Boko Haram And COVID-19: Abubakar Shekau And Abu Musab Al-Barnawi Thriving To Overthrow The Regime In Nigeria
Meghna
Ria Muralidharan
By Dr
Nanda Kishor and Ms Meghna Ria Muralidharan
August 9,
2020
On 1 August
2020, Boko Haram killed 19 civilians through a grenade attack on a camp of
displaced people in Nguetchewe village of northern Cameroon leaving 11 people
seriously injured. Boko Haram has turned out to be one of the lethal terrorist organisations
in western and central Africa. Year after year it has been listed as the
fiercest terrorist organisation in the global terrorism index. As the world tries
to counter the pandemic, Nigeria continues its battle against insurgent groups
threatening the stability and political integrity of Africa’s most populous
state. Since 2011, Boko Haram has been the largest Islamist militant groups in
Africa, has attacked political and religious groups, military and the local
police. The Chibok abduction of 200 girls in April 2014, drew international
attention to the growing threat from the militant group and the inability of
the government to counter it.
Abubakar Shekau, Chief of Boko Haram
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Boko Haram
promotes a version of Islam that considers western education as “Haram”. It
forbids the Muslims from taking part in political and social activity linked
with western society including voting in elections, wearing shirts and trousers
or obtaining secular education. The militant group has been in Nigeria for over
a decade, fighting to carve out an Islamic caliphate based in Nigeria. The
violence has led to the death of approximately 30,000 people and millions have
been displaced and the spill over effect is witnessed in the neighbouring
countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
Representative photo
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Boko
Haram and COVID-19
From 17
February 2020, when Nigeria reported its first case of coronavirus, there has
been a spike in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19, with more than
43,000 confirmed cases and over 800 deaths as of 3 August 2020. The North East
region of Nigeria, Boko Haram’s stronghold has become a COVID hotspot. There
have been reports about mass mysterious deaths in Yobe, one of the states worst
hit by the militant attacks and Borno, Nigeria’s second-largest city. The
pandemic struck first in Borno, the epicentre of Boko Haram on 18 April 2020
after a health care worker assisting in an internally displaced peoples (IDP)
camps hosting approximately 60,000 Boko Haram survivors was killed by the
militant group. Since then, Borno has become one of Nigeria’s worst-hit state.
Further, it is believed that the virus is spreading at a higher rate in these
IDP camps due to a poor health care system.
The pandemic
has had a very little mitigating impact on the terrorist activities and there
has been a steady rise in the attacks. In addition to the recent attacks on the
military, the group has been targeting health care workers and destroying
religious as well as educational institutions. Boko Haram has continued its
media activities during this pandemic by releasing audio messages of its
factional leader, Abubakar Shekau. These messages reflect its continuous
attempt to rejuvenate the jihadist scheme across the Sahel. Keeping up with its
communication strategy, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (People
Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad, abbreviated
as JAS) released an hour-long audio message detailing its position on Covid-19.
Shekau framed the virus as a divine punishment from Allah for indulging in
sodomy and non-payment of Zakat. This aligns with Boko Haram’s motive of being
against western education. He has further claimed that the non-Muslims and
hypocrites were using the outbreak as a pretence to stop Muslims from
practising their faith, stopping pilgrimage to Mecca and congregational
prayers. The group also released audios thereby stating that how it has
continued to stay in groups and were observing fast and also condemned the
safety measures of lockdown and social distance as evil. The group went on to
claim that Sambisa is a safe haven against the pandemic, a propaganda to lure
the young Nigerian population.
Responses
of State and International Community
Since one
of the factions of Boko Haram led by Abubakar Shekau expressed allegiance to
Islamic State in 2014, they have dreamt of their own Islamic state in Africa.
In 2015, Boko Haram opened its first twitter account in the name of al-Urwa
al-Wuthqa, or “the Incessant Handhold” and has been active in propaganda. The
major issue and vulnerability of Nigeria is being unable to govern its people
and provide them with welfare. Exploiting this scenario, Boko Haram uses
underemployed youth as recruits. The state though argues that due to the
security scenario it is unable to deliver the promises, the far north of the
state suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition have been the easy target
for Boko Haram. Boko Haram promised to pay them between 300,000 and 400,000 CFA
(US$600 – US$800) each month to join their cause. The minimum wage, for those
lucky enough to be employed, is just 36,000 CFA (US$72) per month. Those who
resist joining Boko Haram are severely punished and are forced to leave the
place. Boko Haram has been a single reason for the internal displacement of
more than 2.4 million people in northeast Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
International organisations are in critical condition even while providing
refuge to the internally displaced people. Their security is always compromised
and the international community is mute to this scenario.
Terrorist
groups across the world have been exploiting the COVID-19 scenario by spreading
misinformation and have not spared the population in such a grave scenario. Two
important factions led by Abubakar Shekau and another by Abu Musab al-Barnawi
have been constantly thriving to overthrow the secular regime in Nigeria to
establish Islamic State with strict enforcement of Sharia. Knowing the spread
and reach of the organisation, Nigeria has tried to negotiate with Boko Haram
but unfortunately, Shekau has spoiled every attempt so far and anybody willing
to do have been mercilessly killed within the organisation. Barnawi has been
willing to negotiate but from the position of strength though the government
has been denying of paying ransom or prisoner exchange. Several reports
indicate that the schoolgirls from Dapchi of Yobe State were captured by the
Barnawi faction.
Time and
again the international community has failed to help counter-terrorism and
contain Boko Haram. Partially this is also due to the leadership in the
affected states in Africa. The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against
Boko Haram consisting of Nigeria, Benin, Chad, Niger and Cameroon which became comparatively
weaker since the withdrawal of Chad in 2017 has been one of the reasons for the
failure of the effective counter-terrorism measures.
What is
in Store?
The
uninterrupted propaganda and activity of Boko Haram may affect the people of
the region much more than before. It also has the potential to damage the
relief expected to combat COVID-19. Any health intervention by Muslims,
individuals, State or international agencies during the pandemic has been
viewed by Boko Haram as Haram (Forbidden). Knowing the brutality unleashed by
Boko Haram in the past, Boko Haram is not just a terrorist organisation killing
and kidnapping people but a public health risk now.
Ms
Meghna Ria Muralidharan is a Research Scholar at Centre for African Studies,
School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Original
Headline: Terrorism and COVID-19: Brutality of Boko Haram in Africa
Source: The Modern Diplomacy
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/boko-haram-covid-19-abubakar/d/122601