For residents of Bauchi State, the fear of Boko Haram is now the beginning of wisdom. Indeed, people of the state are now gripped with anxiety following the bomb blasts at the police headquarters in Abuja and Damboa, Borno State, respectively, for which the group claimed responsibility.
Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, is no stranger to the Boko Haram onslaught after series of bomb blasts that killed many.
They now go about their lawful activities with the feeling that anything may happen. So serious is the concern over recent activities of the group that virtually every organisation in the state have adopted pro-active measures.
Security measures have been taken in public places, particularly churches, as rumours are rife that the Boko Haram would strike any moment. In many of the churches visited, detective metal devices are now used to search persons coming in while bags have to be thoroughly searched, including emptying the contents before passage is allowed.
Some of the churches have strongly denied that some suspects had been arrested while trying to bomb their premises, describing such rumours as targeted at discouraging people from coming to worship.
However, the situation is that fear now pervades Bauchi State because of activities of Boko Haram.
When Sunday Sun went round the capital on Friday, some unusually heavy armed policemen, including the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the police spotting red berets, were seen patrolling the city in Hilux vans.
It was gathered that pamphlets released by the Boko Haram sect were allegedly circulating in the city, though Sunday Sun could not lay hands on any. The pamphlets allegedly contained warning that the sect would strike on Saturday (yesterday), warning people to keep off public places.
When contacted on phone, Police Commissioner, Mohammed Abdulkadir Indabwa, said he was not aware of such leaflets. He declined to speak further when pressed on measures taken to forestall Boko Haram attack in the state.
The group crept into the consciousness of residents when news that they had entered the state became rife early in 2009. It was gathered that the Islamic sect was not welcome in the state because of its radical belief, which is anti-establishment.
In fact, their outright rejection of western education, values and scientific explanation of reality were difficult to accommodate. But it became more militant and started using bombs to register their grievances when their leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was allegedly brutally killed by the police after he was arrested and handed to the police by the Nigerian Army in 2009.
Since then, the group had become more militant, as it targets the establishment and anybody, mostly well-placed people believed to be against its cause.
Specifically, it gave conditions for ceasefire, which analysts believe are very difficult to meet. The controversial militant Islamic sect claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts at the 33 Artillery Brigade headquarter’s Mammy Market in Bauchi that killed 14 people on May 29.
The group, which seeks imposition of Shariah law in the northern states, became internationally known when it first struck in the Dutste Tanshi Police Station in Bauchi in June 2009.
Security agencies, particularly the police, went after leaders of the group in their hideouts at the Federal Low Cost Housing near the airport, and in the process over 700 suspected members were killed.
Governor Isa Yuguda, reacting said the group almost overran the state if not for prompt intervention of security operatives. Since that onslaught, the group had vowed to avenge perceived injustices against them using state apparatus, and has made good their promises with the killing of high profile people.
On September 7, 2010, the Boko Haram freed over 700 inmates from the Federal Prisons in Bauchi, completely taking security agencies by surprise.
On May 29 when people of the state thought they had a respite from Boko Haram, the group took everyone by surprise at the Shadawanka Military Barracks, Bauchi, killing 14 people in triple bomb blasts.
It was alleged that soldiers loyal to the group were used to coordinate the attacks at the military barracks. The army has denied this allegation. However, the most worrisome aspect of the Boko Haram challenge is the amorphous nature of the group. Its members are faceless and difficult to pin down, giving headaches to security agencies as they try to deal with them.
In most places visited by our correspondent, people are afraid to speak openly about Boko Haram.
“You don’t know who the next person sitting near you is. You don’t just talk anyhow about Boko Haram in pubic otherwise they would come after you,” a resident, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Sun. The Islamic sect has killed many well-placed members of the society, including clerics for criticising them.
A concerned citizen, who pleaded anonymity, believes government has a big problem on its hand and advised that intelligence gathering was the only way to address the problem.
“Personally, I feel the IGP made a big mistake by openly saying that their days were numbered. The Boko Haram has insiders working for them in almost all government establishments.
“Why couldn’t he keep that to himself and work underground to tackle the Boko Haram problem? See the effect of his words now,” he said.
Many of those who spoke with our correspondent could not hide their sympathy for members of the group.
One of them said: “I feel the way they were killed was merciless. Even the way their leader was killed was not good. It shows injustice. He should have been tried. We need truth in this country. The issues they raised should be investigated and justice done.”
But others argue that the conditions the group gave for ceasefire were near impossible.
“For instance, how can Shariah be practiced in all 12 states in the North? What about our Constitution? If you agree, what then happens to our Constitution? That condition is not practicable in Nigeria,” a citizen said.
