Lone
wolf terrorism refers to the regular deployment of terrorist tactics such as
violence usually against civilian targets
by an individual or individuals who may or may not be directly
affiliated to a mainstream terrorist organization.
'Open-source’
denotes software for which the original source code is made freely and readily
available and may be modified, redistributed by the end-user. Freelance is
self-explanatory. Quickly bring to mind that
terrorism essentially basks on fear hence its effectiveness or lack of it, is
not necessarily a function of the number of casualties but its capability to
(if possible, perpetually) instill fear in the minds of citizens. Terrorism is
analogous to psychological warfare and the air of unpredictability (element of
surprise) is a serious handicap.
The
Wednesday, January 12, 2015 terror attack on Charlie Hebdo, a satirical French
newspaper, the Sydney Café siege a while ago, similar incidents in New York,
Belgium and Canada and the erstwhile broad day light murder of a British
soldier – Lee Rigby in May 2013, reinforces the growing audacity of ‘lone wolf,
open-source terrorism’.
Alluding to the motive of their attack, the assailants
were heard shouting: ‘’Allahu Akbar (God is great)’’, ‘’we have avenged the
prophet Mohammad’’. Shortly after the incident in France, a German newspaper
was firebombed after republishing a Charlie Hebdo cartoon depicting prophet
Mohammed. Just as the
dust of the Charlie Hebdo killing was settling, US military - Central Command's
social media - Twitter and YouTube accounts were hacked by ISIS supporters
(sympathizers). One dares ask if it is feasible for a
mortal being to avenge for an omnipotent and omniscient Being?
This
despicable act in France is said to be the most deadly attack in that country
since 1961. This is definitely not the best of times for French Security and
Intelligence agencies given the barrage of questions and insinuations
suggesting sloppiness in thwarting such an incident. It is indeed off-putting that
the three masterminds – the Kouachi brothers – Sàid 34, Chérif, 32 and
Amedy Coulibaly, 32, were affiliated to
Al Qaeda in Yemen and were known to French intelligence. Sàid reportedly
visited Yemen at least a couple of times where he met American born Anwar
al-Awlaki, an Al Qaeda propagandist (later killed by a US drone) and the
Nigerian ‘under pant bomber’ – Umar
Farouk Abdulmutallab who unsuccessfully tried to blow up a US-bound airliner in
December 2009. On his own, Chérif was convicted in 2008 for a ‘’Jihad-related
activity’’.
Why ‘Homegrown Lone Wolf Terrorism’
Trend Is Worrisome:
The basic
question been bandied is: how did these violent extremists manage to slip away
from French surveillance dragnet and eventually pulled such a stunt?
Unlike
terrorism by conventional terrorist networks, lone wolf, open-source jihad or
freelance terrorism does not require extensive logistics, finances and
planning. The ongoing war by the Islamic State (ISIS) bent on consolidating and
expanding its territories has supposedly seen over 12,000 foreign fighters
joining the fray. It follows that if the
aforementioned number of foreign fighters are on ground, then there could be
much more adherents or sympathizers who cannot make it to the battlefront but
will take solace fighting in the
fringes as ‘lone wolves’. With access to the Internet and superfluity of online
publications such as ‘’inspire’’, prospective terrorists
are sufficiently ‘armed’ with requisite information on how to perpetrate
mayhem, not in the scale of 9/11 but sporadic lone wolf attacks.
Lone
wolf terrorism trend will continue to be a nightmare even to the most advanced
countries of the world given the serious limitations in the science or art of proactively
and accurately profiling, extrapolating, sniffing out and monitoring every last
potential terrorist. For sure there are precursors, imprecise tell-tale signs
but these are not perfect. It is very problematic given that the sample
distribution usually encompasses thousands or millions of people at a given
time. Even the realm of a sophisticated intelligence gathering system will
obviously struggle to cope with such a scenario.
Camille
Grand, a former French official and director of a think-tank – the Federation
for Strategic Research re-echoes the aforementioned snag. Hear her: ‘’The problem we face is that even though
there are not many radicalized Muslims in France, there are enough of them to
make it difficult to physically follow everyone with a suspicious background.
She goes further to assert: ‘’It’s one thing to listen to the phone calls or
watch their travel, but it’s another to put someone under permanent physical
surveillance, or even follow all their phone conversations full time for so
many people’’.
Juxtaposing Charlie Hebdo Killing
With The Nigerian Scenario
Though
the contexts vary but it is instructive to draw an analogy. Boko Haram’s
‘’deadliest assault yet’’ on Baga supposedly left 2,000 people dead almost the
same time the terror incident in France took place but the outrage generated by
the killing of 17 people in France profoundly surpassed the pogrom, butchery of
2,000 people in Baga, Nigeria. More than 200 Chibok school girls abducted by
Boko Haram are still missing 8 months after they were kidnapped. Till date, no
senior Nigerian government official (military or civilian) has visited the
marooned swathes of Nigerian territory controlled by Boko Haram. While the
Nigerian government and its handlers were mute on the Nigerian massacre and did
not commiserate with the people of Baga, the government swiftly dispatched a
condolence message to the French. How cheap can human life be in Nigeria?
In
France, politicians (both the ruling party, the opposition) and millions of
people marched across the country unanimously denouncing the attack. In
Nigeria, it is business as usual; Nigerians in the southern part of the country
go about their daily businesses. The Nigerian
establishment dubbed the BBOG (Bring
Back Our Girls Group) as traitors for having the audacity to call the
government to account. While Boko Haram terrorists remain invincible and
continue to have a field day, the Nigerian military is very busy court
martialing cum sentencing some of theirs to death, politicians, senior
government officials responsible and paid to protect Nigerians carouse about
and wallow in buck-passing, finger pointing. Symptomatic of an entrenched
culture of reveling on blame game, a section of the Nigerian sphere even blamed
the international press for bypassing the Baga pogrom while concentrating on
that of France. You show no compassion for your compatriots slaughtered daily,
now you want foreigners care about your citizens.
Why France?
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has issued a warning to France
after the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo. The message reads: "France pays the cost of its violence
on Muslim countries and the violation of their sanctity," AQIM said in a
statement published on jihadist websites. "As long as its soldiers occupy
countries such as Mali and Central Africa and bombard our people in Syria and
Iraq, and as long as its lame media continues to undermine our Prophet
(Mohammed), France will expose itself to the worst and more."
France
is said to be home to the largest concentration of Muslims in Europe, about 5
million Muslims many of them live in the banlieues, neglected low income
suburbs characterized by a youth unemployment rate of about 25%. Algerian-born
Djemoui Bennaceur captures it this way, ‘’these
terrorists carrying out such attacks in the name of Islam tend to have lives
marked by frustration and failure’’. The Kouachi brothers are classic
examples of such as they are said to have done ‘occasional menial jobs and
struggled to find steady work’. Thankfully, the French are un-intimidated,
unfazed by an attempt by these goons to stifle free speech or freedom of
expression in France.
Lesson For Other
Countries
Not
to be outdone, a lot of countries, especially in Europe, are ramping up
measures to forestall a growing propensity for 'lone wolf, open-source jihad or
freelance terrorism’ from been replicated in their soil. Germany, Belgium
amongst others, are on red alert.
Lending
credence to the saying that extreme situations call for extreme measures, the
UK government is reportedly mulling a ‘’proposal
to make it a ‘duty’ for nurseries and elementary schools in the UK to track and
report any child that shows signs of sympathy with terrorists or is a risk of
potential radicalization’’. The British Chancellor George Osborne indicates
that £100m has been set aside for ‘’specifically
monitoring people who are going to conflicts in Syria and Iraq’’.
What Can Be Done?
French authorities acknowledged inherent loopholes that must be
plugged. The French security services deserve some commendation for reining in
this dastardly act within 72 hours.
Beyond
all of the reactionary, gung-ho and not-so-foul-proof measures, it is pertinent
to get to the root of the matter: why the high level of radicalization and
propensity of youths embracing violent extremism? Did the system fail them in
some ways that prompts them to vent their anger?
NGO’s
and research geared towards de-radicalization or countering violent extremism
must be encouraged. A consistent policy that gives a sense of belonging and
enhances integration of minorities or people marooned by the larger society
should be vigorously pursued. One is wondering if it is not yet within the
realm of Science and Intelligence to come up with better forecasting models
that can possibly predict the propensity of an individual or group of people to
carry out terrorist acts? Please let the security/intelligence agencies strive
to nip such acts in the bud, prevention they say is better than cure.
The Role of Parents, Religious
Organizations in Countering Violent Extremism
A
conscious effort must be made to inculcate a resilient attitude and abiding faith
in humanity. Religious organizations, parents must double their effort in
counseling youths on the exigencies, ups and downs inherent in life. As they say,
‘’tough times do not last but tough
people do’’. When sporadic challenges of life occur, I quickly reminisce my
father recounting to me how he lost virtually everything he acquired as a young
man sequel to the Biafran war and how he surmounted those seasons of despair
and became more successful thereafter. That’s the spirit. Adversity has a way
of bringing out the best in a man. There is no justification, extenuation
whatsoever for somebody becoming a terrorist because of failings or inability
to actualize his/her potentials. Look beyond your present situation, look at
the bright side of life, love yourself and love humanity.
Let’s
join hands and take back humanity! Say No To Terrorism!
Written
By:
Don Okereke
(Security Aficionado/Analyst/Consultant, Writer/Blogger, Change
Agent, Ex-serviceman)
Follow me on Twitter: @DonOkereke
Contact me via: donokereke(at)gmail.com
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