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At Large
Jihad Brewing in Nigeria
The cost of doing business is quietly going up in this richly commercial country.
As anyone who has done business in Nigeria — or with Nigerians anywhere — will tell you, these vibrant and vital people not only have an innate instinct for “the deal” but a well-honed understanding of the intricacies of social life in general. In short, every Nigerian seems an instinctive “operator.” It is from this fertile political proclivity that Nigeria’s newest radical Islamic movement has been formed.
Nigeria’s 162 million people share a common nationality but severely divided cultures and ethnicity. In general terms the North is Moslem and the rest of the country is Christian or animist, and sometimes both. Hundreds of tribes and clans act to divide the country further while at the same time through geographical, economic and political relationships tend to unify their interests. This phenomenon has been sharpened in contemporary times, but the conflicts between Moslems and Christians go back to the arrival of the first Christian missionaries. This history provides a natural environment for today’s radicalism.
It is a fact that the Moslem north is today far more radicalized than it was at the time of independence from the British colonial rule in 1960. In the early days of post-independence the north still exerted considerable influence in the army, as Moslem Hausa/Fulani ethnicity was a strong presence in the Nigerian contingent of the former Royal West African Frontier Force. While the military is still an attractive career alternative, it contains representatives of all three of the major ethnic groups, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. The real divisions now are the military as a class versus civilian officialdom — not unlike Pakistan.
The growth of the Islamic revolutionary movement known as “Boko Haram” is both a reflection of the internationalization of Islamic militancy and the long-standing Nigerian Moslem community’s more radical elements. Following an ideological line similar to the Taliban, Boko Haram is committed to the establishment of Shariah as the basic law of the land. In the northern sector of the country, where a milder form of Shariah on a tribal basis already is in existence, it has been reported that there also is a nascent regional independence movement.
The Boko Haram is officially known in Arabic as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal — jihad. According to the estimable Scott Stewart of STRATFOR, this means “group committed to propagating the Prophet’s teachings and jihad.” Clearer than anything else this titling explains the broader aims of the organization in respect to all Nigeria, not just the already predominantly Moslem north.
This ideology underpins the terrorist aspect of the group’s activities that recently have been extended southward to the federal capital at Abuja. In June an explosives-laden vehicle detonated in a parking lot at a police headquarters while the suicide driver tried to break through the security barrier. A wave of attacks followed in the north against military and judicial buildings. Over 100 deaths were reported in these raids, which followed the violent attacks in the last three years that have accounted for more than 2,000 killings.
The Boko Haram announced this autumn it would soon attack the oil-rich delta areas of the south. To do this would require alliances with non-Moslem tribes of that Eastern Region. For another country such an alliance would be unthinkable, but for Nigeria it is definitely not beyond possibility. Where a business deal can be made, even Nigeria’s most disparate groups can find a mutual interest — if only temporarily.
The petroleum companies have long since learned how to deal with all factions, even if it becomes somewhat painful for a while. The concept of combining the solemn religious commitment of the Boko Haram of the north with the wily and quite unscrupulous traditions of bribery and corruption of West African “dash” is hardly beyond the future growth of the jihadi movement in Nigeria. It is conspicuous that business sources in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, have commented in a dismissive manner regarding the radical Islamic activity in the north while at the same time increasing their gift-giving to Moslem charities nationwide.
As businesses of all sizes have maintained a built-in budget for “dash” to be doled out to key political and often criminal elements, it is hardly a stretch to view jihadi growth in the center and south of Nigeria as an expected occurrence. The major companies are now all discussing this possibility. The only question remaining according to most veteran West African observers is not if — but when — it will occur. There certainly are enough sources in the Middle East and South Asia to spur along Nigeria’s jihad with money, training, and serious weaponry.
The larger problem of the growth of Islamic radicalism in Nigeria is its potential impact on the other nations of West Africa that also have sizeable, even if minority, Moslem populations. There has been a tendency in the past for coastal West African countries to take for granted their usually poorer, ethnically different, Moslem populations. This may have been politically acceptable in earlier years, but with an insurgent and terrorist Islamic movement in Nigeria, the politics of the region changes.
