Curfew in Bauchi, North East Nigeria Over Religious Clash afp20090727614002 Abuja Hot fm in English 26 Jul 09

[Commentary by Aliyu A. Ammani: "Boko Haram Uprising: Not Seeing the Wood for the Trees"]

The point of departure in this write-up is that Boko Haram is a movement not an Islamic sect. The late Muhammad Yusuf , or his Boko Haram movement, was not the first northern Nigerian Muslim, or Islamic movement, to see, view, regard or consider boko (western education) as haram (unlawful). My grand father and his contemporary members of the then Ulama of what is today known as northern Nigeria said so more than a hundred years ago, when the white Christian missionaries first came with ilmin boko. However, there is a world of difference between their reasons for considering boko as kafirci or haram and the reasons that informed Muhammad Yusuf's verdict.

From the very beginning, in this part of the world, literary knowledge has always been associated with religions. Islam brought Arabic/Islamic literary education. Christian missionaries brought boko alongside the Christian religion. The Malams then saw, and justifiably so, boko in light of the divide between Islam and kafirci: as an avenue through which the missionaries seek to convert Muslim boys and girls to the Christian faith. Thus, their then conclusion that boko was haram as it leads to kafirci.

More than a hundred years and counting, despite series of policy and curriculum reviews, this belief in the kafirci of boko is still popular among some northern Muslims, particularly among the Gardawa: Tsangaya or Madrasas graduate students of the Qur'an. Interestingly, Muhammad Yusuf was a Gardi, a product of the Madrasas school system. He never received any form of western education, this much he admitted in his debate with Ustaz Isa Aliyu Fantami in Bauchi some three years ago. Never mind baseless newspaper reports describing him as "educated and proficient in the English language".

The chief argument of the group that boko is haram is predicated on the view that the content of some subjects of instructions in our schools contradicts the tenets of the Islamic religion, notably, the Big Bang Theory, Darwinism, the Law of Conservation of matter and energy; and the views of some free thinkers and philosophers that question the existence of God or divine religions. Granted that there are aspects of the contents of our educational curriculum that appeared to be in conflict with the code of belief of the Islamic faith, is the curriculum process not a continuous one: subject to both evaluation and review? But how do you expect an illiterate, in the boko sense, to appreciate this? To Muhammad Yusuf and his followers, we must take up arms to purge our curriculum of heresy.

It is mystifying that someone who has never seen the four walls of a primary school hinges the chief argument of his movement on the content matter of academic subjects he knew next to nothing about. Even more perplexing is the question: how was it possible for an illiterate, in the boko sense, to mobilized tens of thousand of men and women, including students, university graduates, civil servants (including even a retired permanent secretary), politicians (including a former Hon. Commissioner), academics, etc. to such a bleak cause? Perhaps the people have lost confidence in both the system and the powers that be, and their support for such anti-establishment movement is a manifestation of their blind desire for a change, overhaul or even a total destruction of the system.

Muhammad Yusuf was not the first leader of an Islamic movement in Nigeria to declare the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a dagut: not worthy of allegiance to by good and upright Muslims. Neither was he the first to urge his members to drop from school, nor was he the first to declare working in any form of government employment unlawful. In all three cases, the Islam Only movement of Ibrahim El-Zazzaky set the precedence in the late 1970s and the 80s. Again, interestingly, Muhammad Yusuf was a principal officer in that movement, 1985-1990, according to his 'teacher' Auwal Albany of Zaria.

Even in the area of attacking police posts and personnel, Muhammad Yusuf's movement was following in the steps of the Maitatsine's movement of the 1980s.

