Boko Haram: Maiduguri not under siege, but Terrorists keep coming back

Boko Haram: Maiduguri not under siege, but Terrorists keep coming back

By: James Bwala

“They fired and ran away. We will get them God’s will…” This was the response of the Theatre Commander Operation Hadin kai on Saturday, when suspected elements of Islamic State for West African Province, ISWAP fired rocket propelled explosives into the city of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in northeast Nigeria.

The Saturday attack brought back memories of bad days. It also raised many questions about the ongoing conflict in the northeast region especially Borno state, the epicenter of the whole saga counting on 12 years of sustained struggles. Why did Boko Haram or ISWAP keep coming back to attack? Many people, of course, may not bother much about asking questions like a journalist who may have seen and reported incidents from the dark days to date. 

At a point in time, the Boko Haram wanted to take over Maiduguri, the Borno state capital but it was not easy for them. At that time as it may seemingly look now. The city of Maiduguri is not only guarded by security operatives but also trenches all around it.

This has given the people a sense of security as much as one is living within the city. For those who need to travel by road, ‘ it has always been God.’ as they would always say. Those with loaded pockets fly across the forest housing the Insurgents with peace of mind and in the most comfortable manner.

Borno state is at war. The reports out there were indicating victory because some big men in Abuja would want to be pleased. But the situation on ground was depicting a different stroke if truth must be told. 

As a journalist I downplay on many stories in the spirit of national interest, but those holding the interest of the nation seemed to care less and it hurts because my conscience speaks to me whenever I see young boys who were recruited into the military being brought to the morgue with their uniforms stained with blood or whenever I have the opportunity of attending a funeral service for the fallen heroes, who sleeps because they want us to live in peace.

I am not writing this piece not to scare us because we are already scared. We are only using courage to face our fears. Some Time ago, I wrote about the surrendering Boko Haram elements in droves. What is actually informing their surrender? In that report I asked that Borno citizens and those prosecuting the war on terror in the northeast should be careful because I personally have some reservation about the ongoing surrender and a lot has confirmed my fears.

But the government and other authorities with better protection than the masses would always say there is nothing to worry about. However, the recent revolt or rather protest by the so-called surrendered Boko Haram in the camps where they are kept sends aloud signals about the lions in the cage. They still smell blood and would act as the lions they were before they choose to surrender.

There are also those Boko Haram or ISWAP elements that were arrested and brought to Maiduguri have indicated many times where they are kept in the barracks that the slightest opportunity given to hold their guitars again, would be a disaster. 

Also Read: Boko Haram: 24 ISWAP, 7 Soldiers killed in Rann after two…

Reports from where they are being kept about their doings are rather scary. The question is, why are they still being kept? Is it about the Amnesty thing or some vested interest? They have shown no repentance by every act. Those who are taking care of the prisons would give better stories about their behaviors. But that is a story for another day.

The whole world knows how Afghanistan was taken without many struggles. And so, with thousands of Boko Haram fighters inside Maiduguri, the Borno state capital all they are waiting for is the day of chaos. That perhaps is the trigger that informed why they keep coming back even when we said Maiduguri is not under siege. Our government and military must take into cognizant these possibilities. 

No wonder internally displaced persons, IDPs who were being relocated out of the camps to somewhere closer home left with fears and tears about their safety and protection. Many of them are concerned about what lies ahead. Actually most of them have full knowledge of what is on ground and waiting for them. That perhaps may be the reason that many chose to hang around the city still, while the government is doing everything to return them home.

I was speaking the morning of Saturday, December 4, 2021 with someone who happened to share the same fear, view and possibilities that usher the coming of these bad elements around the city of Maiduguri with such a shocking attack again. Like Boko Haram under the late spiritual leader, Abubakar Shekau. The ISWAP is also said to be eyeing to take over the city of Maiduguri. How they would want it to happen depends on the strategy of our military or the action of the government on whether they actually want to end this menace or keep playing around it as the years keep counting.

The last time they fired similar rockets into the city Maiduguri, it left many casualties. But this time it was God. While we will keep praying for God to intervene in this situation, we are equally calling on the government and men in authority to make certain considerations. Keeping these bad elements together in an enclave gives the opportunity to share knowledge of war and experiences. If they are truly repentant, it would be that Maiduguri is saved but otherwise keeping them inside Maiduguri is not the best as many residents have actually observed.

Today, they came back and fired. They ran away. We pray that our soldiers get them and bring them to justice. But we also pray that our leader heed the cry of their people and those surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists, those who were overwhelmed and arrested and brought into Maiduguri are taken away from the people to a far and unknown locations so we can breathe some air of piece.

*James Bwala writes from Maiduguri

Boko Haram: Maiduguri not under siege, but Terrorists keep coming back