Why Boko haram lasted this long
The Islamic extremist group Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” popularly referred to as Boko Haram which loosely means western education is forbidden emerged in the year 2002 under the leadership of Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri. The group has been in existence for about fifteen years now.

Habu Kale Tijani one of Neief fellows in his article “A Glance At The Key Factors responsible For The Emergence And Growth Of Boko Haram In The Northeast” has identified a number of factors for the emergence and growth of the group as follows:
The execution of its leader Mohammed Yusuf by the Police, massive poverty in the region, unemployment, illiteracy, poor moral upbringing, Misinterpretation of Religious doctrines, failed Almajiri system and Proliferation of arms and light weapons which are all valid points.
But fundamentally I think the groups massive success and longitivity is largely due to the Divide and conquer strategy it adopted, I don’t know if they did it consciously or not but it has proven very effective.
In the word of Martin Niemoler I will buttress my point.
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me”.
When the group started its reign of terror they said they were fighting the Police and other security agents and we all sat back and relax saying their fight is not with us.
Next they started targeting Traditional and religious leaders everyone else sat on the bench saying it is not their fight.
Then they started attacking Muslims and destroying Mosques and everyone else sat on the fence
Next they started attacking Christians and burning churches and all the other groups sat on the fence
Next they came for schools and other government facilities and structures and we said nothing.

Boko Haram knows no child, parents, elders nor family to them if you are not for them you are against them and worse still in recent times they have attacked peaceful Muslims during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Now we have seen how Boko Haram has manifested its full strategy of all-out war against everybody and nobody is spared from the carnage, It leaves nothing but death and destruction in its wake hence the need to see the fight against violent extremism as a fight for our collective survival.
#NotAnotherNigerian should sit on the fence when someone is under attack.
