“Imagine me and you are fighting — we both have guns but mine is pretty old; while you are wearing a bullet proof vest, I am carrying an umbrella; my vehicle just produces smoke and is short on fuel, while you are riding a vehicle equipped with anti-aircraft gun...”

This is what one Nigerian soldier, who was recently dismissed for fleeing the battlefield, told a reporter. No doubt that the deep-rooted corruption has made the Nigerian Army out-gunned and over-powered by the ruthless militia, Boko Haram (BK), which is not only advancing toward Central Nigeria, but its neighboring countries are also under attack.

However, Nigerian politicians have something else on their minds — upcoming presidential elections. Not to reveal his army weaknesses, President Goodluck Jonathan’s government has rejected the AU or UN intervention. But no one can deny what’s written on the wall — the prized city of Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, fell to BK like a pack of cards, just one day after the president’s visit.

The lightening advancement of Boko Haram is no different from what we have earlier witnessed when in 90’s, Taleban took over most of the Afghanistan in few months’ time, or when Daesh occupied large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territories without even anyone noticing them.

These terrorist outfits have learned from history how and when to strike on the countries wherein systems have collapsed or trembling with corruption. Nigeria is losing precious time; keeping aside elections campaign, it needs to take up seriously the fight against Boko Haram, otherwise, Abuja is not far from BK’s reach.

Masood Khan

Jubail