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FROM all indications, Boko Haram, a fundamentalist Islamic sect, is out to overawe the federal government and create a general fear of insecurity among Nigerians. In the past few weeks, it has stepped up its attacks on easy targets in many cities in the north including Abuja, the nation’s capital city. In the process, many persons have been killed, many others injured while properties running into several millions or even billions of Naira have been destroyed. The sect has bluntly told Nigerians that it would not be restrained in its attacks on targets. Ordinarily, this would appear to be the product of a confused group of people who  seem to have run out of ideas of what next to do in order to have its way, but from the look of things, the insurgency has a political dimension. In which case, the campaigners have a clear objective they want to achieve.

On Tuesday, July 1, the sect struck at the busy Monday market in Maiduguri, Borno State capital city. The exact number of casualties that resulted from the attack is still unclear. While some reports put the figure at 50 dead, others kept it low at 20. Whatever be the figure of the dead and the wounded, the sect has proved that it is now an unguided missile which can strike anywhere. And that is what it has done by its attacks on several cities in recent weeks. Perhaps, the campaign of fear is meant to send a clear signal to the international community that its members cannot save Nigeria from its clutches. The insurgents are sending clear signals that they are not bothered by offers of military assistance from the United States, Britain, France, China, Israel, Canada, among other countries, to crush their mindless war on innocent victims. They also seem not to be deterred by the reported cooperation agreement between Nigeria and its neighbours to fight them in their territories. The questions many Nigerians are forced to ask now are: Will Boko Haram bomb attacks ever end? Who will be the next target? Can the international community really save Nigeria in view of the fact that some countries are profiting where Nigeria is losing?

These were some of the questions that informed our decision to revisit Boko Haram’s mindless and destructive campaign in Nigeria in this week’s cover story entitled “Boko Haram Bombing: Will It Ever End?” It was packaged by Olu Ojewale, the general editor.  Enjoy it.

Mike Akpan
Editor-in-Chief

mikeakpan2003@yahoo.com  |  08023880068

— Jul. 14, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT