The story of 'Boko Haram', the still active Islamist insurrection that has
resulted in thousands of deaths and great disruption in Nigeria this century,
is of general interest in the current international climate and of very specific
interest to all who served in Northern Nigeria. There have been several books
but Andrew Walker's stands out as easily the most accessible to the general
reader and the most understanding to those who know the area and the
people. Walker is a journalist who has spent the last ten years in Northern
Nigeria working for the Daily Trust alongside Nigerian colleagues and has
backed up his direct personal experience with wide reading and research. He
writes with sympathy and affection, getting as close as an expatriate can to
appreciating how Nigeria works.
He wisely sets the rise and progress of 'Boko Haram' within its historical
context, the first part of his account devoted to the rise of Usman dan Fodiyo
and his 'jihad', the fall of the Kanem empire, Lugard's necessity for indirect rule
and the education policies of Hans Vischer. He explains the tensions that
existed throughout colonial times and into independence between traditional
Islamic teaching and western education, and introduces us to the more recent
reformist movements and to the greater influence of Saudi Arabia in these
more mobile and digital times.
Walker's account of 'Boko Haram' is as accurate as can be found and he
carefully explains the problems of reporting in Nigeria, the fragility of the
infrastructure and the complexity of the politics and the corruption underlying
government action and inaction, so that the reader appreciates that what is
'normal' in Nigeria may be very different from what might be claimed or
expected.
He deals clearly with the question of how far 'Boko Haram' is connected with
other Islamist movements such as Al-Queda and ISIS and uniquely he covers
all the many rumours and theories that have done the rounds and confused the
issue. His account comes up to the assumption of office by President Buhari in
July 2015 but makes it clear that solutions remain difficult and remote.
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