Kuje Police Station, Kuje Main Market, and Nyanya Bus Station. Three bombs in two towns in one night; they have once again attacked our capital city, Abuja. The rebel tactics of Boko Haram have become more rampant as they are being decimated on the front lines of battle by our military. However, we must all ask ourselves: “Six years into this insurgency, have we become numb?”



Those of us that are blessed to be alive and unscathed must question if we have truly become desensitized to the dangers of this insurgency. We must begin to search deep within ourselves to find out whether or not we have turned a blind eye to the plight of our fellow countrymen and women who have lived through the chaos of Boko Haram. We must not delude ourselves into thinking that a terrorist attack in Borno State will not have ripple effects in Lagos State. We are one country bound together under God, law, a Constitution, and a common Federal government. Hence, what happens in Chibok must start to resonate in Surulere. To paraphrase Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s recent speech on terrorism in Nigeria: “Bombs do not discriminate.”

Any student that has read Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’ will understand that the guerilla approach that the extremists have resorted to is clear. Instill fear in the minds of every Nigerian; announcing with every explosion that evil knows exactly how to fight back. Boko Haram is attacking the unarmed, untrained, and always unprepared citizenry because as Sun Tzu says: “You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.” As everyday citizens, we have let down our defenses.

Needless to say, a rally to arms by everyday Nigerians will not be the solution to this problem. However, a final rally of our collective consciousness against our common enemy can lead to a citizen-centered approach that will send our own message: Nigeria stands united. Nigerians are ready to prevent, manage, curb, and end the conflict once and for all.

We must develop that righteous anger that stems from a place of unjustified provocation. We must push our minds to believe that truly and surely, Nigeria will defeat Boko Haram. However, just as our men and women in uniform are advancing on the frontlines of this war in the North East, those of us at home must also commit ourselves to ensure that once Boko Haram is dealt with in the fields, they can no longer regroup to strike at us in our cities.



As we approach this situation from a citizen perspective – asking ourselves: what can I do to make this situation any better? What can I do to contribute my own little quota to expedite the end of this insurgency? We must also ask: am I guilty of making this a political or ethnic issue? Am I guilty of thinking: this is not my problem because it is happening over there. If you have ever had or still have this ‘over there’ mindset, please, be rest assured that ‘over there’ is closer than you think. Over there could be at your doorstep someday if we do not program our collective psyche and efforts to defeat Boko Haram and all its splinter groups now.

For far too long, we have sectionalized terrorism as a ‘Northern Nigerian’ problem. We have viewed this issue through certain prisms and flawed perspectives that make it difficult to solve this problem. We have been guilty of politicizing this war, ‘ethnicizing’ this conflict, and regionalizing the fact that the Southern part of Nigeria remains basically unscarred. For now, Boko Haram is ‘situation specific.’ If nothing is done, this situation will change. Consequently, we must remember Pastor Martin Niemöller’s statement during the Nazi’s campaign to dominate Europe:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

If we do not remember the North East now, who will? If we do not donate to our internally displaced people now, who will? If those of us that live in communities that are likely to get attacked do not start meeting to proffer solutions on community vigilance at the local level, who will? If we do not begin to push our local, state, and federal representatives to focus on educating and reorienting the needy in our society, and establishing social security programs, we can be rest assured that the recruitment pool for those that may wish to hurt us using the neglected and forgotten members of our communities will always be overflowing.

Although we must focus on education, as I mentioned in one of my previous articles: “A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to education is no longer sufficient in Nigeria. Children must be taught the basic subjects that they need to know in this fast-paced world. However, they must also be taught the relevant issues and skills that are germane to their immediate environments. If they live in areas with high agricultural activity, our children must be taught the benefits, and best practices of farming in their schools […] Therefore, if they live in areas with high-insurgent activities, they must be taught the practical skills needed to survive in such environments. Teach them to detect manipulative and brainwash techniques early, and they will resist the recruiters when they come along. Teach our young men and women self defense, and in the absence of security – they can rally to hold the fort in their communities before help arrives.”

Finally, we must accept the fact that the government by itself cannot provide jobs for everyone. As such, unemployed young people are more likely to be recruited into nefarious activities. Consequently, there should be new public-private partnership focus to create ‘hyper-localized’ empowerment programs. Not every Nigerian that has a credible business idea, can write a proposal that would make him or her a beneficiary of empowerment scheme funds. However, hyper-localized community banking systems can give the skilled but illiterate members of our society access to funding for their small-scale ideas. Let us think outside the ‘status quo’ box.

As things stand, we have been at war against an enemy that is seeking to destroy us at any cost. We have been at this for 6 years. God willing, we will not get to the 7th year. Again, everyone has his or her part to play. Our military is doing the best that they can, but we must compliment their efforts in our own communities. Lead where you stand.

Four bombs went off in our capital city. By attacking Abuja, Boko Haram has sent us a message – they will not go down without a fight. As citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the ball is now in our court.

How will we respond?

Olu Onemola is the National Public Relations Officer of the All Progressives Congress Youth Forum (APYF). The views expressed here are his own. He tweets @OnemolaOlu.

SOURCE: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/boko-haram-is-also-your-problem-by-olu-wole-onemola

If to say boko haram bomb house of assembly and senate house.i for like them well well.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Excellent post!

The menace of Boko Haram that has not yet been curbed, despite efforts by our military men is so sickening and saddening.

Yes, children should be taught an "all- round-education" in relation to their environment and not only "one-size-fits-all" type of education, because its alarming the way they kept brainwashing and recruiting children to join in this malaise.

Some people are solely in this world to cause unrest and create problems for others!

@ op, I keep asking all of you this particular question, DID YOU KNOW ALL THESE THINGS WHEN GOODLUCK JONATHAN WAS STILL THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA OR YOU JUST BECAME WISE ALL OF A SUDDEN ?

