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The Boko Haram crisis that led to the
death of hundreds of people in Borno and Bauchi States, nine months
ago, was a tragedy that could have been avoided if the system was more
proactive, an independent investigation by a group seeking reform in
the Nigeria Police has revealed.

The investigation, which was carried
out by the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), revealed that
long before the anarchy occurred, both the police and the state
governor had adequate information to avert the mayhem.

The report blamed the hypocrisy of
police officers and recklessness of the Borno State government for the
lapses that allowed the Boko Haram tragedy to happen.

During the crisis, which occurred
bweteen July 26 – 29, 2009 and threatened to spread across several
states in the north, security agencies killed hundreds of persons
believed to be members of the Boko Haram. The sect is a fringe muslim
group in Northern Nigeria that strongly rejects Western or non-Islamic
education.

Failure of intelligence

NOPRIN’ national project coordinator,
Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the group’s investigation shows that long
before the crisis started, different religious groups and even
individuals warned both the government and the police about the
increasing lawlessness of the Boko Haram sect.

“Leaders of other Islamic sects had at
different times expressed concern over the unbecoming and lawless
activities of the Boko Haram sect and on several occasions reported the
sect’s activities to the police,” the report said.

“But rather than act on the
information, the police were alleged to have betrayed those who made
the reports by releasing the information to the Boko Haram leader,
Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, thereby exposing them to danger.

“NOPRIN found that, from all
indications, it was the failure by the government and law enforcement
authorities in the state to respond promptly and efficiently to early
warnings about the activities of members of Boko Haram, and the gamut
of security information about the imminence of the sect’s onslaught,
that was primarily responsible for the outbreak of violence.”

Victim’s story

The group’s investigation detailed the
story of Babakura Alhaji Fugu, a Quranic teacher and first son of Baba
Fugu, father-in-law of Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the Boko Haram
sect. Baba Fugu was killed days after the crises ended.

Mr. Fugu (jnr) told NOPRIN, that: “I
had to write to the governor (of Borno State), Ali Modu Sheriff,
through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in a letter dated
15/06/09’ alerting him of the activities of Mohamed Yusuf.” But the
governor neither gave any reply nor acted swiftly to checkmate the
group.

The report quoted Mr. Fugu as saying,
“I did not write to the police because they would leak the petition to
Mohammed and his members, and this will expose me to risk.”

“He said the police would not respect
confidentiality. He cited the example of the Imam of Izala, another
Islamic sect, who previously wrote to the police about a problem his
sect members had with members of Boko Haram, and the police, rather
than investigate and take action, leaked the report to Mohammed Yusuf,”
Mr. Nwanguma said.

Furthermore, the leadership of
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Bornu State also told NOPRIN
that they raised an alarm but “government did nothing.”

“NOPRIN found that without any doubt,
Boko Haram was an avoidable tragedy; a consequence of the
irresponsiveness and irresponsibility of both the Borno State
government and security authorities in the state. Boko Haram exposed
the patent failure of governance and intelligence in Borno State, as in
most of Nigeria,” the report indicted.