Nigeria: National Responses and Regional Dynamics In

Peace PromotionHajiya Bilkisu mni

Chairperson Projects. Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria FOMWAN.Presented at the Conference on Sustainable Mechanisms for Preventing Violent Extremism in West Africa Organised by WANEP and CORDAID April 19-20 2012

Cotonou, Benin Republic

Population 167 million .A Young population 60% is under 35 yrs of age Poverty Rate is high- 67% 100million people live on less than $1 Poverty level is 70% in N.Nigeria and 30% in the south

Maternal Mortality is the single most important health issue facing Nigerian people. Maternal Mortality Rate 487 per 100,000 This figure masks wide regional disparities which range from 339 per 100,000 live births in the Southwest to 1,716 per 100,000 live births in the North East Contraceptive Prevalence Rate is 10% Total fertility rate of 5.7% Unmet need for FP is 6 million couples Early Marriage One in Four married by age 15. Teenage Pregnancy 23% young population where about 60% are under 35 years

HIV/AIDS prevalence is also 4.3%. Child mortality rates are 100 per 1,000 children under five years of age.

Source NDHS 2008

Source NDHS 2008

NIGERIA: Introduction

In 2002 a group of youth, most of them of middle class background , well educated and privileged became radicalised and broke away from mainstream Islamic movements

They were a peaceful dissenting group who became disenchanted with the bad governance in their country particularly at the state and local governments where Govt was indifferent to societal problems

High youth unemployment, recruitment of youth for use as thugs to rig elections, promotion of drug addiction among youth, corruption etc

Most of them were Islamic of youths from Yobe and Borno State in the North East of Nigeria.

The youth were disenchanted with the poor governance in their states where the governors and most leaders are Muslims whom they see as giving Islam a bad name

Alienation of Muslim Youth

Many of them had completed school and had no jobs. Some were successful in their businesses and became the

supporters of their less endowed members The level of corruption they see in a country which has

immense material and human resources made them dissociate themselves from the government. They denounced the type of governance that was seen as a product of western education Boko and western style democracy.

They declared it as haram meaning prohibited in Islam. This gave the sect their nick name Boko Haram.

Their movemnt is named is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad

It is important to call people what they call themselves

Jamaatul Daawah

These youths decided that the Nigerian version of democracy was not working for them and decided to go back to the Islamic model of a welfare state in Madina, the first Islamic state

Some of them tore their certificates and said Western education and democracy are not the solution to their problems

In Madina, there was equality before the law, accountability and transparency in governance and the Caliph was considered culpable if a citizen went to bed on a hungry stomach

Madina had a position of Ombudsman to collate feed back on governance and the integration of this into policy ensured good governance

The Appeal of Madina Model

Some of these youth decided to establish their own commune and lead a pure life that will be built on equity and submission to the laws of Allah’

Some of them settled in Yusufari in Yobe state They engaged in agriculture, invested in

transportation and lived simple lives that distanced them from the government but observed duties and responsiblities for their community member and lived peacefully with non members of their commune

Their Own Commune

From 2002 the jama’at group remained peaceful until their funeral procession was attacked by security agencies

They retaliated and called for help. Their members and other sympathisers trooped into Maiduguri to defend the attack on the Jamaat group

In the crackdown on the Jama’at members about sources said about 2000 people were killed and several were arrested

The extra judicial killing of their leader Mohammed Yusuf was the last straw that broke the camel’s back

They reasoned government agents killed them because they oppressors since no law of the land prescribed death for dissenters who were peaceful

The Trigger for Violence

About 700 people were killed in the military operation in the first crackdown

Some sources put the figure at 2000 people dead and property destroyed was put at millions of naira

The Jamaatu then declared war on the police and started attacking police stations, military formations and local politicians and pro establishment clerics who were all Muslims.

They also attacked prisons in Maiduguri and Bauchi to release their members who were detained without trial

The Insugency

The extra judicial killing of Muhammad Yusuf drew condemnation from human rights organisations and earned the Jamaatu Daawah members public sympathy and demand for prosecution of those responsible for the killings.

Recently, the violence has spread from Maiduguri to Damaturu, Madalla, Kano and Kaduna where police stations and barracks are bombed.

The January 24 2012 attack on Kano city where twenty four bombs exploded in one hour killing over 200 people remains the most destructive

Bombs explode in Cities

The Young people who established the movement called it), not Boko Haram. “People of the Way of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Community (of Muslims), in line with the earliest generation of Muslims”.

