The frontiers of Jihad may need some editorial interpretation. Heraclitus said “he who watches a thing grow has the best view of it”. Boko Haram must be contextualized and the social and political forces that produced it exposed. Terrorism is not a pseudo -event. It cannot be gainsaid that Boko Haram had embraced violent Islamism as a doctrine and ideology. Violent Islamism is a form of resistance aimed at constructing a political spectacle. News report stimulates the construction of political spectacles. The News is shaped to attract audience and sometimes to encourage particular Interpretation through its contents. Boko Haram communicates its messages through release of propaganda videos, with the aim of creating, talking points.

Worryingly, Boko Haram got its ideological Inspiration from Salafi Jihadism; a translational Ideology rooted in 7th century Puritanism. Jihadist terrorism is not borne out of poverty and unemployment. Jihadist terrorists are misguided idealists. The motivation for jihadism is primarily ideological. Aymau Zawahiri who succeeded Osama Bin Ladin as al-quaeda leader is a eye surgeon and Islamic scholar. Abu Batrel el-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State “ISIS” has a doctoral degree in Islamic Law. Jihadist Terrorists are religious Zealots. Boko Haram is an offshoot of global Jihadist Terrorism. It was no surprise therefore when a faction of Boko Haram now style itself as the Islamic state in West Africa. It has always been a vassal of foreign terrorist group. But, Intelligence analysts wrongly classified the group as a local Jihadist group.

Nigeria became a Jihad destination long time ago. In the 1970s, Marwa, a Cameroonian Imam founded the Maitatsine Sect in Kano. In year 2000 The Nigerian Taliban Emerged. Mohammed Yusuf started building schools and teaching radical Islamic Ideology in year 2004. In year 2005, the Sahiel region had become the newest front in global Islamic terrorism. This was fueled by the activities of al-aaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. This is an off shoot of the Salafist group for the predication and combat (GSPC) which emerged during the Algerian Civil War that raged between 1992 and 1998. Boko Haram was a terror cell of the North African Branch of al-aaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The group became a global terror franchise in 2009, when Mohammed Yusuf was killed extra judicially by the police. Abubakar Shekau faction of Boko Haram is still loyal to al- aaeda while that of al - banawi is loyal to Isis.

Boko Haram exhibited characteristics of global terrorist franchise; when it started releasing video messages, use of suicide bombers, attacks on symbolic targets such as United Nations building in Abuja, police force head quarters and military installations. Late Gen. Owoye Azazi, former security adviser to former president, Goodluck Jonathan said in 2012 that; there is a connection between Boko Haram and global terror network of al aaeda. Scholars and security analyst were sceptical. The reason is that they did not want Nigeria to be classified as a country were terrorism exist. This self denial had not helped us. When a radicalized Nigerian Farouk Abudulmuttab attempted to blow up a plane over Detroit Michigan, it was clear that global terror jihadism had arrived Nigeria for the worst. This had gone into infamy.

Anyway, Boko Haram is an Innuendo for Jihadism. It has no literal meaning but inferential meaning of death and destruction. It symbolizes Nigeria’s past fighting its future. This is not a gratuitous assumption. Boko Haram is never a product of Joblessness and poverty in the North. The group anchor’s its bloody quest on the desire to enthrone its warped vision of sharia law and end western influences. However, pervasive poverty and illiteracy among northern youth could be factors for recruitment and indoctrination.

Regrettably, the media had created the impression that Boko Haram is an Islamic Sect. I would rather suggest that Boko Haram is a product of global Jihadist Tendencies. Media Messages use images and language to persuade us to think and act in certain ways. But, if we are savvy in our media literacy, we will realize that a group that kills Muslim cannot be an Islamic sect. The media is narrative but it can unconsciously manipulate our ideas, emotions and desires. The media is also rhetorical. The media is exploiting the fact that; Islam spread through Jihad and Christianity through colonization. Boko Haram can only give false spiritualism because its leaders are spiritual charlatans. Quran chapter 60 verse 7 and the Bible contents in 2nd Cor. 13 vs. 11 are on fours about peaceful and harmonious living.

We cannot segregate God’s word from the historical reality in which it is proclaimed. The Bible and the Quran are God’s manifestos. The Bible said in the book of psalm 24 vs 1 that; “The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof”. Sharia law and the Torah both contain Mala prohibitas and Mala inse offenses. These Holy Books contains offenses against conscience and morality. It is a taboo in both religions to kill humans created by God. There is no textual quagmire if we use the narrative analysis and narrative constructions in the Bible and Quran respectively.

Unbelievably, herdsmen killings and cattle rustling are deliberate seque of Boko Haram tactics. They rustle cattle to raise fund and finance their operations. They force their way into people’s farmland to graze their rustled cattle and used the opportunity to kill humans and destroy properties. Nigerians are just waking up to the reality of it. When did Fulani herdsmen start carrying AK47 riffles to graze their cattle? Boko Haram means different thing to different people. Some appreciate the group for its nuisance value, others for its tendentiousness. Militants don’t intellectualize issues; they force issues on people through mindless bloodletting.

Political decay causes de-institutionalization. There are shadow elites behind the emergence of Boko Haram. When there is political decay disgruntled elites will try to destabilize the existing political order by creating anarchy and dysfunctions. Also, when there is clash between national interest and leadership preferences, there will be elite conflict. The murderous tendencies of Boko Haram got to its climax, when former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan dared the power cabal and contested the 2011 presidential election and won it. Political power is based ultimately on social cohesion and legitimacy of leaders and institutions. Boko Haram may have their sympathizers as moles in all the institutions of governance. It will exploit to its advantage cracks in the governance structure.

The medium is the message. The contents of the latest Boko Haram video is propaganda filled. It is not any piece for crusade journalism. The technical structure of a medium shapes the message. Boko Haram cannot have access to the traditional media unless through propaganda videos. The press is sometimes charged with ideological bias. Facts must be put in context. Thoughtful reporters admit that, judgments are unavoidable in editing stories. Stories must be presented witty phrases and colourful descriptions. But facts are not for entertainments. The impact of communication is total and pervasive. We need communication to inform, to persuade and to conduct social life. Terrorist propaganda videos are political media event.

Hostage negotiation is secretive. But the release of hostages is a media event. The proofs of life video released by Boko Haram concerning the kidnapped chibok girls have propaganda value. The video was released when some government officials expressed doubt about the chibok school girls. The video may not be a proof of life. But, prayerfully, it is hope that the chibok girls among others kidnapped are alive. The American governments spend five (5) years to negotiate the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahi with the Taliban. The soldier was exchanged for five (5) Taliban commanders namely; Mohammad Fazi, Mullah Norullah Noori, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah Khairkhawa and Abdul Haq wasiq. The proof of life video for the chibok girls was to awake emotions and instigates citizens’ action to demand hostage negotiation on the issue. The Bring Back Our Girls campaigners fell for the bait.

In conclusion, Boko Haram video releases can be considered as press leaks, to test the political waters and get public sympathy. The media uses these leaks to set agenda and create talking points. By error of omission or commission, the media work for Boko Haram. This is the irony of media sociology. But, it is not a bill of attainder. The attentive public cannot be deceived. Group of well informed citizens will analyze issues objectively and make informed opinion. News illiterates can be easily deceived with propaganda news. This should be of some concern.

Force Bray is a citizen journalist

Ok

2 long