THE BOKO HARAM AND AL-SHABAAB TWINS: THE RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA

In dedication to the 234 kidnapped girls and their family and victims of terrorism  

Barely, a month ago Nigeria was declared Africa’s biggest economy surpassing South Africa to be Africa’s continental powerhouse improving the country’s international images that was once stuttered by the terrorism movement.

The terrorism movement that has been conducted by the now-notorious Boko Haram seems to have deprived Nigeria’s pride and potential of being an influential powerhouse like South Africa. Boko Haram meaning western education is forbidden seems to be a state within a giant state since it bombs and controls 6 states out of the 36 states under the stability and control of the government.

Furthermore, the fact that Boko haram exert influence in the north eastern Nigeria states of Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe and Kano makes it a ‘’state within a giant state’’ and if not stopped the chaos of this movement will spread.

This movement started by boko haram is blood thirty and is edge to shed more innocent blood for selfish and hidden agendas. And at this moment, looking at the chaos done by the group, I strongly believe the fight against terrorism is not a ‘Nigerian thingy ’ but something that Africa as a continent should fight in oneness because terrorism has no space in both Nigeria and Africa’s future.

Many say Nigeria’s big economic breakthrough has come with a big problem, but I strongly argue against that, because I believe Nigeria can experience bigger economic breakthroughs without encountering bigger problems like terrorism and I can defend my answer by giving an example of South Africa, a country that has been Africa’s powerhouse for a decade without experiencing bigger problems.

The boko haram crisis in Nigeria has given confidence to other movements like al-shabaab in Kenya that has threatened Kenya’s stability. Al-shabaab though underestimated compared to boko haram is a major force advocating for acts of terrorism. More to that, I feel the attacks by boko haram in west Africa and al-shabaab in east Africa exposes and  puts to light Africa’s future threat since the north of Africa has been battling the act of terrorism for a while.

Nigeria and Kenya has to arise and combat the fight against terrorism. All these terrorism acts are an act of ignorance and has no religious significance, but personal corrupted ideas that should not be accommodated by the society at all. I strongly believe the act of terrorism has lead to the rise of ‘Islamophobia’ notion which is a shame and pure prejudice.

In conclusion, let love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control govern our lives, for terrorism has no space in our communities. For acts of terrorism destroys those who practice it. As they try to extinguish life in others, the light within them dies too.