Earlier this week the United Nations Security Council met in order to discuss the growing militant threat in Nigeria. Despite the mounting atrocities by the militant group Boko Haram, a Nigerian official claimed that Nigerian and its neighbors are capable of handling the situation themselves.
Sambo Dasuki, the national security adviser for Nigeria, said that international aid against Boko Haram is not needed. Military officials of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon also met earlier this week to discuss plans to combat the growing Islamic militant threat.
“It’s something that we can do. It’s absolutely something we can do,” Dasuki said in an interview with BBC. “I think as it is we are in good shape to address the issue with those partners, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.”
Dasuki’s confidence in the transnational security force seems out of place in light of Boko Haram’s recent attacks. The attacks on the town of Baga resulted in the fall of the joint security force headquarters as well as the deaths of 2000 Nigerian civilians, though, only Nigerian forces were present during the attack.
The multinational force agreed to establish a new headquarters in the capital city N’Djamena in Chad. A headquarters outside of Nigeria indicates that Boko Haram is becoming a real threat that affects not only Nigeria, but also its neighbors.
As Boko Haram is becoming bolder and the destruction of northern Nigeria is increasing, the presidential elections are unavoidably affected. The incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, has been criticized by many for the lack of Nigerian response and effectiveness in stopping the militants from establishing a caliphate. As a result, candidate Muhammadu Buhari has been gaining political support.
Buhari, 72, is a former military general that has attracted many northern Nigerians who have suffered from Boko Haram’s influence. The former general is known for his harsh militaristic rule of Nigeria about 30 years ago, and some are hopeful that his disciplinarian leadership will effectively stop Boko Haram. Others, however, fear that his election will result in an overemphasis on military and discipline.
It is unclear whether Buhari has a strong chance of winning the election because of the large amount of southern Nigerians who are happy with the economic growth under Jonathan’s presidency. Further, Boko Haram has displaced thousands of northern Nigerians who will not be able to vote as a result of the displacement, and damage to government infrastructure in the north.
