Nigeria acts to clear northern states of Boko Haram sect

In a space of six months between June and December this year alone, Nigeria lost more than 200 innocent lives to the violent activities of the extremist sect group, Boko Haram, operating in northern part of the country. The sect members are back in the trenches, shooting and leaving in their wake untold destruction with dire economic consequences for Nigeria, after a recent fierce fighting with the Nigerian military. The militants group is becoming more daring and its activities more dangerous following the latest campaign in northeastern part of the country. The group has launched several attacks on government symbols in northern Nigeria as part of its campaign to get what it calls "Western Education is sin." Boko Haram launched the first attack in Maiduguri in July 2009, during which many were killed and wounded with property destroyed. The sect's leader known as Yusuf and his alleged financier Buji Foi were killed in a counter-attack by the security operative. Maiduguri has been hit by almost daily bomb blasts, shootings and serial killings in recent months blamed on Boko Haram, which surfaced in 2009. More than 800 persons including security personnel have been killed in violence linked to suspected Boko Haram militants. The frequent spate of bomb blast attacks especially on innocent souls in the country is worrisome, partly for its reflection of the dastard state of insecurity in the land. The sect claimed they are on a revenge mission after their fighters were killed in the recent clash with the Nigerian military in Yobe and their stronghold was overtaken by the troops. Spokesperson of the sect, who goes by the name Abul-Qaqa said his group was responsible for all the attacks that took place in some parts of the country on Christmas day. Qaqa said the attacks were meant to prove that no amount of surveillance by security agents will deter his members from doing whatever they plan to do. Recently, the Nigerian Army took delivery of bomb-detecting equipment and has started training its men in the handling of such equipment. Several analysts believe that it is not enough for the government to condemn the sect after another bombing campaign and reassuring Nigerians of their resolve to provide security for them. "We believe the president should go beyond this usual rhetoric and mobilize resources at his disposal to tackle this Boko Haram menace," Femi Falana, a Lagos based lawyer said. In Abuja, the fear of Boko Haram is palpable. Churches and big hangouts screen patrons with metal detectors. Within the country's security agencies, the sophistication of the group's bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja raised an awareness of Boko Haram's capability for carnage. The threat posed by Boko Haram has driven up the country's security budget. Analysts said what Greece spends on security is five times greater than what Nigeria spends. But there are doubts over the ability of the Nigeria Police to handle the threat posed by Boko Haram. Security analysts are of the opinion that those who can put intelligence together, analyze and use it are very few in the police. They called on the security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and capacity building which, over the years, have been neglected.