While Nigeria is still battling with the immense threat to the security of its citizens and its infrastructure by the Boko Haram terrorist sect and the Fulani herdsmen who cumulatively are responsible for the deaths of over 3000 Nigerians since 2015, we are seeing the uprising of several new Islamic sects making the transition from peacemakers to militants right before our very eyes. It seems the federal government learnt nothing from these unfortunate happenings if the renewed Shi’ite protests over its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim  El-Zakzaky’s continued detention is anything to go by.

It’s important we remember just how Boko Haram was formed and how it transitioned from devout but peaceful to violent and fanatical. Initially, they were alleged to be a group of political thugs armed for elections by the former Governor of Borno, Ali Modu Sheriff. After the 2007 elections, they metamorphosed into a group of street urchins that later went under the religious guise to radicalise unsuspecting youth under the leadership of their leader Mohammed Yusuf.

They were locally trained rag tags but today they are the third most dangerous terrorist group in the world, who have killed thousands and displaced millions. Nigeria as a country has spent and is still spending billions of dollars to eradicate the sect, yet its activities seem to be growing in leaps and bounds. Irrespective of how anyone may see it, Boko Haram became a self-inflicted problem the moment its founder Mohammed Yusuf was killed in an extrajudicial manner by the Nigerian Police.

The same error is now about to happen through the Shi’ite population in Nigeria if we fail to act fast. As reported in the media, the Shi’ites group had a confrontation with the police on Monday, April 16, 2018, after they organised a mass protest in the country’s capital to request for the unconditional release of their spiritual leader, El-Zakzaky. After the crowds were alleged to have become unruly and violent the police was called in to restore order. The police were allegedly so overwhelmed they had to request for reinforcement from the Nigerian Army.

The Federal government has ignored calls from various human rights and pressure groups to either release El-Zakzaky or charge him to court for a crime. It has not only refused to charge him, it has also failed to obey several court orders that Zakzaky be released.

We cannot even mention the number of Shi’ite adherents that have been killed in confrontation with the police during protests, it would be too shameful. Yet El-Zakzaky’s followers remain undeterred and resolute. Monday’s protests marked a change in the tactics of the group to get their leaders released. Confronting armed officers and Armoured Personnel Carriers shows the extent of their resolve.

One major takeaway is that Shi’ite members are being radicalised, and the government is doing nothing to prevent or mitigate this. We are only this close before the Shi’ite community turns to violence to get their requests heard.

We really hope the presidency has learned its lessons and will take action. Freeing one man is way cheaper than a half-decade of amnesty payments.

tosin adesina