Beyond bombs

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MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: terrorism and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria.

On Christmas Day, the Trump Administration announced that it had struck a terrorist splinter group operating in Northern Nigeria. The military action was coordinated with the Nigerian government.

What’s behind the mission and what’s next in the region?

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Joining us now to talk about it is Nigerian journalist Victor Ayara who currently lives in Georgia. He’s a former award-winning television anchor and political analyst who’s currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Leadership at Liberty University.

BROWN: Good Morning Victor.

VICTOR AYARA: Good morning and thank you for having me, Myrna.

BROWN: Let’s start with last week’s strike. How are Nigerians responding—both inside and outside the country?

AYARA: Absolutely. So it is a mixed reaction, as one could expect. Both Nigerians in Nigeria who have to deal with this unfortunate incident of kidnapping and terrorism, they heave a sigh of relief. They're like, “we don't care who is doing it, as long as it is done.” And then, of course, the Nigerians in the diaspora are also excited that somebody is doing something about it, but their excitement is also with a note of caution. Caution, as it has to do with the sovereignty questions. You know, Nigeria is a sovereign nation. Why should it take the United States to take out this group? So there is that, and of course, there is also fear. We cannot rule out fear and trauma. Some people would even leave their homes not knowing what is happening, because it wasn't like there was a broadcast that said, this is what we're going to do. And the diasporas are reflecting on this. Is this what it should take? Even though the Nigerian government has said that it is a joint effort.

BROWN: What does a military response to the violence in Northern Nigeria accomplish?

AYARA: I would say that it accomplishes number one, it is going to disrupt the militants' operations in that area. When they are on the run and trying to hide from being attacked, they are not able to recruit more people. They are not able to mobilize. They are not able to wreak more havoc. And of course, it is going to be a deterrence for them, preventing any large-scale attack on civilians—whether Muslims or Christians. It will be met with very serious consequences. And of course, the tactical support that this is going to provide for the Nigerian military is also something that is a plus, no matter how you look at it, because the Nigerian military really needs that support, especially from the US.

BROWN: What are some of the possible negative outcomes of a military strike like the December 25th action?

AYARA: We have to have to be careful that it does not play into the propaganda of the terrorists that say, “Yes, this is what we are all about.” Currently, what we are facing is a splinter group from the original Boko Haram group. And this splinter group, believe it or not, is winning a lot of popularity, it is winning hearts, because where there has been dysfunction, a dysfunctional government, or non-existing governments. Who structures these terrorists step in like they always do in any other place. They become the Robin Hood. They try to sell themselves as the good guys to this local population. So hitting them like this can also play into the propaganda that they have been,

BROWN: Much of the Western media has overlooked the challenges in Nigeria in recent years. Can you help us understand some of the complexity of the situation?

AYARA: There are so many things. There's so many things that play into this conflict. We have the north, which has historically been more—especially if you look at the corridor where this insurgency is happening—they have the highest rate of poverty, and they have the lowest rate of literacy. The threat of insurgency, the banditry that is going on, the criminal governance, the kidnapping, all of these things that these people are doing. You also have armed groups that are embedded in local economies and communities, and these armed groups, some of them were products of Boko Haram, saying that Western culture should not be tolerated in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, that northern Nigeria should be a Sharia state. We have that. So it gives a very fertile ground for people to be recruited and radicalized.

When you also look at the unemployment rate, that also is a factor. When you look at the fact that people who have not been trained in conventional education are only trained in Islamic Studies, and they are taught to kill and to maim other people of different faiths, that is also a problem. And you also look at the fact that there are also no, almost no, mechanisms for land disputes, because sometimes it's about land. Sometimes about grazing access for the cattle. So it's so it's a hydra headed problem, but it is not as intractable as we're meant to feel it is. If the Nigerian government is going to do something, it has to be a holistic solution.

BROWN: What role can the US and other international partners play in best helping Nigeria respond to its internal challenges?

AYARA: The role of the international community, to answer your question straight, should not just be bombing. It should be partnering with Nigeria. It should be creating a playing field for that farmer in Nigeria to know that when they have their wheat or their maize or their corn, that there is a market that they're going to sell, and they're going to get fair pricing for that market. So the international community can do more by helping Nigeria strengthen institutions that protect lives and the people that live in Nigeria.

BROWN: Anything else you think we need to know about this situation?

AYARA: Well, all I can say is that sustainable peace can only come when there is justice. The Nigerian state has to ensure that even the small man and the big man can coexist. For so long, Africa has played the big man politics. Now we should play the big beautiful institutions politics. We should put institutions in place that ensure that people are not destitute, people are not readily available to join militant groups.

BROWN: Nigerian journalist Victor Ayara. Thank you. Thank you for joining us.

AYARA: Thank you. Myrna.

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