RATIONALE FOR THE SUMMIT
The brutality and viciousness of recent terroristic and sectarian attacks on civilian populations in Nigeria, and around the world were previously unthinkable. The Boko Haram killings in Northern Nigeria, the be-headings by ISIS and their murderous assaults in Paris, and the Al Shabaab slaughters in Kenya, have compelled the international community, and Nigeria in particular, to rethink national security paradigms, prompting a reflection on the difficult questions of how, when and where the next deadly attack would occur. Mindful that modern terror groups now have at their disposal an array of vectors to choose from in seeking maximum damage to society and critical national infrastructures, public institutions responsible for national defense and security must now devote crucial resources to intelligence gathering, and formulation of strategies to mitigate and counter threats.
In Northern Nigeria and in the surrounding regions, Boko Haram has killed and maimed more innocent civilians in the past year than ISIS and Al Shabaab combined. In 2014 alone it killed 6,644 people, surpassing ISIS, which killed 6,073, thus making it the deadliest terrorist group in 2014 according to a report by Global Terrorism Index. Boko Haram’s murderous attacks make no apologies for its nature as a threat that requires serious attention; and so far it has managed to get the attention of the international community as a bloodthirsty cabal. As the Nigerian Military continues its commendable battle push, the approach taken in the past to contain and neutralize Boko Haram requires further robustness and sophistication to ensure a meaningful outcome. A broader approach is required; relying on counterterrorism measures in near exclusion of diplomacy, dialogue, and effective intelligence gathering misses the bigger picture of containment, and stabilization of the region.