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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True Nigerian| 12.9.11 @ 8:26AM
As usual. You are a foolish American, agent of Ammageddon.
Oksy | 12.9.11 @ 9:36AM
I feel you.
Although, I do not approve of the attack on the gentleman. He probably has a misguided or misinformed opinion about Nigeria.
I read a wise saying once, "never argue with a madman, people will not be able to tell the difference". Attacking him will only make you seem no better than him.
His article is just an example of what the writer, Chimamanda Adiche, calls "The Single Story".
Nigeria, we hail thee
Nigeria, we believe.
Alan Brooks| 12.9.11 @ 4:42PM
Nigerians turn to Islam because no one else cares about them.
Alan Brooks| 12.9.11 @ 4:57PM
African Marxism didn't succeed;
neither did Western imperialism,
so some Nigerians turn to Islam.
No mystery to it.
Bob K.| 12.9.11 @ 11:19PM
There have been Muslim tribes in Nigeria for hundreds of years. They ran the slave trade in West Africa. It was the Animists they kidnapped and sold to the Western Imperialists who ended up in the New World as slaves not Muslims. They did real well in that exercise of free enterprise!
Where do you think the heritage of Black American Music came from? The Muslim call to prayer?
Muslims still run the slave trade in East Africa.
Jacob R| 12.26.11 @ 7:17AM
Probably start getting your history from academic sources. The 1990s style conspiracy websites don't seem to be serving you well!
Michael Tomlinson| 12.9.11 @ 8:32AM
The non-Muslim world must accept – Islam is intent on compelling the world to submit to its false god and prophet. Countries that desire to remain free, or preserve their religion, or save their culture and/or identity must respond vigorously and aggressively to thwart this uncompromising imperialism.
As we discuss securing our borders the problem of expansionist Islam needs to be addressed and solutions of protecting America from banning Muslim immigration (i.e., the silent invasion), denying Muslims visas and even mass deportations of foreign Muslims in the US needs to be considered or our country will find itself facing the same virulent jihad beginning to manifest itself in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Alan Brooks| 12.9.11 @ 4:43PM
you're not a conservative, Mike, you're a rightwing paranoid
Alan Brooks| 12.9.11 @ 5:02PM
... true, I know nothing of Africa; one has to live in a country a long time to know it and develop a feel for it. However I have met many Islamics in America, and they are not similar to jihadists.
Either they are putting on act worthy of an Oscar, or reports of domestic Islamic hostility are exaggerated.
Quartermaster| 12.9.11 @ 7:16PM
The problem, Brooksie, is you are so far left a prudent man seems paranoid to you. Another issue is you looking in the mirror while you attempt to describe someone else. It doesn't work well.
Ma'aji Caleb Zonkwa | 12.9.11 @ 9:12AM
Make sure you have the facts George H. Wittman, before you confuse the world about Nigeria because in the North you find majority of states in the Middle Belt that are not Muslims...
Alan Brooks| 12.9.11 @ 4:53PM
Don't know about Africa, have never been there;
I do know that Islamics immigrants treat people as well as anyone does. Mike Tomlinson is using American Islam as a bugbear:
'they are a 5th column'! 'they will undermine us from within'! he thinks.
If America is that delicate, then we'd better learn to read Arabic, and study the Koran.
Jacob R| 12.26.11 @ 7:22AM
Why are you talking so much if you don't know anything about the subject?
I don't have to have an abortion (or even be able to) to know its wrong!
You've been watching too much Yaya Travelling Sister Pants and Eat, Pray, Hypocritically Bloodsuck Wealth. There are ways to gain wisdom without having a hot and sexy Hollywood fling in an impoverished country. (Why do leftists never make movies about going to these countries and doing charity work? They're always too busy having hot sexy time with the sexiest noble savage in the village.)
