While defending its recent attack on Christian places of worship, a self acclaimed leader of the dreaded jama’atu ahlus sunnah lid da’awati wal jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram said the attacks were a revenge for killing of  Muslims in some parts of  Nigeria. Sadly, the same militant group has in the past claimed responsibility for killing some Muslim clerics as well as bombing mosques in some parts of Northern Nigeria

One is therefore puzzled as to the real motive behind the group’s incessant attacks and destruction of both Christian and Muslim places of worship and killing of its members. It has, however, become crystal clear that this group is out to cause disaffection between the two major religions.

By the nature of its modus operandi, it is no longer a secret that Boko Haram may be acting a well written script aimed at destabilizing the Nigerian nation. It is also lucid that this terrorist group is not by any chance an expression of any rage or revenge but rather a political tool which when employed against the Nigerian State is capable of diminishing its people’s faith.

So far, several measures have been adopted in tackling this cankerworm albeit with considerable success at steaming its ability to attack places of worship and relaxation spots at will. Perhaps, the singular most successful efforts that has, to a large extent, been able to check this menace is that of the nation’s security agencies. Unfortunately, only few Nigerians seem to appreciate the efforts of these agencies mainly due to the lack of understanding of  the difficulties involved in fighting terrorism.

This is so because as Paul Wilkinson, a prolific writer once wrote in the London telegraph, fighting terrorism is like being a goal keeper. The keeper may make a hundred brilliant saves, but the only shot that people remember is the one that gets past him. Bearing this in mind, it would therefore be safe to say that the recent calls in some quarters for the sacking of the nation’s security chiefs is uncalled for.

There is also the need for Nigerians to understand that military action alone is not enough to fight terrorism. The United States have since come to accept this fact. Indeed, in a speech sometime in 2006, Joe Biden US Vice President stated that, “The most powerful military in the world cannot invade, kill or capture a network or destroy every loose weapon on the planet.

The best response to this terror is to build a network of our own, a network of  like minded countries and organizations that pools resources, information, ideas and power.”   More so that like a virus, a terrorist can be within a group or community without their knowledge.

There is also a global perfusion of  terrorism which accompanies any system of domination as though it were its shadow, ready to activate itself anywhere like a double agent. It must therefore be accepted that terrorism is a phenomenon that can be defeated only by better ideas, persuasion and most importantly ameliorating the perceived condition that inspired it.

In the case of Boko Haram, the extra judicial killing of  its founder and other top members of the group are alledged to be the reason behind its incessent attacks. Already those accused of  the killing have been charged to court. Similarly, some state governments affected by the activities of this group have reached out to their families through out -of- court settlements.

Those directly affected by the menace of Boko Haram, that is ordinary Christians and Muslims, have perhaps device the most potent weapon of fighting this group that seem to be capitalizing on their age- long differences. Recently, there seem to be renewed efforts by both Christians and Muslims towards building bridges of mutual trust and understanding.

By  providing surveillance and protection to each other during times of prayers, a clear signal would have been sent to Boko Haram or any other terrorist group with the intent to sow seeds of discord and disharmony that never again can it capitalize on their fragile relationship to disunite them.

By this action, followers of  both religions have demonstrated that what unite them as a nation is indeed stronger than what may want to divide them. By uniting against a common enemy, Christians and Muslims, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria have yet again demonstrated that irrespective of their faith or ethnicity, Nigeria remains one indivisible nation under God.

The time has therefore come for Nigerians to embrace peace and move the nation forward.

Gabkwet wrote from Lagos