KEY ISSUES IN THE BOKO HARAM’S RELIGIOUS VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND ISLAMIC MILITANCY IN NIGERIA: LEST WE MISS THE STORY

Abstract

The Boko Haram horror is in many ways continuous with the prevailing
expressions of Islamic militancy in Nigeria. The religious tensions which they exacerbate
reflect a number of issues in socio-religious relationship between Christians and Muslims in
Nigeria. There is entrenched systematic practice of hostilities and discriminations against
Christian minorities in Northern Nigerian cities, which is fundamental to the teachings of
Islam. The Islamic practices of Jihad, Dar-al-Islam and Dar-al-Harb, Dhimmi, Sharia,
break up the society into Muslims as first-class citizens and non-Muslims as inferior
(second-class) people. Quite characteristic of Nigeria, religious tension is often mixed up
with ethnic, political, social, economic problems. In such situation of tension, Muslim
ideologues and radicalized views of Islam play an important role in fanning flames of
extremism and violence. The security menace which the “Fulani Herdsmen” who destroy
farmlands, slaughter people and sack villages has constituted for the nation in the last few
years, contributes to the prevailing popular hatred and mistrust for the ethnic Fulani people.
What could be the way out of such a tense situation? I propose as a unique solution
dialogue at different levels of Nigeria’s problem, as required by our national belonging. No
matter how we came to be together as one nation, we must accept that we are today one
country, and have to live in peace and harmony.