Adetokunbo| 12.9.11 @ 9:24AM
George, I am a Nigerian of 52yrs standing and i believe your analysis of elements in the south joining boko haram to wage jihad against the country cannot be correct no matter the amount of monetary enticement from the jihadists
Oksy | 12.9.11 @ 9:43AM
Thank the Almighty that your publication is the American SPECTATOR!!!
I guess your article is based more on analysis of hearsay and misinformation than actual experience of the country and its people.
Nigeria has its own share of problems, Nigeria is dealing with it.
Ron| 12.9.11 @ 12:42PM
I am sorry for the internal strife that Poco Harem...Sorry, Boko Haram is causing.
But, to be quite honest, the United States, individually and through the misguided attempts of the dis-United Nations has pumped a huge amount of specie, and other aid to Africa in general, and the entire continent, and just about every country is a bloody mess.
Good luck taking back your country for yourselves, to make whatever you wish out of it.
gary siebel| 12.9.11 @ 4:46PM
Well duh... you just beginning to notice? Mali is also being targeted.
Nigeria, home of the internet scam artist. LOL
But I don't think you grasp the nuances of Africans. Having worked and known many I can say there is quite a lot of variety amongst them. So even though the MUSLIMS (not Moslems) of the north want Sharia, all it will lead to is a prolonged bloody conflict. A takeover is not imminent. The south will not feel bound by legal niceties in regards to retaliations.
Meanwhile, Al-Shabababoo is definitely going down for good in Somalia, so you can expect quite a few of those escapees to show up all along that road from Khartoum to Nigeria.
btw... it appears thelongwarjournal site has been hacked (malware has been planted on it, at least according to Google)
cicero| 12.9.11 @ 4:48PM
There was no conflict between Muslim and anamists prior to the arrival of the Christian missionaries? You cannot be serious. The slavers who captures or bought individuals in the interior for sale on the coast were Muslims. The missionaries came with the colonial powers.
The British (better than the others) stopped the slave trade, and did their best to keep the peace. Once they left, mayhem ensued. With a little bit of analysis, you will find that most post colonial civil wars commenced with juhad. Biafra became a hell hole when the Muslim north decided to kill all of the infidels in its midst, and attack those in the south of the country. The non -Muslim population would have been able to protect themselves, except for the French selling Mirage jets to the jihadies.
The Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, etc, all have similar recent histories. The only cconflicts not caused directly by Muslim jihad resulted from communist takeover attempts, or, what could be termed tribal conflicts (but with modern weapons causing outrageous casualties).
A true reading of the history of the peoples of that unfortunate continent tells that the major flaw of British colonialism is that it the Brits could not afford to stay long enough to have their institutions embed deaper, and the Christian missionaries did not better establish their educational establishments.
The Brits were able to stay longer in India, and their administrative system was fully adoptedd by the Indian people, along with the British school system. On the other hand, The Indial Muslims broke off and went to their new state of Pakistan, where Islam could be totally in control. Enough said about that.
Of course, this is a gross oversimplification, but this is not the place for a full debate on the subject.
shipley130| 12.9.11 @ 4:56PM
They seem to have a great instinct for internet scams and mail fraud, too.
Martin Owens| 12.9.11 @ 5:29PM
Here we go again!
Another country on the brink of mass violence, and we lo and behold discover how important it is. Count on it- soon we will be told that the rise of Jihad in Nigeria is a threat to world stability, US influence, and whatever else comes to mind.
And the call will go out for " advisers" ( just to train them, really!) and "closer engagement"
and... We've seen this movie before .
They don't want peace over there. They've smelled gunsmoke on the wind and are salivating at the prospect of smiting The Enemy, a.k.a. them bastards next door. So leave them to it, already! Tell them if they let their turf be used to launch attacks against us, their oil will glow in the dark. Then let them butcher each other to their hearts' content and the survivors can cut a deal with us, or not. The USA has never belonged there and we don't belong there now.
Bob K.| 12.9.11 @ 11:28PM
They have oil in Nigeria. The Common Denominator for US intervention.