Many social commentators and analysts implicated poverty and massive youth unemployment in the country for the incessant sectarian crises in the North. No doubt, there is a widespread feeling of despondency as a result of the blatant failure of both the democratic system, particularly the highly distorted electoral process's inability to entrench good leadership; and the woeful state of the economy: overcrowded cities, poor social infrastructure, high unemployment rate, corruption in high places and the ever increasing gap between the rich and the poor. While these negatives are not the preserve of the North, I make haste to add the following three paragraphs from my 2007 essay, Nigeria: Washing our Dirty Linen in Public, which in my opinion is the catalyst of the phenomenon of religious crises in the North:

"In Nigeria, Islamic religious authority or power has been diffused at a local level among countless scholars or Mallams, who lack a clearly defined hierarchy, organization, minimum standards for entry, or even a curriculum for doctrine training. While every serious member of the Ulama has a right to use all the knowledge and experience he posses in the service of Islam and the community he belongs; he must not, however, be allowed to mix-up his own prejudice, conjecture and conclusion with the interpretation of Islamic texts, particularly the Qur'an, which is perfectly perspicacious. Yet, the absence of a body which has the authority and legal muscle to screen and licensed all Islamic preachers in such a way that only those found worthy, both in character and learning, will be licensed to preach; make Islamic preaching in particular, and all other forms of religious preaching in general, an all comers affair along with its attendant consequences.

"In a typical northern setting, particularly within the Hausaland, any person vocal enough to stand in the mosque or in a public place to voice his views on issues, no matter how misinformed, quoting Qur'anic verses, no matter how out of place, is instantly regarded as a mallam or even a sheikh. And if he happens to be antagonistic towards the powers that be, he quickly win large following as a fearless and God fearing Mallam. Thus, the vocal mallams held their followers spellbound and dogmatized. Majority of the followers accept whatever comes out of the mouth of the Mallam as the Qur'anic truth. To argue with Mallam is to blaspheme. Giving the impression of a form of totalitarian arrangement, that demand and get complete obedience from people with no independent mind.

"This brand of mallams is fatwa happy. Fatwa is open for all. Yet, one will make bold to say, without the fear of contradiction that the bulk of these mallams are ignorant of the logic, philosophy and workings of the socio-economic and political systems they were falling over themselves to give fatwa on. The fatwa are supported by distortions of facts and by appeals to passion and prejudice, often deliberately false and misleading, all in an attempt to persuade through emotional appeal..."

The thrust of this essay is that neither the ideology nor the methodology of the Boko Haram movement is new to northern Nigeria; it is the dysfunctional socio-economic, particularly the cultural and religious environment that encourages the emergence and growth of groups such as the boko haram movement. It is the constitutional responsibility of the government to protect life and property of its citizens. Government must establish a competent body that will have the authority and legal muscle to screen and license all religious preachers in such a way that only those found worthy, in character and learning, will be licensed to preach. This in my view is the only way out of the woods.

[Description of Source: Gamji.com in English -- independent Nigerian news portal; URL: http://www.gamji.com/]

Nigeria: Government Sets Up 'Another' Security Panel on Recent Sect Violence

AFP20090824578005 Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English 24 Aug 09

[Report by Taiwo Adisa: "Boko Haram: FG Inaugurates Fresh Security Inquest"]

The Federal Government has inaugurated another security inquest into the recent religious uprising, leading to the death of about 300 people in Northern parts of the country.

Though the Boko Haram sect, which spearheaded the violence, appeared to have been subdued, sources close to the government had indicated that there was the need to nail the source of such uprising.

President Umaru Yar'Adua was said to have mandated the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Sarki Muktar, to constitute a high-powered security team to further investigate the outbreak of the crisis.

It was learnt that the government had initially ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to provide details of the Boko Haram violence, the causes and the promoters. But a source said the president decided that there was the need for another team, headed by the NSA, to dig into the remote and immediate implications of the crisis.

It was gathered that the government had also charged the committee with the responsibility of looking into the situation in the Niger Delta, with a view to identifying hitches to the ongoing disarmament and amnesty.

