Like a drama, like a joke, unsown garment has become a dress. (Bi ere, bi ere, ala borun ti wa di ewu). When that recalcitrant young Nigerian Abdutalab attempted to blow up an American airline of which he was a passenger barely few days to Christmas of 2009, we were all shocked to the marrow. Nigerians have reputation for fraud, corruption and reckless embezzlement of public and private funds, but not terrorism. We protested vehemently for removal of our country from the list of terrorist countries which FBI placed us aftermath of that event.


Today, before our very eyes, in the 21st century, Nigeria has become a country of suicide bombers with flagrant disregard to lives and properties. Ogede mba je alon pon!(Plantain is getting rotting, we are saying is getting ripen).To show the ordinary Nigerians that they should not look for their deliverance in the Nigeria Police force,Boko Haram bombed the police headquarters, destroying lives and properties worth millions of naira. But for the grace of God, Haffiz Ringim, the country's police chief would have been a dead man that does not even have the luxury of going to the grave with his full body.

The main question we should ask ourselves is: How did we arrive here? What was the job of succeeding National security advisers, Inspector generals of police, Ministers of defence, Interior ministers, Directors of SSS and other security agencies? What were they doing when this deadly satanic sect were recruiting, training and purchasing dangerous arms and ammunitions under their noses. Were they sleeping or busy stealing public money that they forgot they were getting paid to secure us.Wahalahi, it is plainly a failure of Intelligence! That is what we get recycling the same set of tired horses. Or how come nobody knew anything about Boko Haram until they became Boko Haram?

My fear for Nigeria is that we don't even seem to understand that WE ARE NOW A COUNTRY AT WAR! Boko whatever they are called has declared war on the federal republic of Nigeria. Like the United States, we are now fighting terrorism. The fight against terror redefined George Bush presidency. His eight years were spent chasing al-Qaida anywhere they were or perceived to be. The cost was enormous; billions of dollars, corpes of young men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq were daily brought home from the war front. A lot of restructuring took place and America has become a country where every hand is on deck to report any suspicious movement or action. Everyone is a stake holder in the fight against terror. When asked if America is now safe, Condoleeza Rice, the then national security adviser could only say that America is now safer. If the fight against terrorism is that daunting for the United States, we can imagine what we have on our plate. It is getting clearer that Boko Harram has ties with the notorious al-Qaida. Now that they have declared that Aso Rock is their number 1 target, we should now that this touts are hell bent on destroying the nation. If not for the timely interception and vigilance of some men of the Nigeria army penultimate Saturday,Boko Haram could again have succeeded in taking about 700 explosives into Abuja to do what they know how to do best. Sad enough, our intelligence has to be right 100 percent of times,Boko Haram has to be right only once.

Recently the names of some former governors of Borno, Gombe and Bauchi have been linked with dealing with this sect at one time or the other. They should be quizzed to know more about the sect, what they stand for, who are the sponsor and masterminds. Of course terrorist always have God fathers, money bag that do the finances. All the recognized accounts of the members and their sponsors must be frozen to incapacitate their finances. This is not the time to siddon look. Neither is this a time to play party antics. The president and his security council should treat this as a national emergency. The national assembly must approve extra funds to tackle Boko Harram if need be. Our intelligence agencies must be restructured and be well coordinated. America responded with the ministry of Homeland Security.

The buck should stop at somebody's table. I am not a security expert, but I think the Security Council should have a position, ether to negotiate with the terrorist group or go all out to rout them. Whatever is the government's position, we need to act fast. The general public by now should be given a security number to call if anyone has vital information, even promises of monetary reward is not out of place. Everybody must be vigilant. These are not the times to sleep like the dead. We have to be conscious of strange men and things around us. Suscpicion is allowed in emergencies like this. Oju l'alakan finso ori(The crab uses its eyes to protect its head). Delay is dangerous. Ojo ti a ba ri ibi,ni ibi wole(Placentas are buried the same day a child is born).May the lord deliver Nigeria from all who hold her by the jugular.

http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2011/jul/191.html