'Shekau is not Boko Haram,' by Dipo Oludase

When news trickled in that the self- acclaimed and audacious leader of the dreaded Boko-Haram sect had been killed in a face-off with the Nigerian Military or was it the Camerounians?

One would have expected that such a breaking news would have sent the nation into a frenzy of some sort. But strangely, the people welcomed the news with so much skepticism.

Can anyone really blame them? Such news is not new anymore, people don't really know who and what to believe anymore. They seem not have the luxury of premature celebration only to wake up to another video by another Shekau, protraying our leaders as comedians that will rival the likes of Basket Mouth.

With hard evidence emerging and the Nigerian Military confirming the report, it has become difficult to refute the claim and we can only accord a well desreved honour to them for their heroic and courageous effort (especially in recent weeks), in routing the insurgents that have perpetrated so much evil leaving untold destruction of lives (Christians and Muslims) and properties in its wake.

Now that an increasing number of people now believe that Shekau is
dead (though some still habour doubts, including the US). Is it the right time to roll out the drums and start singing victory songs, for the begining of the end of Boko-Haram? History resoundingly echoes with facts that it will be foolish and baseless to assume that the death of Shekau is the end of Boko-Haram.

Boko-Haram is an IDEOLOGY that preceded Shekau and will definitely outlive him. The death of Osama Bin Laden did not bring about the end of Al-Qeada. Equally fresh in our memories is the death of the leader of Al-Shabab, Somali's version of these stone-age blood thirsty monsters.

Within days of the death of their leader, they appointed a new leader and claimed responsibilities for four cordinated car bombs that claimed several lives.

What then could be the ideolody behind these terrorist groups that binds them so strongly and has made it almost impossible for them to be rided of, even if their leaders are killed? All these groups and others with similar agenda have told us with their mouths that they are "Freedom Fighters" in a revolutionary Jihad (Holy war) against all infidels (Non Muslims).

It is an open secret that they claim they are fighting or better put "striving in the cause of Allah", a cause they claim is an obligation for all muslims.

Shekau said in one of his speeches: "To the people of the world, everybody should know his status, it is either you are with us the Mujahedeen (Jihadist) or you are with the Christians...we know what is happening in this world, it is Jihad war against Christians and
Christianity. This is what I know in Quran. This is a war against Christians and democracy and their constitution."

"Allah says we should finish them when we get them. We will die killing and slaughtering them, if you meet infidels in battle field, brethren just harvest their necks. Allah said it and not Shekau."

Many muslims (moderate muslims) refutes these claims and say that these terror groups are not muslims and that their activities have no basis in Islam and/or the Quran. I have read the Quran and some hadiths (I suggest everybody should go and read it themselves).

The assertions of these moderate muslims is only 'politically correct'. On the contrary there are verses in the Quran that literally justify and instructs these terror acts and even sound like or corroborate Shekau's speech above.

For time and space lets look at just two:

      Quran 9:29 "Fight those who
      believe not in Allah nor the last
      day, nor hold forbidden which
      hath been forbidden by Allah
      or His Messenger (Muhamad),
      nor acknowldge the religion of
      truth (Islam), even if they are of
      the People of the Book
      (CHRISTIANS AND JEWS), until
      they pay the Jizya with
      submission and feel subdued."

      Quran 8:12 "I will cast TERROR
      into the hearts of disbelievers
      (NON MUSLIMS). Therefore
      strike off their heads and strike
      off every finger-tip off them."

Whether these verses are not "open-ended" instructions (just relevant within the context of history and not today) or has been taken out of context by religious zealots to champion an extreme and perverted brand of Islam like many moderate muslims claim is still a subject of debate amongs muslims themselves.

But to outrightly say it has no basis in Islam is arguable. Moderate muslims claim that Jihad is a war fought in self defence against non-muslims and moreso there are rules of engagement.

The muslim world is still divided on what the concept of Jihad really is, and what constitute its purview in the 21 century.

The death of the leaders of these terror has never ended any of them, though it may weaken their structures, dample their morales and cause factions, but as long as ds ideology exist Boko-haram will persist.

The death of Shekau is a laudable feat by the Nigerian Military but they must not rest on their oars, THEY HAVE JUST WON A BATTLE, THE WAR IS STILL ON!

God bless Nigeria

Dipo Oludase