Conflicts define humanity to a degree. No age goes without some major catastrophe that sees blood letting that shocks the senses. Gaza is one. This week the UN warned of a potential famine in northern Gaza due to food shortages caused by the ongoing delay in food aid to the besieged territory.
In a no less shocking development, a new Human Rights Watch report has shone the light on insecurity in Nigeria. Criminal bands continue to ravage central and northern parts of the country in an ongoing campaign of conflict over scarce resources enflamed by religious and ethnic hatred. The Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram, kidnapped approximately 200 school children in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State in late February. On March 7, bandits kidnapped 287 schoolchildren in Kaduna State. Another 15 were kidnapped in Sokoto State on March 9. The motive? Ransom most likely. A demand has been reported by bandits related to the Kaduna issue. For the militants, the motive could be financial, religious or practical. Children make good recruits or servants.
Nigeria's security problems run deep and are one of several plaguing the Sahel region. Coups, insurgencies, communal violence, and foreign interference mesh with conflict over resources to produce a volatile and violent playground. Little to no protests or international attention on these battles. TIA.
HRW report https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/18/armed-groups-kidnap-hundreds-across-northern-nigeria
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