Boko Haram, the extremist Islamic group, has been on a steady diet of violence, gruesome deaths and horrible kidnappings for many years. They are seemingly unstoppable - because there seems to be little concentrated effort from America on what is happening in Nigeria. More than 200 schoolgirls in the nation remain missing, the group has taunted they have been married off to fighters. Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the group, has left provocative videos speaking ill against “Western traditions,” and yet Washington seems strangely quiet.
The Amnesty International released startling images of the unleashed violence Boko Haram committed in Baga. Nearly 4,000 structures were decimated by the extremist group, as thousands of civilians ran from their homes to neighboring regions of Chad and Maiduguri. For nearly four days, the group terrorized Baga, killing many, they held no reserve when it came to women protecting their babies and young children. They were slaughtered and Baga now sits as a mere ghost town, with bodies strewn across its streets.
But, this attack initiated by Boko Haram is not their first travesty, and it will not be their last. The military personnel the civilians depend on have fled their posts, in fear for their lives, as the nation becomes utterly destroyed. Where is America’s voice in assisting a nation where children, women and the elderly get gunned down? Certainly, no one can take away from the awful tragedies endured in Syria or more recently, France - but where is the noted presence, the issued condemnation against this extremist group? Where are the leaders who visit countries to find out more, and pledge their support? Not in Nigeria.
Viral Global News has followed the attacks, the horrid and morbid images received since the inception of opening, and each time a call is placed to a political leader with zero response. Where is the outrage?
This is not men attacking other military members of a varying region. This is a terrorist group launching attacks against their fellow country people, with little regard for their age. This is a group who has:
- Existed since the late 90s
- Began their path of murder and destruction in the early 2000s by attacking Yobe and destroying local police stations.
- Informed the nation publicly, since the government is not Islamic, their employees are considered infidels and would be hunted.
- Attacked the UN compound in Abuja back in 2011. That attack claimed more than 20 lives and injured 75.
- Shown no fear in the face of President Goodluck Jonathan’s warnings, and instead increased their attacks.
- Kidnapped more than 200 girls last April from Borno. Those girls remain missing, with little updates.
- From 2009 through the summer of 2014, the group has killed more than 5,000 civilians.
- Has immersed in drug trafficking, poaching and smuggling.
- Reportedly, the latest massacre in a four day period earlier this month left 2,000 people dead. Two of those deceased? A mother giving birth to her child.
This is not an all encompassing list of what Boko Haram has completed, rather this is just the tip of the iceberg. Lately, the biggest blame is the lack of media attention. Nigeria is a hotzone of murder, sending journalists to this region would be extremely irresponsible. Sources on the ground are available but severely limited. Many citizens there do not have the luxury of communication tools, and at times provide to relatives, when possible, in other parts of the world who can reach out to a publication.
Read all articles on Boko Haram
The factor of question falls into the lap of the Nigerian leaders and the lack of response from world leaders. Has Nigeria become unimportant to leaders? Is there something not to “gain” from assisting a nation where women, child and the elderly become victims on an everyday basis? Where are the world leaders to link arms against the terrorists massacring lives in Nigeria?
With the presidential election coming up on February 14, how will citizens be able to have a voice at the ballot box, when they are running for their lives to neighboring regions? The impact on elections can be brutal for the country, with Boko Haram seemingly orchestrating the decision.
The Nigerian military is scattered, and held by a string. Candidate Muhammadu Buhari favors religious freedom, and has promised to crush Boko Haram. The problem? His supporters are part of the many running from the region, leaving many to believe Jonathan will win again, and the terror of Boko Haram will rage on.
The images Viral Global News has seen has been withheld from the public due to the graphic intensity, but they sear into your brain to recall every detail. The group of small school boys murdered sitting at their desks, the mother holding her baby with a gunshot through both of their heads, the bodies of men, women and the elderly strewn along streets like nothing more than trash. Children sitting in pain with infections from debris and gunshot wounds. Babies with third degree burns, the father burned to death, the school bus torched, the 5-year-old school boys and girls burned alive, the son reaching over to touch the face of his father who took several bullets to save his life, and the many who suffered a removed limb or suffer severe disabilities from the attacks. These image haunt for life, and yet where is the global outrage?
Washington is quick to condemn attacks in other nations, they are quick to provide a word, a pledge, but when it comes to Nigeria - someone has pushed the mute button, and people across the world should be asking why.