This name has a positive meaning that is acceptable to nearly all Muslims(1)

A split occurred in the Jama’at Movement One, the political wing is not afraid to use violence to achieve its

aims but only after being provoked when security agent shot at a group of the Jamaat who were on a funeral procession

The jamaa’s goals are both long-term, like instituting their version of sharia law in Nigeria, and also more immediate, like pushing for the release of their members in prison.:

The popular name “Boko Haram” means Western education is prohibited and has its origin in media and public/community coinage (1)

What Really is Boko Haram?

Sheikh Yusuf’s extrajudicial killing was captured as evidence but no one was tried and punished for the crime

An Aljazeerah news clip showed police killing poor people who were asked to lie down facedown on the streets of Maiduguri

Seeking revenge, Boko Haram targeted the police, the military and local politicians — all of them Muslims.

It was clear in 2009, as it is now, that the root cause of violence and anger in both the north and south of Nigeria is endemic poverty and hopelessness (2)

Injustice fuelled Boko Haram-Experts

“Boko Haram” is an ideology providing inspiration to some Nigerians living in grinding poverty under a set of rulers who concern themselves not with running the country but with simply stealing the country’s oil wealth. It passes no Nigerian’s notice that decades of official plunder have left what should be a thriving -- or at least developing -- nation in a pitiful state of neglect. Illiteracy stands at 40 per cent, and poverty is rising, with 100 million people, or 61 per cent of the population, now living in absolute poverty on less than $1 a day. Despite petroleum’s billions, citizens have to cover all their basic services themselves: health, education and security. Andrew Stroehlein 2012

Corruption and Bad Governance fuels Insurgency-Experts

The Governor of the Central Bank Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said deprivation, inequity, Poverty and youth un employment is fuelling the Boko Haram insurgency "Boko Haram capitalizes on popular frustrations with the nation's leaders."

‘ In a country where nearly 100 million people live on less than one dollar a day, U S Secretary of State Carson says that desperation is especially felt in northern states where Muslims are the majority and the group is most active. "Nigerians are hungry for progress and improvement in their lives, but northern Nigerians feel this need most acutely," he said. "Life in Nigeria may be tough for many, but life in the north is grim for almost all."

Poverty fuels Insurgency- Experts

President Bill Clinton on a trip to Nigeria in February called on the Nigerian Government not to use the military solution for a social

a social problem.In April while launching an almajiri model school in

Sokoto, President Jonathan said the almajiri Qura’nic school people number 10 million in Nigeria

They do not feed into the formal job market until their curriculum is integrated into formal education system

Mean while what do we do with this huge army of hungry, angry and alienated youth roaming our streets?

Government has plans to build 100 almajiri schools every year

Social Problems Fuels Insurgency

The United Nations says poverty in Nigeria's 12 most-northern states is nearly twice the rate of the rest of the country. Northern children are more likely to be malnourished and illiterate.

"Public opinion polls and news reports suggest there is a strong sentiment throughout the country - but especially in the north - that government is not on the side of the people and their poverty is a result of government neglect, corruption, and abuse,"

Corruption and Human Rights Abuse fuels Boko Haram

The Movement for a Better Future ‘ joined other Human Rights groups within and outside Nigeria in condemning, in strong terms, the summary execution of Mallam Muhammad Yusuf, the leader of the ‘boko haram sect’ by the Nigerian Police Force, after he was handed to them by the military alive and unarmed.

The execution violates all rules of engagements. The killing of Mallam Yusuf, has interred many potential leads and dimensions in investigating the Boko Haram's phenomenal emergence, source of funds, tentacles and even the psychological mindsets and philosophies of the group’

The Movement for a Better Future therefore called on government, to as a matter of urgency address the lingering economic, environmental and social crises bedeviling this country. The Movement believes that these crises are caused by poverty, unemployment and loss of hope in government. Kabiru Lawanti

Human Rights Abuse fuels Boko Haram

Boko Haram is a local problem that is a result of bad governance

It requires a local solution It is not about some global terrorism or Al Qaeda

in magrib or any where invading Nigeria Our only solution to this insurgency is to promote

good governance We can not find the solution outside Nigeria and

from any text book on terrorism We must take full responsibility to what we are

doing to our children and the youth and develop home bred solution.

The Verdict. We are Guilty

A communique at the end of a meeting of Northern Leaders, among whom were two serving governors etc expressed concern over the activities of Boko Haram, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)

The meeting also received the shocking details of the several excesses of the JTF (Joint Task Force) which amounted to no less than gross human rights abuses. The meeting expressed the view that the threat posed by Boko Haram insurgency could best be attended to without the attendant attacks on individual rights and on businesses.

Northern Leader’s Response

In March, the leaders of jamaat appointed the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria and chose its leader Dr Datti Ahmed as their negotiator with Federal Government

A few days later, Dr Datti annouced his withdrawal from the peace talks due to ‘insincerity on the part of Government’

Two weeks later Government said it is at war with the insurgents and will crush the militants’

Military option took precedence over engagement and dialogue

Engaging to combat Insurgency

There is pressure on the Federal government to engage with the Jamaatu Daawah (Boko Haram)

Northern leaders under the regional policy group Arewa Consultative Forum have named a panel of distinguished Nigerians to facilitate dialogue between the government and the Boko Haram leaders.

As is often the case with peace negotiations the Panel has three men and one woman. The members are Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno an elder states man and former Minister from Maiduguri the flash point of the insurgency, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu a respected cleric and former Grand Khadi from Niger state where the Christmas bombing occurred, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, former Governor of Yobe state and currently a Senator and Hajiya Khadijah Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a woman leader & member of the National Assembly also from Yobe state.

CSO Initiative to Dialogue

"Northern populations are currently trapped between violent extremists on the one hand and heavy-handed government responses on the other. They need to know that their president is going to go to extraordinary lengths to fix their problems,“

Horrendous loss of lives and the economy in the North, particularly in Kano the commercial centre is being destroyed by the curfew and trauma inflicted on the citizens.

The curfew and excesses of the military joint task force dehumanises the people and dislocates social and economic life

In Maiduguri, people are confined to their homes by 7pm The once bustling city is now a replica of a ghost city

Military Option and its Effects

Arewa Citizens Action for Change ACAC conducted a research that identified ‘three types of Boko Haram ACAC identified the three faces of the Boko Haram BH BH.

They include a core group, the Yusufiyyah BH which is localized in its operation which is directed at ulama who fight their beliefs, those affiliated to the old Borno State Government of Ali Modu Shariff and security agents who are blamed for the extra judicial killing of their leader and almost 90% of its members.

ACAC said ‘it is entirely unbelievable that the dispersed, clearly estranged original BH is capable of regrouping and acquiring such immense wealth and training required in the execution of the sophisticated and sustained coordinated attacks we have seen lately’

Capitalising on Boko Haram

ACAC also identified the second criminal BH ‘where criminal gangs have cashed in using the name of BH to perpetrate crimes such as bank robberies, extortion and arson in different places.

The third is the political BH which ACAC said is the most sophisticated, more menacing and more dangerous, coordinated and agenda based aspect of the three. ACAC said the Federal government, its security agencies and a large section of the media are involved in this grand conspiracy’

The Criminals Cash In

‘The disturbing aspect of this agenda driven BH is a broad based manipulation of ethnic and religious fault lines. ACAC believes that the political BH is using fifth columnists to carry out the most destructive, daring, merciless and violent attacks we see nationwide for which we are quickly told that BH has claimed responsibility.

This political BH has an agenda of pitting Muslims against Christians . Working in tandem with it media allies, the political BH has down played stories of Christian attacks on fellow Christians and on churches and transformed them into attacks by Muslim Northern Nigeria on Christians and their churches.’

Manipulation of Fault lines

ACAC listed ‘ten cases of Christians caught bombing or attempting to bomb their own places of worship and non prosecution of those apprehended’.

It expressed concern on ‘the indifference of the National Assembly, the utterances of compromised clergy who are bending backwards to concoct excuses to cover up these acts of sadism and to blame it on others.’

Christians Attacking Churches: Probe Deeper

Bishop Mathew Kukah documented disturbing cases of people trying to bomb their own places of worship in a bid to trigger religious crises.

He said ‘last year, a Christian woman went to her own parish Church in Bauchi and tried to set it ablaze. Again, recently, a man alleged to be a Christian, dressed as a Muslim, went to burn down a Church in Bayelsa President Jonathan’s home state

In Plateau State, a man purported to be a Christian was arrested while trying to bomb a Church. Armed men gunned down a group of Christians meeting in a Church and now it turned out that those who have been arrested and are under interrogation are in fact not Muslims and that the story is more of an internal crisis.

