A weekend of coordinated bombings and arson by the Boko Haram sect in Yobe and Borno states, with fatalities topping 200, is the latest evidence of the perilous times in Nigeria. Citizens and key institutions are at their most vulnerable because of the glaring inadequacies of leadership and equipment in the security agencies. Nigerians are thoroughly shaken and so is their faith in the capacity of government to guarantee the security of lives and property.Sympathetic nations and organisations, ever desirous of international collaboration against terrorism, have responded with strong condemnation of the perpetrators of the simultaneous attacks on November 4 and 5, while also drawing attention to intelligence at their disposal. The United States Embassy in Abuja, whose home government is actively supporting Nigeria through the training of Nigerian soldiers in counter-terrorism, was the first foreign institution to issue a security alert after the orgy of bloodshed and destruction in Damaturu and Maiduguri, the capitals of the two respective states.In the alert released on November 6, the Embassy stated that it had received information that Boko Haram may plan to attack several locations and hotels in Abuja, Nigeria, during the Sallah holiday. It advised all US Government personnel to avoid Nicon Luxury, Sheraton Hotel, and Transcorp Hilton Hotel as these had been listed as potential targets.National Security Adviser, Owoeye Azazi, was swift in rejecting the security alert. The Embassy had earlier forewarned the Federal Government, through appropriate channels, about the October 1, 2010 twin bombings in Abuja, but had been ignored. Azazi declared: The FG wants to advise members of the public that it would continue to ensure the security of lives and property under its jurisdiction despite the unfortunate events in Maiduguri and Damaturu over the weekend. The current threat on the three hotels in Abuja is not news, and for over three months, the security services have taken proactive measures to protect the designated critical facilities and others.Azazis reaction was uncalled for and in bad taste, given the proven soundness of intelligence reports from that source and the shared anxiety about the parlous state of Nigerias internal security system. Boko Haram has been gaining in strength despite governments tough talk. The macabre harvests of bombings and deaths in Abuja (Police Headquarters, the United Nations Building, etc), Suleija, Bauchi, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Damaturu, after the 50th Independence anniversary incident near Abujas Eagle Square, have drained citizens of confidence in the capacity of the nations security agencies to ensure the security of lives and property. No one is impressed to hear the stock phrase, We (the security services) are on top of the situation, as President Goodluck Jonathan and his security chiefs have so repeatedly declared.For so many years, the Federal Government and its security chiefs have been dismissive of reports on unhealthy political trends and threats posed by terrorist cells within the country. For a long time, security agencies even denied that Boko Haram had definitive ties to foreign terrorist groups despite credible alerts to the contrary by foreign intelligence agencies. Nigerias ruling class and the security agencies prefer to give Nigerians a false sense of security even as the country totters on the brink.But, in August 2011, US officials claimed the group had ties with Al Qaeda in the Maghrib, which operates in North Africa, and Somalias al-Shabaab, another terrorist Islamist group. The Algerian Deputy Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, has also confirmed the linkage, saying, We have no doubts that coordination exists between Boko Haram and al Qaeda. The way both groups operate and intelligence reports show that there is cooperation. Algeria has faced terrorism threats for two decades and is thus familiar with its methods.There is, indeed, a yawning gap between the ghastly reality on ground and the cheerful facade Azazi presents. The country can no longer afford to wait for terrorists to attack and then respond feebly. It is said that dealing with terrorism involves gathering raw intelligence on the terrorist organisations structure, its members, and its plans (or potential) for the use of violence; the measures that can be taken to counter, or thwart, terrorist activities, how the damage caused by terrorists be minimised through rapid response; the apprehension and conviction of individual terrorists and the dismantling of their organisations. None of these is being handled by the security agencies with professionalism and exceptional competence.There is an urgent need therefore to review the entire security apparatus as Boko Haram has the potential to increase exponentially in the near future. Terrorism of the al Qaeda/Taliban scale, as being viciously orchestrated by Boko Haram, leaves Jonathan with no other option. If the country must survive and be stable, he must be ready to take tough decisions. One of these is to relieve any security chief that fails to rise up to the daunting national security challenges of his job.
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