AFRICA/NIGERIA - A priest denounces: "It is poverty, not religion or ethnicity, that drives young people to become terrorists"

Wednesday, 24 October 2018 terrorism  

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - We need to change the narrative on the causes of the spread of terrorism in Nigeria, says Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, Director of the mission and dialogue Office of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria.
The prevailing narrative emphasizes the role of religion in leading young people towards terrorist violence, as in the case of Boko Haram, and in the contribution of foreign jihadist movements that send fighters and weapons to Nigeria.
According to Fr. Omonokhua there is the need to expand the picture and ask if economic and social factors are the main causes that push young Nigerians to embrace terrorist groups.
"We must examine the psychological and anthropological orientation of Nigerians in the face of the economic situation in which they live", says the priest. "What is the attitude of an average Nigerian who is struggling to have ordinary food on the table? Why is it so easy for the external invaders to recruit some youths into their terrorist organizations? What is the role of hunger in this whole narrative? Does hunger have a religion or tribe? Some no longer care where food comes from. All they want is to eat even if the food come from devil since the government cannot provide the basic needs for the citizens. It appears that the nation has killed the dream and ambition of the youths", reports Fr. Omonokhua. "While some girls use their bodies to earn a living, the boys use their muscles in the form of crime". The widespread insecurity sometimes also affects wealthy families, forced to pay the ransoms of their loved ones abducted by gangs of criminals, but it is ordinary citizens that every day have to face the lack of security which "has become a mirage for the common person in Nigeria", to the point that "many cannot sleep with two eyes closed in some areas". "The poor are killed, raped and displaced from their homes", says the priest who denounces how the poor sell their votes to keep the "greedy politicians in power" in exchange for some money. "Yet Nigerians are distracted and misled with ethno-religious narratives", remarks Fr. Omonokhua.
The population of youths between the ages of 15 and 35 in Nigeria - recalls the priest - was estimated to be 64 million where female were 51.6 percent and male were 48.4 percent. "But in Nigeria, the human resources of the youths are not seen as an advantage hence employment is not based on merit and professionalism.To get a job, even a first class graduate would need a letter or note from a big political leader as if the job is for sale", says the priest. Young people then become easy prey to immorality, obsession with material things, violence, drug addiction.
It is therefore necessary to invest in young people to change this state of affairs. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/10/2018)


Share: