Yet Another Example - Islamic Extremist Crisis Management in Nigeria

Boko Haram Image - The News Chronicle

Jung Hong, South Korean Prime Minster, resigned late yesterday as a result of the government’s horrific response to the ferry disaster. While it is unfortunate that his reactions were reactive rather than proactive, at least he took responsibility.

Just recently we learned that 234 girls were kidnapped from their school in Nigeria. Those responsible for the kidnappings are Islamic Militants called Boko Haram. In response to this, the government of Nigeria released a news report regarding a rescue operation. When this story was exposed as erroneous, the government was quick to recant.

Statistically speaking the number of deaths in the ferry tragedy in South Korea is lesser than the number of senseless killings and kidnappings that have occurred within Nigeria at the hands of the Islamic militants. These militants are very active in the far Northern states of Nigeria. The actions of the militants have turned these peaceful communities into towns in which its citizens have fled out of sheer terror.

I would like for us to challenge the elected officials about why they refuse to do anything about this. Why are they not going to be held accountable for lawlessness in their constituency? It is frustrating that the government continues to provide funding to these elected officials for the communities they represent with seemingly no accountability. What is the money being spent on? How are the funds building and sustaining safe and desirable neighborhoods and communities? They need to hunt down these militants and bring them to justice. Stiff consequences need to be put into place. Laws against this type of behavior need to be enforced. Until this happens there will not be peace.

Related articles

• Nigeria: '234 girls missing' after school kidnap
• Nigeria bogged down in fight against Boko Haram
• Nigeria vows to find abducted girls
• Boko Haram: How dangerous is it to Nigeria and the world?

Child Bride kills her husband in order to end her marriage

Ref: Child bride forced to marry poisons groom
http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/2014/04/10/child-bride-forced-marry-poisons-groom/8CjdeZt62N6WqWUxBrb8fN/story.html

This is an extremely tragic story. This is a perfect illustration of a true injustice. While I am in no way defending this young lady’s choice to commit murder, this is one outcome of forced child marriage. She is a child forced into an adult situation against her will. She was subject to a life of rape and most likely emotional and physical abuse. Let this case be the catalyst that brings about prosecution against those that engage in child marriage. The laws regarding this need to be strictly enforced and those that break the law need to face the consequences. Not only should those engaging in child marriage be prosecuted, but the parents of the child bride need to also be held responsible for allowing this to occur.

Nujood Ali a Yemeni 10 year old was in forced marriage.

Having laws on the books means nothing if they are not enforced. The only way this will change is for people to rise up against this action. They must beat down the doors of their lawmakers and let them know that this is unacceptable and that those that engage in this activity must be held accountable. This tragedy could have been avoided. This girl was forced into this situation against her will. She does not have the ability to process how to deal with this situation in an effective manner. She was placed into an awful situation with no exit strategy, plan or assistance. Shame on her family for subjecting her to this horrific situation and frankly shame on all of us for not taking a stand.