Boko Haram used religion to justify mass killings, destruction – Gen. Irabor

..Says Chibok Abduction, Nyanya Bombing Were Synchronized to Gain Global Attention

…Warns: Their Cruelty Must Remain a Lesson for Nigeria’s Future

By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), has revealed that the Boko Haram violent radical utilized religion arsenic a screen to perpetrate killings, abductions, and demolition crossed Nigeria. He described the sect arsenic “purveyors of anguish and torment” whose actions had nary transportation with religion but were driven by cruelty and a thirst for chaos.

Irabor, successful Chapter 7 of his caller publication “SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum” launched successful Abuja, recounted the group’s atrocities, noting that Boko Haram “hid nether the cloak of spiritual puritanism” to unleash unimaginable suffering.

He further disclosed that the insurgents deliberately synchronized the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls with the deadly bombing of the Nyanya Bus Station successful Abuja, which killed 88 people, to summation worldwide attention.

“The abduction of the Chibok girls came connected the aforesaid time arsenic the Nyanya Bus Station weaponry blast. Boko Haram synchronized it portion the attraction of authorities agencies was focused connected salvaging the aftermath of the Nyanya attack,” Irabor wrote.

The retired wide said Boko Haram’s brutality — from situation breaks to termination bombings, assassinations, and attacks connected schools and infrastructure — showed the group’s “unbridled savagery and inhumanity.”

He cited respective large attacks betwixt 2010 and 2014, including the bombing of the Nigeria Police Headquarters and the United Nations gathering successful Abuja, arsenic good arsenic the massacre of 59 students astatine Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, which helium described arsenic an effort to destruct Western education.

Irabor besides recounted his idiosyncratic engagement successful the rescue of immoderate Chibok girls during his tenure arsenic Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole. He dismissed claims that the abduction was fabricated, insisting that helium “witnessed the aftermath firsthand” and supervised operations that led to the betterment of immoderate victims.

On the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction, Irabor confirmed that 104 girls were released aft negotiations, portion 1 student, Leah Sharibu, remains successful captivity for refusing to renounce her faith.

The retired wide said Boko Haram’s strategy extended beyond quality suffering to the demolition of cardinal infrastructure specified arsenic bridges, roads, energy lines, and schools crossed Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.

He wrote: “The destructions were truthful monumental that 1 could not comprehend the objectives Boko Haram intended to service if they achieved the caliphate which they projected. Their extremity was to inflict harm and suffering connected the populace.”

Irabor urged Nigerians and the planetary assemblage to gully lasting lessons from the tragedy, informing that Boko Haram’s manipulation of religion for unit indispensable ne'er beryllium allowed to resurface successful immoderate form.

“The knowing of Boko Haram arsenic purveyors of anguish and torment nether the cloak of spiritual puritanism should service arsenic a acquisition for each successful our aboriginal socio-cultural and socio-political interactions,” helium concluded.

The station Boko Haram utilized religion to warrant wide killings, demolition – Gen. Irabor appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.