Is Al-Qaeda in Nigeria?

http://www.newswatchngr.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=3074

Newswatch

8 May 2011

Is Al-Qaeda in Nigeria?

Dike Onwuamaeze

Series of bomb blasts and the activities of Boko Haram in some parts of the North, raise fears that the al-Qaeda group may have infiltrated Nigeria
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, WTO, in the United States on September 11, 2001 turned Osama Bin Laden, and the al-Qaeda, into an international phenomenon. The attack also spread the bad influence of bin Laden into several countries, especially among the Muslim communities. Nigeria, a country with the tendency for ethnic and religious conflicts, was no exception as its Muslim dominated northern region became receptive of the dangerous influence of al Qaeda.
The reality of the al Qaeda’s influence in the country was confirmed by the speed the Nigerian Police issued a security alert to its commands immediately the US government announced the killing of bin Laden on May 2. Yemi Ajayi, deputy public relations officer of the Nigeria Police, said that Hafiz Ringim, Inspector General of Police, had issued a red alert to all assistant inspector generals and state commissioners of police to place all vulnerable points on security surveillance. “We are not focusing only on embassies or specific states, but all key areas and public facilities that may be targeted by terrorist groups that may want to launch retaliatory attacks over bin Laden’s death,” Ajayi said.
Indeed, the apprehension of the police was not sentimental. Nigeria is gradually becoming a fertile ground for terrorism, which is the calculated use of force or violence against civilians in order to attain goals that are political, religious or ideological in nature through intimidation, coercion or instilling fear. The country has also seen the emergence of groups that employ the al Qaeda method. One of them is the fundamental Islamic movement like the Boko Haram, which means “Western education is evil.” The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND is also a terrorist group.