The news emanating from Nigerian armed forces in the
North this week has been extremely encouraging,
especially considering the alarming ISIS inspired
‘caliphate’ rhetoric coined by Boko Haram’s fugitive
leader in recent weeks.

Several reports of strong victories for Nigerian forces
culminating with the killing of Abubakar Shekau (or a
man feigning his bloodthirsty antics in the spate of
sickening videos publicly released) speak of a turn in
the tide in the battle for Borno and beyond.
Only weeks earlier, reports were rampant of an imminent
attack on Maiduguri by Boko Haram as their dastard
attempts to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria
showed signs of encompassing the whole of Borno
State.

The insurgents attack on Bama, Borno’s second largest
town earlier this month, spoke of the severity of their
intent. Stories of Nigerian soldiers abandoning post and
complaints of inadequate equipment for the task at hand
further fuelled the speculative notion that Boko Haram
were on the defiant rise.

However, with the cloud of ‘invincibility’ surrounding
Shekau (or his eccentric double) dealt with and an
alleged 260 militants ‘surrendering’ subsequently, I think
we can successfully posit that a turnaround in the
fortunes of Nigeria’s fight with Boko Haram has come at
last.

“The recent devastation on the insurgents’ leadership is
attributable to the renewed commitment to eradicating
terrorism,” was the triumphant tweet of Defence HQ
Nigeria yesterday, coupled with the hash tag
#victory for Nigeria.

I join every well-meaning Nigerian to rejoice in this
wonderful news. However, as someone inclined to the
philosophy of the spiritual outworking in the physical,
aside from the selfless sweat and toil of our boys at the
front, I would suggest another key factor involved in the
sudden decline of the militants.

Aside from their financial backers in high places, it is
known that Boko Haram rely on ‘spiritual protection’ in
their operations. I remember a controversial Nigerian
cleric warning against fear in the fight against the
insurgents earlier this year. “Your response determines
their operation,” he calmly said. “Fear and panic help
their operations because their main weapons are not
bombs and guns of all sorts but evil spirits.”

I am of the opinion that a particular event triggered a
spiritual change in the atmosphere in Borno which
proved critical in the demise of Shekau or his
impersonator. You may insinuate religious fanaticism but
I pose the question – does any coincidence exist
between Pastor T.B. Joshua’s unusually heated words
last week and the subsequent surge by Nigerian forces?
Consider yourself what he said in the aftermath of
fingering Boko Haram as the masterminds of an ‘attack’
on his church that led to over 100 casualties.
“I want to assure you that our God will get back to them.
Listen to me – God will get back to them – the agents of
satan – and you will know when He gets back to them.
You will know – ‘Because of what happened, look at
what happened’. I said it last time concerning Boko
Haram – our God will get back. Maybe this will be the
end of the whole thing.”

I may be wrong but I suggest God’s wrath and retribution
has been provoked! Let us pray that indeed ‘the end of
the whole thing’ is nigh, for no one can fight God and
escape unscathed. That includes Boko Haramites and all
whose devilish ideals involve innocent bloodshed.

Godwin Ikechukwu – Lagos, Nigeria

*yawns* Whatever!!

*Exhales* cant believe i read that