I promise to keep laughing whenever bomb goes off in the northern part of Nigeria and Abuja, they used security and boko haram activities as a strong point on why they should be voted into power. A presidential candidate threatened a whole nation, even had the guts to call her citizens "dogs and babbons" , and people were hailing him as the 'messiah' . A 'messiah' that said Abacha never stole Nigeria's money. Now he's in power and bombs are exploding more frequently than knockouts during Christmas period and some idiots finally realised that the government can't do it all alone.


I passionate88 predict more bombings to come. I won't deactivate my account. Not now. Since the Daura Secret Service is now into kidnapping of perceived political opponents, I'll be on the lookout.

passionate88 signing off.

True post

Bokoharam, ISIS, ISIL, Al-Shebab, Al Qaeda e.t.c. All have one thing in common.... Islam....
Giving some innocent muslims a bad name

One day this menance will stop, but for how long will we bear this deluded killings.... God help us.

Wat...but com to think of it, somtyms I am tempted to believe that all these pictures of bokoharam bombings are pseudonym, come 2019, u'll still hear kano_5M voters, borno_4Metc...if it is not scam let them target aso rock or national assemly with a helicopter so we can believe they re roguely independent and not confined

This Recent BH attack in Abuja..shebi the mumucious armies dey lie say dem dey test equipment ni? Dem forget say BH sef dey tweet..

All these attacks will stop when people stop playing politics with the issue.
In the last administration, the opposition used these attacks to score points and even promised to end the attacks once they are elected into power.
It's been months since this new administration began and the story seems to be getting from bad to worse. They have seen that it is not as easy as they thought.

It is time to put politics aside, face reality and look for a way to solve this problem collectively.

I dey come

this undying menace BH.

nice one

Boko boys re national prob

tell dem

Sweetcollins:
Wat

Where?

Four Bomb Blast in a day! Such never happened even when Jonathan was President.

And some Dullards would say we are winning the war

Our support is also needed in defeating boko haram.I believe that boko haram will soon be defeated.God is on our side.

It is sad that bomb explosions have become the order of the day in Nigeria. In times past, we used to associate such news with Iraq, Pakistan etc.

A longtime friend of mine escaped the explosion by a whisker. One of the bombs had gone off at her normal route. She had passed the location minutes earlier before the bomb went off.

It is a very sad reality in Nigeria.

ShowYourCertificate:
Four Bomb Bladt in a day!

And some Dullard would say we are winning the war

We are winning the war.If you are not okay with that,GO AND DIE.

Can u imagine

passionate88:
@ op, I keep asking all of you this particular question, DID YOU KNOW ALL THESE THINGS WHEN GOODLUCK JONATHAN WAS STILL THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA OR YOU JUST BECAME WISE ALL OF A SUDDEN ?

I promise to keep laughing whenever bomb goes off in the northern part of Nigeria and Abuja, they used security and boko haram activities as a strong point on why they should be voted into power. A presidential candidate threatened a whole nation, even had the guts to call her citizens "dogs and babbons" , and people were hailing him as the 'messiah' . A 'messiah' that said Abacha never stole Nigeria's money. Now he's in power and bombs are exploding more frequently than knockouts during Christmas period and some idiots finally realised that the government can't do it all alone.


I passionate88 predict more bombings to come. I won't deactivate my account. Not now. Since the Daura Secret Service is now into kidnapping of perceived political opponents, I'll be on the lookout.

passionate88 signing off.

Don't mind the APC. Instead of them to support Jonathan in the fight against Terrorism they were busy making mockery of him to the delight of the Boko Haram insurgents. They did this in a bid to snatch power. Well they've got the power but their sins are now haunting them.

disloman:
We are winning the war.If you are not okay with that,GO AND DIE.

Oga Commissioner, abi na minister u be, abeg how u take dey win the war Boko boys dey gain more grounds, dem dey enta places wey we think say dey secure una dey com tell us say u dey win d war?
Only fools will be so gullible to accept that Nigeria is winning the war, even so much more when the people in charge are giving a december probability of them ending the menace.

Either propaganda or not, we jst pray it all ends on or before december.

We know boko is our problem DAT y we voted
President buhari to help fight insurgency.abi wer u expecting inexperienced citizens to pick up Guns..

Did u deduce any of what the writer had reinstated?if u had,u wouldn't have written this.

passionate88:
@ op, I keep asking all of you this particular question, DID YOU KNOW ALL THESE THINGS WHEN GOODLUCK JONATHAN WAS STILL THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA OR YOU JUST BECAME WISE ALL OF A SUDDEN ?

I promise to keep laughing whenever bomb goes off in the northern part of Nigeria and Abuja, they used security and boko haram activities as a strong point on why they should be voted into power. A presidential candidate threatened a whole nation, even had the guts to call her citizens "dogs and babbons" , and people were hailing him as the 'messiah' . A 'messiah' that said Abacha never stole Nigeria's money. Now he's in power and bombs are exploding more frequently than knockouts during Christmas period and some idiots finally realised that the government can't do it all alone.


I passionate88 predict more bombings to come. I won't deactivate my account. Not now. Since the Daura Secret Service is now into kidnapping of perceived political opponents, I'll be on the lookout.

passionate88 signing off.

Good article.

A little piece that touches the Hearts.We need holistic Learning in our educational system and our environment should be the major determinant of what our children should be taught in there various schools.Ie,Curriculum should be centered on the happenings in the various environment,community and there immediate society@large. As such we need a review,renew and renovation in our Curriculum.

b4 nko? its everybody's problem

disloman:
We are winning the war.If you are not okay with that,GO AND DIE.

Keep on deceiving yourself. Go and tell your story to those at the hospital and to those relatives of the departed.

yes o