The single most deadly event of global terrorism in recent human history failed to make global headlines for obvious reasons: It happened in Nigeria. On Saturday, January 3, Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria and Chad stormed Baga, a sleepy fishing town in Borno State, and after discharging the multinational forces stationed, began what will be the worst massacre and single event of ethnic cleansing of the century.
Amnesty International estimates that up to 2,000 people were killed. Most reports give equivalent figures. Corpses have been strewn across the town, home to population of an estimated 10,000 that has now been decimated by the terrorists. Fleeing residents were gunned down as they ran with the young, women and the elderly as the predominant victims. In Paris last week, terrorists killed 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo magazine office and candle-light processions and other events of global solidarity have been rampant across the globe.
The perpetrators of the act of terror were narrowed down, identified and killed. Perhaps, the answer to why the world cares little about the genocidal predicament in Nigeria is best found in the following comment in the BBC on January 8: “While President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election next month, has condemned the attack on a French satirical magazine in Paris as dastardly, he has not commented on the violence at home, our reporter says.” [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30728158]
Nigerians continue to tolerate their helplessly hopeless and clueless leadership which regards them as little more than monkeys or actually more worthless. With a President who fails to secure lives and elevate local and global attention to out-of-control genocides within the country, the colonialist-ruled world conveniently pretends not to notice.
There are next to no protests for the nation’s insensitive and hopeless leader to resign or serious attempts to impeach the President. Nigerians thus appear tolerant of the pogrom and as insensitive and lacking of humanity as their leader… and the hypocritical, pretentious world will not be bothered.
It is not likely much will be said or anything will change after this massacre. Unless, by the ghosts of the dead.