[Description of Source: Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English -- Website of the privately owned daily; URL: http://www.tribune.com.ng]

Nigeria: Borno Court Remands 96 'Suspected' Islamic Sect Members to Custody

AFP20090824565001 Abuja Daily Trust Online in English 0246 GMT 23 Aug 09

[Report by Mustapha Isah Kwaru: "96 Boko Haram Members Remanded in Prison Custody"]

A Wulari Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday remanded 96 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in prison custody. Sunday Trust gathered that the suspects were arrested in Maiduguri metropolis, Biu and Gamborou local government areas, when the mayhem was brought under control.

The First Information Report (FIR) obtained by our correspondent when the case came up for mention, indicated that the suspected sect members were arraigned before the court on 10-count charge of criminal conspiracy, joint act, inciting disturbance, membership of unlawful assembly and joint assembly armed with deadly weapons.

Others were voluntary causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or grievous hurt, mischief by fire, culpable homicide and treason contrary to sections 97, 80,114,102 and103.

Other were sections 24,410 and 415 of the Penal Code, Federal Provision Act of Northern Nigeria 1994, and laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

When the charges were read out, the first accused person, Inusa Ibrahim Sabo pleaded guilty while other suspects denied the charges.

The prosecuting police officer, Barrister Richard Balami asked the court to give him more time so as to gather additional evidence.

[Description of Source: Abuja Daily Trust Online in English -- Website of the independent pro-North daily; URL: http://www.news.dailytrust.com/]

Nigeria: Borno Court Remands 96 'Suspected' Islamic Sect Members to Custody

AFP20090824565001 Abuja Daily Trust Online in English 0246 GMT 23 Aug 09

[Report by Mustapha Isah Kwaru: "96 Boko Haram Members Remanded in Prison Custody"]

A Wulari Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday remanded 96 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in prison custody. Sunday Trust gathered that the suspects were arrested in Maiduguri metropolis, Biu and Gamborou local government areas, when the mayhem was brought under control.

The First Information Report (FIR) obtained by our correspondent when the case came up for mention, indicated that the suspected sect members were arraigned before the court on 10-count charge of criminal conspiracy, joint act, inciting disturbance, membership of unlawful assembly and joint assembly armed with deadly weapons.

Others were voluntary causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or grievous hurt, mischief by fire, culpable homicide and treason contrary to sections 97, 80,114,102 and103.

Other were sections 24,410 and 415 of the Penal Code, Federal Provision Act of Northern Nigeria 1994, and laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

When the charges were read out, the first accused person, Inusa Ibrahim Sabo pleaded guilty while other suspects denied the charges.

The prosecuting police officer, Barrister Richard Balami asked the court to give him more time so as to gather additional evidence.

[Description of Source: Abuja Daily Trust Online in English -- Website of the independent pro-North daily; URL: http://www.news.dailytrust.com/]

Official Says Nigerian Body Cleared Over Alleged Influx of Islamic Sect Members

AFP20090824581006 Lagos The Guardian Online in English 24 Aug 09

[Report by Njadvara Musa: "'Immigrations Free of Blame Over Boko Haram Crisis'"]

The Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) has been exonerated over the alleged influx of Boko Haram sect members from the neighbouring Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroun before the suspected armed sect members launched violent attacks on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in Borno State.

The declaration was made at the weekend in Maiduguri by the state NIS Comptroller, Alhaji Mohammed Sambo Gwandu, while briefing journalists on the nationalities of 96 arrested Boko Haram sect members in Maiduguri.

He said most of the arrested suspects of the religious sect were, however, Nigerian citizens, who had been living in Borno and the neighbouring Yobe, Bauchi, Kano and Jigawa states until they became members of the Yusufiyya religious sect.

The Immigration chief, however, noted that before the Boko Haram religious crisis, the NIS intercepted and arrested three aliens with arms and ammunition at the borders with Niger Republic and Chad.

He said that after the arrested suspects were handed over to the police for prosecution, the NIS also submitted a report to Governor Ali Modu Sheriff on proactive measures to be taken against the influx of aliens.

