Close

Matters Arising: The School of Islamic Affairs by the Nigerian Army

By Tife Owolabi

The Nigerian state is controversial, with citizens often living in a climate of conspiracy theories. Recently, a picture surfaced on social media showing military graduands with a backdrop of the Nigerian Army school of Islamic Affairs.

This has generated mixed reactions across various ethnic and religious groups. At first, I ignored it because not everything is worth one’s attention but on a second thought, I felt it worth the time.

I don’t know how true is the picture that has made the rounds online, particularly in this era of AI but if the picture is anything to go by, then there is nothing wrong with unbundling school curricula to serve a purpose.

I am a political scientist majoring in Development studies. Under political science are various studies like; international relations, development studies, public administration, Security and peace studies. This goes for Mass Communications, today, we have public relations, advertising, prints, etc. It wasn’t so at the beginning.

The field of Development studies emerged after World War II to address global inequalities, Particularly to bridge the gap between the rich North and the poor South, and so are many courses today.

Now to the subject at hand—the Nigerian Army school of Islamic Affairs. It is common knowledge that the Nigerian state is at war, particularly with the northern parts of the country fighting terrorist groups and bandits among other crime elements.

The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is a long-running conflict that began in July 2009. The group, formed in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, initially opposed Western education, but later evolved into a terrorist organization seeking to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The conflict is part of a larger pattern of religious violence between Nigerian Muslims and Christians, with Boko Haram targeting both civilians and military personnel. The group’s first terrorist attack occurred in January 2010, marking the beginning of a violent campaign that has resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement.

The conflict escalated in 2014, with 10,849 deaths reported that year alone. In 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, becoming the “Islamic State’s West Africa Province” (ISWAP). However, the two groups split in 2016, with the dissidents continuing to operate as ISWAP.

The Nigerian military has struggled to contain the insurgency, with the conflict spreading to neighboring countries. The humanitarian impact has been severe, with millions displaced and facing food insecurity. The conflict has also had a significant impact on the region’s economy and social fabric.

Now those questioning or are alarmed by the possible existence of an Islamic Affairs school within the Nigerian Army, why won’t the military embark on such a study if not for the exigence of time? What is wrong if a department of studies is created to analyse a phenomenon which has created a dire security issue which the Nigerian state has struggled to surmount for over a decade?

My take, is the Nigerian Army’s creation of a school of Islamic Affairs to study the nuances of Islamic extremism and terrorism a prudent move? I think it is, considering the current security challenges facing the country.

The military’s involvement in academic research may seem unconventional, but it is essential to understand the context.

Remember the Nigerian Army is facing an unconventional enemy in Boko Haram, which uses ideology and religion to fuel its insurgency. To effectively counter this threat, the military needs to understand the ideological underpinnings of the group’s beliefs and tactics.

By establishing a dedicated department to study this phenomenon, the Nigerian Army can gain valuable insights into the motivations, tactics, and strategies of Boko Haram. This knowledge can inform military operations, enhance counter-terrorism strategies, and improve overall national security.

The exigency of time is indeed a factor, as the country faces ongoing security challenges, the military’s involvement in research can provide timely and actionable intelligence to support ongoing operations.

It is not uncommon for militaries to engage in research and analysis to better understand emerging threats. In fact, many military institutions around the world have research centers and think tanks focused on strategic studies, terrorism analysis, and cultural studies.

So, the Nigerian Army’s initiative is a welcome development, and its findings could contribute significantly to the global understanding of terrorism and counter-terrorism strategies. As such, those calling for schools of Christian and traditional Affairs can start their insurgencies too to enable the state or the Nigerian military to establish a department to cure the unneeded attention.

Tife Owolabi is a Development Studies Researcher and he writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave a comment SUPPORT MANGROVEPEN' JOURNALISM OF INTEGRITY & CREDIBILITY.

It takes lots of money to inform, educate and entertain audiences, keep a watchful eye on the government as well as promote values that will benefit society through virile journalism.

We therefore request your modest donation to ensure that our news and other content remain freely available and accessible to all netizens.