In Zamfara State, 19 Muslims were killed. After investigation it was discovered that those who killed them were not Christians. Other similar incidents have occurred across the country.’ Kukah

Fifth Columnists Use Insurgency as a cover

In March 2012 Boko Haram has dissociated itself from the kidnapping and eventual killing of Francesco Molinara(Italian) and Chris McManus(Briton) in Sokoto state.

Some young people who looked like minors were paraded as the ‘Kidnappers’

  Abul Qaqa, spokesman for the sect in a conference call with reporters, said, “We are not behind the hostage taking … which led to the military

operation yesterday in Sokoto in which the hostages were killed.”   “We have never been involved in hostage-taking and it’s not part of our

style, and we never ask for ransom.”  “We know how to settle our scores with anybody. Therefore the allegation

that the kidnappers were members of our group is ridiculous.”   Nigeria’s government “had better get its facts straight and find the true

identity of the kidnappers,”  “They should not use us to mask their incompetence.” Qaqa added. The Will 14/3/2021

Jamaatu Denies Kidnapping

So who is bent on creating problems for Nigerians?

Experts urge citizens to look deeper before ascribing all violence to the insurgents

“Boko Haram” is also a cover for criminal activity and political thuggery of all sorts. Anything that turns violent can be blamed on the Islamist movement, whether it has a link to it or not. It is a perfect alibi, one that prevents further questioning. Bank robbery? Boko Haram. Attack on political opponents? Boko Haram Andrew Stroehlein 2012

Beyond Streotypes

However, some experts (ACAC etc )attribute the current spate of violence and increasing sophistication of the attacks to criminal groups and fifth columnists who have cashed in on the existence of Boko Haram to perpetrate crimes

There are also reports of politicians using some thugs posing as Boko Haram for perpetuating electoral violence and political assassinations

Sophistication Beats Boko Haram

The Jonathan government has struggled to put a stop to

attacks, imposition of a state of emergency and curfew in affected local governments and joint military task forces accused by some local leaders of attacking civilians.

Attempts at indirect peace talks with Boko Haram collapsed in March Carson:ibid 2012

Government still insists that it will crush Bboko Haram Infact the government has given a date by which this

mission will be accomplished

Government’s Response

Between the 1st and 12th of August 2009, a group of nearly 40 brothers and sisters from a number of Islamic organizations under the Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN) met at the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria (Islamic Education Trust) in Minna, Niger State, to discuss among other things, various aspects of the “Boko Haram” crisis and tragedy that erupted in some of the North-eastern States of Nigeria – particularly Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe.

Those present were selected individuals from some of the DCCN member organizations including the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), the Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN), and the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria (DIN) – Islamic Education Trust (IET) (1)

Joint Islamic Group’s Initiative

‘War on terror cannot be won by arms alone'Ehsan ul-Haq, is one of Pakistan's most accomplished

military officers. He also highlighted lessons for Nigeria to learn as it

struggles to deal with a series of terrorist insurrections by Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram. 

Pakistan would welcome close people-to-people contact with Nigeria,

This may be good but we know that our problem lies within Nigeria and our ability to design a process of engagement with the Jama’at Dawah to end the conflict and improve our governance

Lessons from Pakistan

It is very important that scholars project the correct message of Islam, which is a great religion of peace. They have to project the true message of Islam. Islam has nothing to do with terrorism and violence.

It is a religion of peace. So, you have to develop an alternate narrative based on the true and real message of Islam, for which you would need highly enlightened and educated scholars, particularly religious scholars.

It is very important not to cede the religious platform to the extremists and the terrorists. The state and its institutions must fight this on the religious platform

Projecting Correct Islamic Message

The seriousness of taking the life of any innocent human being is described by Allah in Qur’an 5:32 – “If anyone kills a human being – unless it be (in punishment) for murder of for spreading corruption on earth – it shall be as though he had killed all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.”

Islam and Protection of Lives

And above all, if the terrorism is based on an ideology, then most critically it'll be important to address the narrative of that ideology.

In which case, you have to develop a counter-narrative or an alternate narrative to persuade people away from the narrative which they are pursuing. 

Combating narrative based on distorted religious theology

Terrorism & Distorted Religious Ideology

Design a comprehensive national strategy to tackle terrorism.