[Description of Source: Lagos The Guardian Online in English -- Website of the widely read independent daily, aimed at up-market readership; URL: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/]

Nigeria: Militancy, Sectarian Crisis Said Not Posing Threat to Country

AFP20090826646003 Uyo The Pioneer in English 21 Aug 09 6

[Unattributed Report: "Violent Agitation by Militants, Boko Haram Sect Will Not Disintegrate Nigeria"]

The violent agitations by militants groups in Niger-Delta and the seeming Islamic uprisings in the Northern parts of the country do not pose any threat to the unity of Nigeria, the former Secretary General of Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has said.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku who dismissed these crises as signs of disintegration of the country, expressed disappointment in the nation's secret security outfit for its inability to detect the Boko Haram at its formative stage until the recent wanton killings and destruction of property in some northern states.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the maiden edition of a special Mentoring Lecture organized by a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Abike Dabire-Erwa, and graduation ceremony of ICT Training Center in Ikorodu, Lagos Stat, Chief Anyaoku affirmed that the unity of the nation was intact.

The former chief scribe of Commonwealth said he did not share the opinion that the Boko Haram squabble or any other was an indication that Nigeria was at the brim of disintegration.

His words: "I don't believe that the Boko Haram crisis is a sign that Nigeria is about to disintegrate, but I think that it was very unfortunate that Boko Haram could not be detected for a long period that they were in gestation."

He, however, expressed delight following the swift intervention by the security operatives that brought the situation under control, noting that the swiftness of their response had forestall further loss of lives and property.

The diplomat who declined further comment on the Boko Haram issue, said it would not be appropriate to speculate on some sensitive aspects of the matter, such as the death of Yusuf Mohammed.

According to him, it was better to wait for the outcome of the presidential panel of inquiry set up to investigate the matter, expressing absolute faith in the ability of the members of the panel of inquiry to do a good job.

[Description of Source: Uyo The Pioneer in English-Akwa Ibom State owned daily.]

Nigeria: Islamic Sect Members Reportedly Relocate to Taraba State

AFP20090826578010 Lagos The Guardian Online in English 26 Aug 09

[Report by Charles Akpeji: "Police Mobilise as Boko Haram Shifts to Taraba"]

Members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect who recently caused sectarian crisis in some northern states have allegedly relocated to Taraba State.

The sect was flushed out of Gombe, Bauchi and Borno states by the military and police after a four-day offensive. The Guardian learnt that the members have shifted base to Taraba.

Though the state Police Commissioner could not be reached to confirm the report, a senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the police "are very much aware of their presence.

"We have been intimated by the Force Headquarters of the presence of Boko Haram people in this state and we are already putting heads together to bring them to book".

The officer, who did not mention their camp sites, said security had been intensified "as we have dispatched our surveillance teams to the entire axis of the state to help in monitoring them".

"Like I earlier revealed to you, we have received signals from our Force Headquarters that these people are here in the state and that they are planning to re-launch their attack from here.

"So the idea of where they pitched their tent should not arise now because I am not in a position to speak with you on this issue. Even the commissioner, I believe, would not mention the camp to you", he said.

The sect, which opposes Western education, allegedly has its members predominantly in Sunkani, the headquarters of Ardo-Kola Local Council of Taraba State.

Though no information was made available to The Guardian by the police on the recent deployment of more mobile policemen to some councils, an official of one of the councils said "such action has become necessary because of the alleged presence of Boko Haram sect members".

Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor, Charles Marijuana, has placed an embargo public preaching by religious leaders and political rallies.

The decision, he said, was aimed at dousing tension and preventing any form of religious uprising in the state.

[Description of Source: Lagos The Guardian Online in English -- Website of the widely read independent daily, aimed at up-market readership; URL: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/]

Nigeria: Sokoto State Government Receives Islamic Sect's Disbanded Deportees

AFP20090826578011 Kano Daily Triumph Online in English 26 Aug 09

[Report by Umar Danladi Ado: "Sokoto Receives Darul-Islam Deportees"]

Sokoto state government has received members of the Jama'atul Muslims who were recently disbanded from their bases in Darul-Islam near Mokwa town in Niger state.

