Everyday Like 9/11: Terrorism Timeline in Nigeria

Abstract

Information brokerage requie librarians to document national catastrophes.Since December 2009,a home grown terror has gripped Nigeria and continues unabated,thus making everyday in Nigeria like September 11,2001 in the USA. Definitions of terrorism across the globe and the professions were laid bare in this work, trailing behind this is an overview of terrorism which debuted in 1948 by Palestinians who in a bid to resist Israeli’s occupation depopulated the Jewish ranks by blowing themselves up while among the Jews. Consequently, state actors used terror, as in 1793, when Robespierse Maxillien, the French dictator stifled dissenting voices to his dictatorial revolution, non-state actors like the Niger Delta militants in Nigeria, cold war between USSR and US, pariahrization of apartheid South Africa by all, USA invasion of Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq. Manifestations or acts that make up terrorism were sketched out though minimally. The situation report were tabulated as timeline of Boko haram bombings. This is less than one-third of reported cases due to space constraints.From government establishments to police/military units, media houses, motor parks, middle/high schools, relaxation joints, health workers, VIP convoys, diplomatic premises (UN), jails, majorly churches etc. have been targeted and mission was accomplished without resistance often. Modus operandi revealed the criminal or racial profiling of terrorists, source of funding, observatory studies of schemed areas prior to attack. Rocket launchers, drive by shooting, burying time bombs, casting grenades and clandestine entry of willing to die bombers into crowded areas as it obtains in Iraq have been the mode of executing citizen in droves. Military options have been deployed but has achieved little. It is an aberration to engage military in civil or internal war as they are to fight external aggression. As Boston bombings of 2013 was resolved via law enforcement options, the work prescribes installation of CCTV cameras, geographic information (spatial mapping) of schemed areas, forensic databank of Nigerians and attendant confidentiality, establishment of a bomb library to follow the storyline with exhibits, foreign intervention by reporting to UN Security Council as was the case in Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Liberia etc. Intelligence gathering and personal watchfulness can bring containment too.

Keywords: Terrorism, Insurgency, Boko haram, law enforcement options