This comprehensive national strategy must be over-archingly a political strategy.

It may have other components; for example it must have a media component, an information component, a political component, an economic component and of course a military component. But mere use of military force will not solve the problem. It has to be a comprehensive strategy encompassing all the aspects

National Strategy for Combating Terrorism

The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) is a body made up of fifty (50) members (25 Muslims and 25 Christians) charged with the responsibility of promoting peaceful co-existence and religious harmony in Nigeria.

Established in 1999 & Co-chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and His Grace, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PFN and , Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The National Coordinator is an appointee of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

 NIREC has 47 men and three women, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Alhaja Lateefah Okunnu and my humble self

NIREC Religious Leaders working for Peace

250 Youth participants consisting of 100 Christian participants from different parts of Nigeria; 100 Muslim participants from different parts of Nigeria; 25 Muslims from Niger State and 25 Christians from Niger State the host state

They were provided with capacity building to be able to undertake conflict analysis, detect early warning signal and undertake community based peace works

NIREC’s Peace Initiatives

Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria FOMWAN works in interfaith networks of Muslim and Christian women

Carried out a Sharia education and enlightenment project on women’s rights in all 12 Sharia implementing states, with activities such as seminars, workshops, media discussion programs, etc.

Its partners include non-Muslim women’s rights advocacy groups in order to promote their understanding of Sharia and to disseminate such knowledge among non-Muslims

FOMWAN has initiated formation of similar groups across West Africa FOMWAG in Ghana, FOMWASL in Sierra leone and also in Gambia

It networks with ANASI in Niger

FOMWAN: Advocacy for Peace

FOMWAN is a voice for peace. As mothers we do not believe in throwing away the baby with the bath water

As mothers we must do our best to mediate in any conflict and the Jama’at insurgency is also a challenge for us

We support fully the CSO initiatives to address the insurgency and support our fathers Led by Sheikh Lemu and Dr Ahmad

We see the Hon. Khadija as a mother who will convey our concern and proffer solutions

FOMWAN: Mothers’ Voices

Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) urges Member States to take action at the national level in the following areas:•    Women's participation in decision-making and peace processes.•    The protection of women and girls•    Gender training

UNSCR 1325 –Women In Peace

The 10th anniversary of Resolution 1325 in October 2010 highlighted the increasing demand for accountability to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Many expressed concern about the fact that only 22 Member States out of 192 have adopted national action plans. Women are still underrepresented if not totally absent in most official peace negotiations and sexual violence in conflict continue to increase.

Implementation of UNSCR 1325

Presently, 35 countries have approved national action plans NAP and numerous others are currently in the drafting phase. The process of developing a plan is also creates awareness and capacity-building in order to overcome gaps and challenges to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Four countries have launched revised action plans

Nigeria is in the process of developing one and zonal consultations are to begin soon to get citizens to contribute to the Country’s NAP

National Action Plan

Interfaith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) has set in the agenda for involving women in the process of addressing the above situation. This based on the realisation that:-

Women have been part and parcel of the conflict and situation of lack of peace in Africa; and

  There is hidden potentiality in women towards conflict resolution and peace-making that can only be tapped and utilised effectively through inclusive approaches

Two Liberian Women Leaders won the 2011 Nobel prize for Peace – President Ellen Sirleaf and Mrs Ggowen an activist

IFAPA African Peace Initiatives

  However, IFAPA noted that for this to be done effectively,

it is important to engage the women in the identification of issues and in proposing concrete actions to tackle the issues from grassroots level.

During the Second Interfaith Summit held in South Africa in 2005, a pre-Summit gathering for women was carried out specifically for the purpose of deliberating on the women agenda. From this gathering, a continental campaign was launched under the banner ‘A mother’s Cry for a Healthy Africa’

Help Us Launch this Cry in West Africa. IFAPA has a Gender Desk that is willing to work with other

CSOs across Africa

IFAPA Women’s Cry for Africa

The campaign focuses: In Africa on religious, political and social institutions Outside Africa i.e. women in the Diaspora and to others who

would listen to the Mothers Cry for a Healthy Africa. Contacts and linkages have already been made with the

Nordic countries and Switzerland after a ten-member women delegation visited these countries and through the IFAPA Nordic coordinating office.

