Growing up as a child between #Biu and #Maiduguri in the 80's and 90's left me with vivid memories. There were clear memories of affinity, of love, of trust, of sharing and good neighbourliness. #Maiduguri, to me, is the only place I want to retire to.
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Today, the epitaph - home of peace, mock the state, its citizenry and govt. A crisis we all saw coming and I, in particular, wrote articles and reports in the New Sentinel and the Daily Trust, alerting the state of an impending threat to law and order, long before it occurred.
The official lines, then, was, the crisis "would fizzle out soon." Today, officials are pushing the same narrative. This is the wish of every well meaning citizen, but wishes are not horses. The evidence in Borno, especially rural areas, contrast sharply with official lines.
To associate #Bornostate in general, with economic or social life today, is to engage in an ugly, nauseating joke. When I say #Borno, I am not referring to #Maiduguri alone, as many do. Normalcy in #Maiduguri cannot be applied to judge the rest of the state.
Last week alone, #ISWAP were seen moving in 11 gun trucks. IEDs, suicide vests and those eager to wear them are not in short supply. We only hear of hostages when the insurgents, and not the state, wish to let us know abt them. The latest #Eidprayer video by #Shekau is telling.
In fact, the insurgents are still in their thousands and they are still clinging to their beliefs and anyone that threatens their crusades "must be killed and not spared." Our state is yet to engage this doctrine with doctrines, so far we've only engaged their arms with our arms.
We are just focusing on taking away their guns and less concerned about their motivations for violence because we are all angry and hurt to engage their ideology, which is the fuse. Anything other than a political resolution, is a waste of time and resources, says our leaders.
One of the biggest mistake of this conflict is, we all think that, a #BokoHaram member or a #Jihadist is the person that carries a gun. Many of the support systems or members of this sect had never held a gun or committed a crime in the first place.
It is unlikely to win a war with guns, where only the minority in the group you are at war with bear guns. There must be equal or more investments in the non military components of this crisis to be able to curtail it, both in the short and long term. This is lacking.
There is no shame in changing approaches if it is failing. Political and security leaders must not cherry pick solutions that only advance pecuniary interests. The way out of this crisis may be the unsavoury route, but this is not an excuse not to follow that route.
In the #LakeChad region, #jihadis, #ISWAP in particular, as unpleasant as this may sound, are witnessing a 'rebound' that outweighs the 'schisms' within their ranks. Even the lame dock faction has seen hundreds returning, after deserting. This is an absurd dynamic, but true.
There are those that still see reasons to stay in an #Jihadi controlled territory or choose to move there. It is like a person, willing to remain in an abusive relationship. This is why it's important to fully identify the conflict indicators and begin to address them squarely.
The biggest problem we have as humans is, we want others to see the world in our own perspectives. I interviewed a #BokoHaram deserter recently, he was afraid to go home and couldn't pay rent or buy food. He accepted a BH 'amnesty' to return, where, he will not pay for rent/food.
We must view things from this person's perspective to be able to engage him. I have kept up my professional access to the #jihadis, despite being critical, because I seem to understand their 'language.' Those prosecuting the war in the #LakeChad must learn from this.
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