Members of the sect, who were in large numbers were dislodged from the bases by the Niger state government following the recent Boko Haram disturbances in some parts of the country.

The members who included women, children and aged people arrived the state capital yesterday in possession of their belongings mainly household materials and motorcycles.

It could be recalled that the members who founded a village in Niger state called Darul-Islam guided by Qur'an and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), looked healthy while being received by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Isa Gada who said government has made adequate arrangements to accommodate the returnees before taking them to their respective local government areas.

Alhaji Isa Gada said: "We directed the local governments to make comprehensive lists of persons from each area to know their actual number but at the moment honestly I don't know how many there are", he confirmed.

The Amir of the group, Umar Bin Abubakar described Jama'atul Islam as a peace loving body which never preached violence and wondered why they were dislodged from the village they established.

He said Darul Islam community lived within the teachings of Islam and accept Western education and commended Sokoto state government for its assistance to the body.

The deportees are from Wamakko, Isah, Sabon Birni, Bodinga, Rabah and Illela local government areas of the state.

[Description of Source: Kano Daily Triumph Online in English -- Website of the Kano State government daily; URL: http://www.triumphnewspapers.com]

Nigeria: Okiro Denies Insinuation Over Police Negligence on Boko Haram sect

AFP20090827614006 Abuja Radio Nigeria-Abuja in English 2100 GMT 24 Aug 09

The immediate past inspector general of police, Mr Mike Okiro, says the police responded to earlier security reports on the Boko Haram sect contrary to widely held opinion.

Mr Okiro said on "Eagle Square," the Radio Nigeria’s public accountability program, that the police had arrested and prosecuted 65 members of the sect who were later released on bail.

[Begin Okiro recording] Early this year, I arrested this Yusuf mafia, and charged them to court and they were granted bail. The same people went back and caused this mayhem, what else could I have done? You want us to gather them together and shoot them? We have to charge them to court and that is what we have done, we can’t do more than that, but the same people charged to court and granted bail early this year went ahead and caused this mayhem, how can you say the police had done nothing? [End recording]

Mr Okiro expressed dissatisfaction in the manner in which some judges release very known criminals. He said such a situation could frustrate the efforts of the police.

The former inspector general said lack of equipment posed a big challenge to effective policing in the country.

[Begin Okiro recording] In order to enable the police perform very well in a democracy, we need the equipment to work with, the where withal to work with. We cannot police democracy empty handed. For democracy to survive, the police must be well equipped. [End recording]

On the allegation that he was owing some failed banks, Mr Okiro described it as an attempt to embarrass him. He said the case in question involved his wife’s company which has since been reconciled with the bank.

Mr Okiro advised the new inspector general to beware of rumor mongers in the force and to execute his jobs with forthrightness.

[Description of Source: Abuja Radio Nigeria-Abuja in English -- Federal government-owned, independent radio]

Nigerian Police Arrest 30 Afghan-Linked Islamists

AFP20090827651013 Paris AFP (World Service) in English 1908 GMT 27 Aug 09

KANO, Nigeria, Aug 27, 2009 (AFP) - Thirty members of a militant Islamist sect who fled after the group's recent armed uprising in north Nigeria that claimed at least 800 lives have been arrested, a police officer said Thursday.

The members of the Boko Haram group were arrested Wednesday outside Yola, Adamawa State capital, where they fled from Maiduguri, centre of last month's uprising, following a military crackdown, the officer told AFP by telephone from Maiduguri, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The 30 arrested young men were brought here yesterday (Wednesday) in two buses and 10 of them confessed that they received training in bomb-making in Afghanistan," said the officer who is involved in the investigation of the suspects.