Nigeria: Boko Haram - the Politics of Targeted Killing of Christians

7 February 2020
opinion

When people know that they are being targeted and killed for their belief, it does not help much to tell them that they are also being manipulated, because they know that their victimhood is linked to their faith. To understand the manipulation component, they must see more concerted state action directed at destroying the terrorists.

For Boko Haram, targeting Christians for killing has always been a political act aimed at creating divisions within the enemy, which they define to be the secular Nigerian state. They deepen the divide between Christians and Muslims and amplify the hate between them by depicting brutal killings and beheadings in video clips that they distribute widely. The abduction of Christian girls for enslavement, sexual assault or forced conversion to Islam is also part of the same tactic. The strategic objective is to promote a civil war between Christians and Muslims that would create easier conditions for them to build and grow the Caliphate they have always dreamt about.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.