As the IFAPA Commissioner for Nigeria i am making to collaborate with IFAPA West Africa office in Senegal and NIREC to launch the Mother’s cry for West Africa

This becomes more urgent now that the threat of violence is fast crossing borders

 

IFAPA’s Mother’s Campaign

ABANTU for Development AfD is an African NGO building capacities of NGOs for promoting development from a gender perspective

It has a Regional Office for West Africa ROWA based in Accra, Ghana

Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa ROESA based in Kenya

The ABNTU Nigeria Country Office is in Kaduna It has extensive experience in peace work at

the ROWA office working refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone

ABANTU for Development

ABANTU has developed a framework for incorporating gender into peace building

AfD Nigeria is also organising reflection seminars on peace in Kaduna where ethno religious violence has become a regular occurence

It is implementing micro credit scheme in three local government to combat poverty and assist those affected by the crises

ABANTU also works with women politicians to promote effective participation in politics and public life

It hosts the gender network of CSOs in Kaduna State and AdvocacyNigeria working for reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity

AfD Gender Framework for Peace

To address alienation the youth have to be engaged (7)The youth of Nigeria are the future and we must empower

them to be good leaders. Unemployment remains high among youth and vocational training lacks adequate funding. Youth need to be re-engaged in civic life to build their self-esteem in order to be productive citizens of Nigeria.

  To encourage this development, Nigerian women

develped a manifesto that demand: Legislators should pass laws to ensure that companies within

their constituencies to be part of the empowerment program to embrace quota for youth employment.

The engagement of youth groups within communities to deter negative activities through education, empowerment and capacity building and mentoring.

The Youth have Potential

Manifesto demands that Government should implement the national youth policy. Launch and or increase funding of rehabilitation program for

youth who have experienced hardships and who are victims of drug addiction.

Increase funding for role model or mentoring program for youth.

Increase funding for popular sporting and cultural activities. Government should implement and enforce laws against

human trafficking and provide adequate rehabilitation programs for trafficked persons.

Women and youth should be involved in the decision making process of laws and policies that affect them.

Government should enforce anti-drug laws.

Recommendations

ECOWAS should encourage implementation of all it protocols

implement the African Peer Review Mechanism to check excesses of African leaders’ deficiency in Governance

Issues of sit tight leaders Mind boggling corruption Poverty Rigged elections Abuse of human rights Press censorship Violence Against Women

Recommendations:West Africa

Violence in One country in West Africa spills into others and we are all vulnerable as events unfolding in Mali has shown

A hausa adage: ‘When your neigbour’s beard is on fire, Pour

water on your own beard’

I thank you for listening

Let’s Join Hands

(1)A consensus confidential document emerged from the NDCC meeting. It is a draft still being fine tuned

Ehsan ul-Haq, -‘War on terror cannot be won by arms alone‘Presentation at Thomson Reuters Foundation seminar on global security and

terrorism NEXT publication Reuters circulated on an internet network (2) Jean Hershkovites-Boko Haram Is Not the Problem By Jean Herskovits

Washington Post January 3, 2012 (3)Bilkisu Yusuf ‘Women, Religion, and Peace Building in Nigeria: A Case

Study of Kaduna State. Paper presented at the seminar on Women Religion and Peace at United States Institute for Peace ,Washington 5/1/2012Yusuf

Bilkisu yusuf-“Managing Muslim –Christian Conflicts in Northern Nigeria: A Case Study of Kaduna State” in Islam And Muslim Christian Relations. Centre for The Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, University of Birmingham and Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. Volume 14 No 2 April 2007

(5) Johnnie Carson-Nigeria's Islamic Militants Are Capitalizing On Discontent – The Will US based On line newspaper 10/4 2012

(6) Junaid Committee has

References

(7) Women ‘s Manifestoe developed by a coaltion of women activists to Engage with Politicians during the 2011 elections in Nigeria . Supported by International Republican Institute

(8) On The Trail Of Boko Haram By Andrew Stroehlein Posted: on internet March 13, 2012 - 03:35 (9) (Clinton: Nigeria Can Overcome Security, Economic Challenges- This Day Newspaper Lagos

14/2/2012 10) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ‘Deprivation is the Cause of Boko Haram’ The Willl On Linenewspaper 2

/2/2012 ( Kukah:Mathew Hassan Beyond Boko Haram Al Bushra Newspaper, Abuja 10/2/2012 ACAC In an open letter signed by Tahir Abdullahi Usman, the organisation’s Director of Research

and Documentation Daily Trust Abuja March 2012

Footnotes