Until last Saturday, the country had forgotten that suicide bombers once held the northern part of the country hostage. For some years, suicide bombing was almost a daily occurrence as terrorists carried out suicide attacks using women and children even as the military continued to engage them until the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari declared that it had technically degraded the terrorists’ capabilities. Suicide bombing then ceased.

However, last Saturday, multiple suicide attacks were carried out in Gwoza community, Borno state leaving more than 30 persons dead and 100 others injured. Concerned northern elders and other stakeholders in the region have expressed.

Resurgence of suicide bombing has brought fear, confusion —Rev Hayab

According to Rev John Joseph Hayab, the immediate past chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), “the resurgence of suicide bombing at the time of serious pains and hunger in the country has sent fear and confusion in many quarters in our region. The death toll of that incident itself shows that the perpetrators took time to plan before executing their evil agenda. We are back to the era of our worst nightmare. How will our people cope with poor leadership, hunger in every home and every city with the fear of suicide bombers also.

The Federal Government and our security agencies must triple their effort before citizens are pushed to the wall.

A hungry man is known to be an angry man but what will happen if his anger and hunger are further threatened by serious security threats? Northern Elders and religious leaders must also come out to mobilize the people to support government and security agencies to fight evil in the region. We should not only be specialists in mobilizing our people to vote for the candidates of our choice during elections and not mobilizing them to double their efforts to make our region safe and peaceful.

Northern Youths should not only form associations to attack political opponents of their favorite candidates, they should be seen and heard to be exposing evil elements amongst them and helping government and security agencies to track down sponsors and promoters of the evil that is ravaging our region.”

Gwoza incidents shattered our hope —Shettima

Similarly, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the President General of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum ( AYFC), said “suicide bombing has been a devastating and horrifying tactic used by extremist groups for many years, causing tremendous loss of life and spreading fear and uncertainty in communities around the world.

In recent years, many believed that suicide bombing was becoming less prevalent, as security measures and counter-terrorism efforts seemed to be making progress in preventing such attacks. However, the last incident in Gwosa, Bornu state, shattered hope when multiple suicide attacks occurred, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others injured. Suicide attacks not only disrupt the daily lives of residents but also hampers economic growth and development in the affected areas.

Businesses may be reluctant to invest in regions prone to suicide bombings, leading to unemployment and poverty among the population. In the long term, this can contribute to social unrest and instability, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates the conditions conducive to terrorism. In addition to addressing the immediate security concerns, Northern leaders and elders must also focus on long-term solutions to permanently discourage suicide bombing.

Building resilience within communities and promoting social cohesion are key factors in preventing individuals from being radicalized and recruited by extremist groups.

This can be achieved through grassroots initiatives that empower local leaders, religious figures, and community organizations to promote tolerance, inclusivity, and peaceful coexistence. By fostering a sense of belonging and identity, communities can become more resistant to the influence of extremist ideologies.”

Resurgence of suicide bombings in Gwoza political —MBF

On its part, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has alleged that the recent Gwoza suicide bombings in Borno State could have political undertone. The National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu noted that the fact the incident came when efforts were in top gear by the Federal Government to return the over 120,000 Gwoza indigenes taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon created much room for suspicion.

His words: “On the Gwosa suicide bombings I can tell you that up till now there are a lot of the insurgents on top of the Gwoza hills who have not been flushed out. The fight against insurgency is being stalled by political interests who put pressure on military commanders not to do anything. And these boys are from one particular tribe mainly, they are called Duwhade and the majority of them are butchers. It is the people from this tribe that are mainly insurgents on top of the Mandara mountains which is an extension of the Gwoza hills. Because of insurgency, as we are talking, about 120,000 people from Gwoza Local Government, mainly behind the hills have found refuge in Cameroon as refugees.

There are serious efforts, especially when this government came on board, to bring these people back to their ancestral land as promised by the President. But some political interests, who believe that the people will not vote for them because they are predominantly Christians, do not want them to return home. And I believe they are creating this unnecessary insecurity through attacks and suicide bombings so that these people will not be brought back to Nigeria to their ancestral land.

“So the political leaders particularly the Governor and the Senator from Southern Borno should explain why these things are happening at a time when there is objection to the coming back of the people for political reason. Efforts to bring back IDPs and refugees to their ancestral homes by the Federal Government are being undermined and I believe that what has happened in Gwoza was purely political.

“On the issue of suicide bombings, I don’t believe somebody would blow himself up because of religion, no. I believe the criminals would tie explosives on the people and tell them you either do what we have directed you to do or we deal with you and the victims would go in fear and somebody somewhere may be the one detonating the bombs. So, it may not be that the bomb carrier wanted to commit suicide and blow others up”.

The terrorists merely went underground to regroup — Anthony Sani

Former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr Anthony NZ Sani, said “the resurgence of suicide bombing in Borno state underscores the fact that the immediate past administration merely tamed the terrorists but did not exterminate them permanently. As a result, they merely went underground to regroup.

This resurgence also vindicates the view that military might alone cannot exterminate terrorism permanently. Only by addressing the underlying causes can we permanently put them to rest.

The causes are poverty which comes with ignorance and unemployment. So, to defeat terrorism permanently, the government should apply both punitive and preventive measures. The punitive measure is the provision of enough and properly equipped security personnel who are well motivated to secure the nation while the preventive measure is the prioritization of education and health of the people.

This is because the current out-of-school children, if left unchecked would become terrorists of tomorrow. This requires a long-term commitment from all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism and build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.”

Economic opportunities provide viable alternatives to joining extremist groups —Northern Elders Forum

Also, Mallam Suleiman Abdul-Azeez of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), said, “This alarming trend has reignited concerns among Northern leaders and elders, who recognize the urgent need to address the root causes of suicide bombing and the general and pervasive insecurity to prevent future attacks.

The attacks in Gwosa have highlighted the need for improved coordination among law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and military forces in detecting and preventing such attacks.

I believe one of the key factors driving suicide bombings in the region is the lack of economic opportunities and widespread poverty.

Many of the individuals recruited by terrorist groups are motivated by financial incentives or promises of a better life. To combat this, it is essential to create sustainable economic development opportunities that provide viable alternatives to joining extremist groups.

Improving security and intelligence capabilities is another crucial aspect of addressing the threat of suicide bombing. Furthermore, it is important to strengthen border security to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups and the smuggling of weapons and explosives. Fostering community resilience is also essential in preventing future attacks.

This involves building trust between communities and security forces, as well as empowering local leaders and organizations to play a proactive role in countering extremism.

By promoting dialogue and cooperation among different ethnic and religious groups, communities can become more resilient to the divisive tactics of terrorist groups. Engaging with religious leaders and institutions can be a powerful tool in combating the misuse of religion for extremist purposes.

Interfaith dialogue and collaboration among different religious communities can also foster mutual understanding and respect, strengthening social harmony and countering divisive ideologies.

Promoting social cohesion is another important strategy in preventing the spread of extremism. By addressing underlying grievances and promoting inclusivity and tolerance, it is possible to reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies.

By working together to address the complex and interconnected challenges posed by suicide bombing, Northern leaders and elders can help create a safer, more secure, and more prosperous future for their communities. (Saturday Vanguard)

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