Taliban pops up in Nigeria

2004-02-26 12:40

Tunde Asaju

Abuja - On average they are under 30, boast a full beard and are easily recognised by their attire.

Their favourite pastime is to quote from the Koran. Everything modern is rejected - even a button-down shirt. They generally wear threadbare, simple kaftans in cream linen, without embroidery.

Trouser legs are down to ankles and kaftans are girded with a long piece of rope. Leather bags carrying a copy of the Koran are slung over their shoulders.

Welcome to the world of the Taliban: Born in Nigeria, but as far as religious matters go it's "made in Afghanistan".

This fanatical group, lead by mullah Omar, named after the well-known Taliban leader in Afghanistan, appeared in the Yobe and Borno provinces in northern Nigeria about six months ago. They started preaching in mosques and on market squares.

Their headquarters is in a primitive, deserted town about 170km from Damaturu, Yobe's capital city.

Their message is clear: They don't want any truck with government or state, since society is corrupt. The local population of the two provinces, however, does not appear ready yet to "exchange their earthly existence for the heavenly".

On December 31 the group attacked the Kanama police station, killing a constable, stealing firearms and setting the building alight.

Yobe deputy police commissioner Edwin Tonkmor says they then proceeded to chase police from their offices in Dapchi and Tarmuwa. By then they had accumulated enough weapons to achieve this.

Swarmed on towns

They swarmed on towns, forced men to join them and ordered the women to cook for them.

Army Colonel Emeka Omwumaega says soldiers were then deployed in the area to assist police. "The Taliban promises a perfect society and to oust the government."

The police claim the group abducted at least 100 children, ten women and scores of men.

One man who had been captured but managed to escape, claims the Taliban "prefers death to life". "They want to die in order to enter paradise. They encouraged us to follow them, but we were not hurt."

Local and central government say they are doing everything in their power to solve the crisis, Nigerians, however, are puzzled how the revolutionaries managed to survive for so long without being detected by intelligence services.

Tonkmor said police have despatched security reports to central government, however, "it doesn't appear as if the information is being treated seriously".

- Media24 Africa