Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram earned its place at the high table of terrorist organizations by launching a coordinated series of attacks that turned Kano, home to 9 million people and the country's second-largest city, into a blood-drenched war zone. An estimated 250 people were killed.
After an initial explosion at a police station, eight closely orchestrated attacks occurred Jan. 20 across the city, including masked gunman taking to the streets. Local police appeared ineffective in stopping the havoc, which lasted approximately two hours.
Nigeria's weak governmental institutions and widespread corruption means that an effective response to Boko Haram is difficult to orchestrate. Rumors circulated that the terrorist group has infiltrated key police units.
Boko Haram means "no to Western education" in the Hausa language of north Nigeria, and the group has been compared with the Taliban in Afghanistan. They demand immediate implementation of Shariah law and hate moderate Muslims almost as much as Christians and other so-called infidels. They want to overthrow the government of Nigeria and institute theocratic rule. Nigeria's current, fragile democratic regime dates to 1999.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is fairly evenly divided between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. President Goodluck Jonathan represents the latter community. Although Jonathan has condemned the attacks, it remains unclear how the Nigerian government will overcome the long-term challenge posed by Boko Haram. Jonathan recently declared a state of emergency in four other Nigerian states, following atrocities committed by this terrorist group, but Kano was not on that list. An open civil war between Christians and Muslims would further many of Boko Haram's strategic goals.
Jonathan's hold on power is under threat on other fronts. This month, he was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over his country's massive gasoline subsidies, which he had tried to end. The subsidies, despite their tremendous drain on Nigeria's public finances, were reinstated after several days of strikes by the country's trade unions.
The Kano attacks are the most successful of a series of atrocities over the past year. Since 2009, when their founder and leader, Mohamed Yusuf, was killed by police, Boko Haram has become a bolder and more sophisticated organization, forging ties with al-Qaida and other militant groups. With many of their members dispersed to other countries, such as Cameroon, Chad and Mali, after Yusuf's death, Boko Haram may have actual become more effective as a result of this enforced "international outreach."
Earlier attacks were mounted against churches, police stations and the U.N. headquarters in Nigeria. More than 500 deaths were attributed to Boko Haram in 2011. Notoriously, this past Christmas Day, Boko Haram slaughtered 44 Christian worshippers at St. Theresa Church in the northern town of Madalla. If it weren't for an attentive policeman who stopped a would-be car bomber, there could have been even more causalities.
Even though many Nigerian Christians understand that the views of Boko Haram do not find sympathy among the overwhelming majority of their Muslim countrymen, continued bloodshed could push the country towards a religious sectarian war that few want, other than Boko Haram.
However, the militants have not limited their violence to Christians. Group spokesmen have made clear that any Muslim who supports or assists the Nigerian government will be deemed to have betrayed Islam, and could be targeted.
There are many poor young men in northern Nigeria, so, unsurprisingly, recruitment has not been difficult for Boko Haram. Nigeria is the world's sixth-largest oil producer, but few benefits have trickled down to many impoverished Nigerians. For example, the country still must import almost all its refined gasoline.
Some Nigerians, of course, benefit disproportionate from the steady flow of oil money. A recent report identified the large amounts of money that select Nigerians, benefiting from strong oil prices, have been bringing out of their country and spending on luxury brands in international shopping destinations, such as London.
At least the high-end shops in Knightsbridge and along the Kings Road were able to benefit from this "retail tourism" and have a slightly more merry Christmas!
Nigeria has great economic potential, if ever the constellation of private firms, government agencies and local entrepreneurs could be correctly aligned for long enough to generate lasting prosperity. Violence and sectarian bloodshed, however, limit that potential. A further generation of Nigerians could be lost to poverty if a civil war erupts.
U.S. news reports have largely ignored the horrendous events in distant Kano. Importantly, the dangers posed by Islamist extremist are not limited to Western or Christian or developed countries. Kano demonstrates that these concerns are of global importance.
Hopefully, with an American president who has such an intimate, personal link to Africa, the international community will not be allowed to ignore Nigeria. Nigerians have many of the same concerns that we do. To ignore their plight is to undermine our own need for peace and security. Washington should not turn its back on the potential unraveling of such a highly volatile region.