THE ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE PHENOMENON OF TERRORISM

THE ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE PHENOMENON OF TERRORISM 

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Muazu A. (2011) in a paper presentation described terrorism as a concept that is fluid and a subject of contestations that can generate hot emotional exchanges because of its differing perspectives and different understanding of its causes. One way of provoking emotional response is to suggest that terrorism exists across Nigeria, at various times, but more importantly became more forceful after the return to civil rule in 1999. The activities of ethnic militia groups that unleashed terror and attacks against the security forces, particularly the police and police stations by the Oodu’a People’s Congress (OPC); the sabotage of oil production through pipeline vandalisation, kidnapping of foreign oil workers, detonation of bombs to disrupt governmental functions such as the independence day bombing in Abuja by militants in the Niger Delta; the kidnapping of citizens in the East appearing as a spill over effect to the kidnappings in the Niger Delta; and, the killing of security personnel, mainly the police, soldiers and warders, the bombing of the Police Headquarters and the United Nations building in Abuja claimed by Boko Haram, had the elements of terror in them. It is debatable whether the use of terror by these groups qualifies all of them to be referred to as terrorists. It is the contention in this paper that the factors influencing the emergence of groups challenging the State’s monopoly of the use of arsenals of violence and waging attacks against fellow citizens, who may be innocent, arise from the manner that the operators of the Nigerian State handle national issues.

The paper discusses some of the factors that led citizens to take up arms against the State and uses the activities of ethnic militia groups as an example of the use of violence and terror to address their grievance. The Nigerian State demonstrates through its responses to groups such as the Niger Delta ethnic militants in the South South, Oodu’a People’s Congress (OPC) in the South West, Bakassi Boys and Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in the South East that its approach is to unleash force to maintain order. It was only in the case of the militants that a more useful approach was adopted that has succeeded in containing the violence. But it is instructive that it was violent attacks against symbols of the State and its interests that led to granting the people in the Niger Delta what they justly deserve as citizens. The discussion also brings up the case of the group Jama’atul Ahlus Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, popularly referred to as Boko Haram. All these groups emerge because of the failure of governance, a complacent security regime and absence of strong culture that enables citizens to make effective demands from their rulers. It can be argued that the environment in which Nigerians live and their experiences of governance practices could be contributory factors to the emergence of terrorism. It is this that gives groups the initiative to take on the Nigerian State because of its perception as unjust, demeaning to the citizen, without guarantees of individual safety and security and exploitative. There is a widespread disenchantment with the Nigerian State arising from its failure to meet its obligations to the people and the perception that State policies are implemented to advance private interests for personal accumulation. There is widespread perception and evidences to suggest that the citizens are not getting ‘a good deal’ from the State. These groups did suffer from the brutality of the operators of the Nigerian State. Other groups that did not want to subject themselves to the containment approach of the State decided to confront it. This is evident in the emergence and activities of ethnic militia groups in different parts of the country: the South South, South West and South East. The recent phenomenon popularly called Boko Haram also fits into the realm of dissatisfaction with the way and manner the affairs of the Nigerian State are being handled. Depending on one’s perspective and understanding of the motivations of each group, there is a tendency to define the groups using different terms: self determination groups, nationalists, guerrilla fighters, rebels, urban youth gangs or terrorists. The ethnic militia groups in the Niger Delta, OPC in the South West and MASSOB in the South East are seen as self-determination groups. Agbaje (2009) observes that:

The OPC, MASSOB and Egbesu clearly pursue an agenda against … perceived marginalisation and self-determination that is often difficult to separate from succession for the groups they claim to represent….

These groups have emerged under different historical circumstances, but are also bound by a common factor of deep dissatisfaction with the Nigerian State. Boko Haram, which operates largely in Borno State with occasional forays into Kano State and of recent Abuja, is pursuing a cause couched in religious terms. It is also dissatisfied with the Nigerian State and the arrangements put in place to run it. It claims to be fighting a system that perpetrates and perpetuates injustice. The reaction of the Nigerian State towards such groups is predictable: use force, excessive or not, to suppress them. But the response, in most cases, had been brutal suppression of all forms of dissent. The resort to suppression using the State’s stock of arsenal of violence often sends the wrong signal to groups that have grievances that civil approach was unworkable. Some scholars have observed that the security services, especially the Police and the State Security Services (SSS), are employed to oppress, rather than protect, the citizen. In relation to the emergence of ethnic militia groups Menegbon (2009) observed that

The emergence of the ethnic militias, (if and where they exist) private security and other movements in the country is an obvious expression of frustration. The frustration reflects the feelings that as in other spheres of government those in charge of security do not reflect the needs of the communities, and provide a sense of justice or security.

Thus the emergence of groups resorting to the use of terror and challenging the State over the monopoly of the use of the arsenals of violence, attacking State targets and instilling fear in the minds of citizens is not a historical accident. Dr Andrew (2011). The various groups that emerged and are using terror as an avenue to be heard arose from their own direct experience s of how the Nigerian State has been treating the people and addressing issues that affect them. They may appear to exist in specific locations and settings across the country and seem to be disparate. However, their emergence is a call for the State to revise itself and take urgent steps to act in a more just and more equitable manner. Lauren Braide and Charles (2011) It is the persistent feeling of the failure to do so that has led to the emergence of groups that resort to terror, constitute a security challenge and even raise the question of the sustainability of Nigeria as one country. It is apparent from the foregoing discussion that terror had been used, and is being used, as a language of dissent. In discussing the emergence of terrorism in Nigeria it is important to factor in the activities of these groups whether they are terrorist groups or not. The reason for discussing these groups is because their agitations, in whatever cause they believed in and pursue, had elements of terror and violence leading to damages to property, loss of life and constituting a threat to the security and safety of persons. All these groups had mounted attacks against the State either by directly attacking the representations of the state such as the security personnel or it’s economic vein by paralysing oil exports through pipeline vandalisation or kidnapping foreigners or engaged the military in battle. Their activities and tactics demonstrate that there is a goal they want to achieve; it is not just violence for its own sake. It is means to get a chance to be heard and get whatever grievances they hold to be addressed. The activities of the group known as the Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnah Lidda’awati wal- Jihad (People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad), labelled and popularly referred to as Boko Haram, has generated remarkable interest across Nigeria and abroad because of the series of targeted attacks on individuals and bombings that its members have been claiming to be responsible for across mainly the states in the Northern parts of Nigeria.

There is clear national concern on the activities of the Boko Haram and widespread fear among people concerning their safety and security. Though the group seems to organise and direct its attacks against specific individuals and specific targets, not directed at everyone, there is the fear that innocent people may fall victims for being at the wrong place and at the wrong time. The ability to hit at individuals and targets through careful planning and execution raises a number of concerns, among which are: how safe are we? Can the security forces cope and guarantee the much needed safety and security of innocent citizens/residents? How is the community responding to this national security challenge to ensure the safety and security of everyone? Each of these groups has a different historical reason for its emergence. It is true that the economic crisis of the 1980s, which seems to have persisted to date, denuded the ability of the Nigerian State to meet its obligations to the citizens. The response to the economic crisis led to the adoption of policies that visited hardships on the people: jobs became scarce, retrenchment of workers also referred to as right sizing followed, social services became difficult to access. The conspicuous consumption of the ruling elite, the culture of impunity that reigns across the land and the unconscionable recruitment of the youth into violent gangs serving as political thugs, with the active backing of those in power, contribute to the security challenges Nigeria is going through. The people in power have continued to demonstrate a crisis of commitment and narrowness of vision in addressing critical issues that will address the critical challenges of existence that confronts a majority of the citizens. It is very clear that acts of terror are not the exclusive preserve of any group. The State itself could provoke reactions that could lead citizens to take up arms against it. When that happens then there is a questioning of the way the affairs of the country is run and requires taking new and creative steps to address the security challenge. It is important for the security services to review the existing security architecture that privileges protection for persons with power to the exclusion of the majority the people. Security is more than soldiers, policies and arsenals of violence. It is to be found in the legitimacy that those who exercise power enjoy and the satisfaction of the needs of the citizens.

