An expert in terrorism management and acting head of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Osisioma Nwolise, has posited that the dreaded Boko Haram sect, which has claimed responsibility for the series of bombing incidents in the country, is not a terrorist organisation.

Rather, the university lecturer described Boko Haram as a liberation force, in the mould of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and others, which came to the fore as a result of a raging state-people conflict and struggle for social justice.

He spoke in a paper, entitled Nigeria @ 51: Where is the life more abundant for the masses? at a public lecture and award ceremony to mark the Nigeria’s 51st Independence anniversary, organised by the Centre for Good Governance in Africa at the Conference Centre of the university, at the weekend.

The Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja, Dr Seidu Mohammed, the chairman of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mr Saheed Popoola and others received African Symbol for Quality Leadership award at the event.

Dr Nwolise, who has taught management of terrorism at the National Defence College for five years and also researched and published extensively on the subject since 1982, admitted that thin line separated terrorism and liberation struggle, adding that “it is not everybody that uses terrorist tactics that is a terrorist.”