Violent Islamic group Boko Haram has maintained a presence in the north of Nigeria despite government efforts to control unrest. It continues to disrupt civilian safety and educational opportunities.
Nigeria has seen a recent spike in violent activity in the north-east as a result of militant Islamist group Boko Haram. Over 100 attacks have already occurred this year, with many more dead and injured as a result.
The group’s name, which translates to local Hausa language as ‘Western education is forbidden’, has caused major havoc in the country since 2009. It fights to make Northern Nigeria an Islamic state, using terrorist attacks as political statements.
North-eastern Nigeria has been its main base ever since its establishment back in 2002 by late founder Muhammed Yusuf. The group has caused bombings, general civilian attacks, and is responsible for many abductions of school children and college students.
The most notorious of these was the 2014 mass kidnapping of over 275 girls from a boarding school in Chibok, Borno State, which drew global attention. A major campaign was launched to bring the girls back, though attacks like these remain commonplace even today.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Federal Capital Authority (FCA) issued a press statement concerning the current national security situation on Monday 14th June 2021.
Signed by Rev. Jechonia Albert, Public Relations of the Association, he stressed that poor civilian security – mostly in the north – is preventing rural farmers from being able to grow food.
This could increase food shortage in the near future and affect the country’s food supply.
‘Without mincing words, the current state of the nation has plunged the vast majority of the people into hunger, poverty, frustration, and despondency,’ part of the statement read.
Additionally, CAN expressed concern at the Boko Haram insurgents causing mayhem on Nigerians, killing innocent people and taking communities hostage.
In states like Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina, children often avoid attending school in fear of abduction. Parents pay ransoms in the millions for the release of their children from abductors – it is a very real and serious threat.
In addition, thousands of Nigerians have been rendered homeless by bandits in northern rural communities, with reports suggesting attacks occur on a regular, daily basis.
What does this mean for Nigerian children?
This unrest is having a detrimental affect on children’s education, especially in the north of the country.
Children can easily be recruited into militia groups such as Boko Haram and used in killings. In December 2020, for example, Boko Haram kidnapped 33 boys and only a handful managed to escape unharmed.
In April this year, the group seized control of Kaure District, a remote community in the Niger State. Over 3,000 citizens reportedly fled the area and violence is expected to increase throughout the year as a result.
Efforts by security agencies to combat attacks like these and guarantee civilian safety seem to be largely ineffective, at least right now. Many state soldiers have been killed and wounded, with casualty numbers high enough to equate to front line warfare in some states.
As it stands, the jihadist organization threatens not only the stability of Africa’s largest oil producer, but also the political, economic, and security interests in Africa.
Only time will tell if the Nigerian government can improve the safety of its citizens and secure educational opportunities for Gen Zers.
I’m Derrick (He/Him), a Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from the Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya. Currently I write about trending topics and major issues affecting Africa for Thred, specifically concerning SDGs. View my Twitter here if you’d like to send me feedback.
With climate change raging over glacial ice, the landmark sanctuary was built to preserve Earth’s historical records held within the ice.
Time machines have long captured human imagination but have remained firmly in the realm of science fiction. Yet, understanding the past may not require such sophisticated piece of tech at all, for nature has already given us something alike – glacial ice.
Snow is composed partially of air, and...
The anticipation of having a baby is often clouded with uncertainty for Africa’s women as well as their families and healthcare providers due to an overwhelming number of pregnancy complications.
According to WHO, annually there are over 2 million stillbirths in the world, over half occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.
These stillborn deaths are often preventable. Poor access to prenatal care, shortages of qualified health care providers, delayed responses to emergencies,...
Would people be more inclined to recycle their waste if they had a slim chance of winning $1,000 each time? Unsurprisingly, the data says yes.
A sense of moral responsibility or pang of guilt not cutting it? How about four figures of cold hard cash for that garbage?
Around 10 US states are already reimbursing people with a few cents for their empty bottles or cans, but what if the odd...
Dubbed ‘High Earners, Not Rich Yet’ (or Henrys), young Brits are feeling the pinch thanks to tax traps and inflation.
Unless you’ve found yourself in a high-paying job (or grew up with a silver spoon between your lips), £100k probably sounds like a lot of money. But young people earning these six figures claim to be struggling financially – both in the UK and across the pond.
Henrys, particularly...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
0 comments