While Bauchi people live in fear of Boko Haram, their prayer is not to be caught at the wrong place, as many have not lived to tell their stories.
Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, is no stranger to the Boko Haram onslaught after series of bomb blasts that killed many.
They now go about their lawful activities with the feeling that anything may happen. So serious is the concern over recent activities of the group that virtually every organisation in the state have adopted pro-active measures.
Security measures have been taken in public places, particularly churches, as rumours are rife that the Boko Haram would strike any moment. In many of the churches visited, detective metal devices are now used to search persons coming in while bags have to be thoroughly searched, including emptying the contents before passage is allowed.
Some of the churches have strongly denied that some suspects had been arrested while trying to bomb their premises, describing such rumours as targeted at discouraging people from coming to worship.
However, the situation is that fear now pervades Bauchi State because of activities of Boko Haram.
When Sunday Sun went round the capital on Friday, some unusually heavy armed policemen, including the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the police spotting red berets, were seen patrolling the city in Hilux vans.
It was gathered that pamphlets released by the Boko Haram sect were allegedly circulating in the city, though Sunday Sun could not lay hands on any. The pamphlets allegedly contained warning that the sect would strike on Saturday (yesterday), warning people to keep off public places.
When contacted on phone, Police Commissioner, Mohammed Abdulkadir Indabwa, said he was not aware of such leaflets. He declined to speak further when pressed on measures taken to forestall Boko Haram attack in the state.
The group crept into the consciousness of residents when news that they had entered the state became rife early in 2009. It was gathered that the Islamic sect was not welcome in the state because of its radical belief, which is anti-establishment.
In fact, their outright rejection of western education, values and scientific explanation of reality were difficult to accommodate. But it became more militant and started using bombs to register their grievances when their leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was allegedly brutally killed by the police after he was arrested and handed to the police by the Nigerian Army in 2009.
Since then, the group had become more militant, as it targets the establishment and anybody, mostly well-placed people believed to be against its cause.
Specifically, it gave conditions for ceasefire, which analysts believe are very difficult to meet. The controversial militant Islamic sect claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts at the 33 Artillery Brigade headquarter’s Mammy Market in Bauchi that killed 14 people on May 29.
The group, which seeks imposition of Shariah law in the northern states, became internationally known when it first struck in the Dutste Tanshi Police Station in Bauchi in June 2009.
Security agencies, particularly the police, went after leaders of the group in their hideouts at the Federal Low Cost Housing near the airport, and in the process over 700 suspected members were killed.
Governor Isa Yuguda, reacting said the group almost overran the state if not for prompt intervention of security operatives. Since that onslaught, the group had vowed to avenge perceived injustices against them using state apparatus, and has made good their promises with the killing of high profile people.
On September 7, 2010, the Boko Haram freed over 700 inmates from the Federal Prisons in Bauchi, completely taking security agencies by surprise.
On May 29 when people of the state thought they had a respite from Boko Haram, the group took everyone by surprise at the Shadawanka Military Barracks, Bauchi, killing 14 people in triple bomb blasts.
It was alleged that soldiers loyal to the group were used to coordinate the attacks at the military barracks. The army has denied this allegation. However, the most worrisome aspect of the Boko Haram challenge is the amorphous nature of the group. Its members are faceless and difficult to pin down, giving headaches to security agencies as they try to deal with them.
In most places visited by our correspondent, people are afraid to speak openly about Boko Haram.
“You don’t know who the next person sitting near you is. You don’t just talk anyhow about Boko Haram in pubic otherwise they would come after you,” a resident, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Sun. The Islamic sect has killed many well-placed members of the society, including clerics for criticising them.
A concerned citizen, who pleaded anonymity, believes government has a big problem on its hand and advised that intelligence gathering was the only way to address the problem.
“Personally, I feel the IGP made a big mistake by openly saying that their days were numbered. The Boko Haram has insiders working for them in almost all government establishments.
“Why couldn’t he keep that to himself and work underground to tackle the Boko Haram problem? See the effect of his words now,” he said.
Many of those who spoke with our correspondent could not hide their sympathy for members of the group.
One of them said: “I feel the way they were killed was merciless. Even the way their leader was killed was not good. It shows injustice. He should have been tried. We need truth in this country. The issues they raised should be investigated and justice done.”
But others argue that the conditions the group gave for ceasefire were near impossible.
“For instance, how can Shariah be practiced in all 12 states in the North? What about our Constitution? If you agree, what then happens to our Constitution? That condition is not practicable in Nigeria,” a citizen said.
While Bauchi people live in fear of Boko Haram, their prayer is not to be caught at the wrong place, as many have not lived to tell their stories.
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