The security services need to cultivate a proactive approach to security matters by paying attention to national developments in relation to security. Waiting for security issues to arise before responding to them is unhealthy. There is the need to build strong collaboration with researchers vastly knowledgeable in the area of security studies including civil society organisations that are working in the security sector. Consideration should also be given to restoring community power to monitor its own security and develop a strong liaison with the security services. Inter-security cooperation and intelligence sharing are critical to the success of the security forces. They need to also find solution to the unnecessary sense of superiority and rivalry that affects the effective collaboration among the army, navy, air force, the police, civil defence corps, customs, immigration and prisons. There is also the need to organise orientation for security personnel to realise and practice citizen protection as against the regime protection that is in practice. Nigeria must take necessary steps to achieve all these for our collective safety and security, the stability of our country and its unity. The focus of this study is therefore to assess the response of members of the community to terror activities in Tarauni LGA of Kano State.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

The focus of the study is the assessment of public response to the phenomenon of terrorism in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano state. The topic of terrorism is both complex and emotive. It is complex because it combines so many different aspects of human experience, including subjects such as politics, psychology, philosophy, sociology, criminology, military strategy, and history, to name a few. Terrorism is also emotive both because experiences of terrorist acts arouse tremendous feelings, and because those who see terrorists as justified often have strong feelings concerning the rightness of the use of violence. Terrorism affects the social and economic life of the people in the community which restrict people from social and economic activities in the society.

The response to the economic crisis could lead to the adoption of policies that create hardships for the people: jobs become scarce, retrenchment of workers also referred to as right sizing could follow, and social services could become difficult to access. Terrorism could also destabilize the financial and economic plans of the citizens because measures must be set in combating it, which involves funding, in the setting of vigilant groups, buying of defensive arms such as fire extinguishers etc. Kelly P., Lavery T.Jan. (2002). There are problems of manpower in the security agencies in carrying out what is expected of them, the community members would have to volunteer in involvement of carrying out activities that will help in curbing the menace terrorism. These threats could bring about large scale of losses of life, the destruction of property widespread illness and injury, the displacement of large numbers of people, and devastating economic loss. Thus, members of the community may need to commit more resources, at all levels, to the cause, be more sincere and objective in their judgments, more pro-active in their approach, and create enabling environments conducive for justice, conflict resolutions, human right protection, they need to promote and support measures because that have respect for human lives and values. Disturbingly is the observation that terrorism is on the alarming formation world-wide and Nigeria in particular. Based on these problems these are the following research questions:  

1.3 Research Question

i) What has been the response of the community in terms of prevention strategies to terrorism in the research area?

ii) What has been the response of the community to terrorism in terms of additional funding on security?

iii) What has been the response of members of the community to terrorism in terms of the social and economic life?

iv) What has been the response of the community in term of fear of terror activities?

1.4 Aims and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to assess the response of residents of Tarauni local Government Area of Kano State to the phenomenon of terrorism. The specific objectives are as follows:  

i) To find out the response of the community to terrorism in terms of prevention strategies to terrorism.

ii) To find out the response of the community to terrorism in terms of increase funding on security.

iii) To find out how terrorism is affecting the social and economic life of citizens in Tarauni Local Government Area.

iv) To offer recommendation on how to reduce the fear of terrorism in the community

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study focuses on the assessment of public response to the phenomenon of terrorism in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano state. In the current national security environment, there is no doubt that terrorism is among the gravest of threats.  The purpose of this study is to analyze and synthesize what has been reported from the scientific and professional literature about terrorism and understanding the relationship between public attitudes and the occurrence of terrorism. To find out the response of the community to terrorism in terms of prevention strategies to terrorism, to find out the response of the community to terrorism in terms of increase funding on security, to find out how terrorism is affecting the social and economic life of citizens in Tarauni Local Government Area. Such knowledge can assist in designing counter terrorist strategies to stem the ugly tide of the phenomenon. The findings can also help in fashioning out theoretical thinking on terrorism

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is centered on the effort to identify the response of members of the community of Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State to the phenomenon of terrorism. The study is concerned with the response of prevention strategies of securing the community area of Tarauni, the increase in funding the security of the Tarauni community and the effect of terrorism on the social and economic life of the residents in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.  

1.7 Definition of Key Terms

Public Response: Is the general reaction of people towards a particular situation or phenomenon.

Terrorism: Is the use of violence for political, religious or ideological purposes designed to achieve objectives that are otherwise unattainable.

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