boko Haram, called on the UN to tag Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist group. What a slap on Human Rights in the world! UN must understand this and apply appropriate sanctions.