The Republic of Niger captures over 160 Boko Haram fighters

More than 160 suspected elements of Nigeria-based Boko Haram terrorist group have been arrested near the border with Niger, according to Nigerien police. "We would like to warmly thank the residents of the Diffa region whose assistance has allowed us to arrest more than 160 suspects," said Nigerien national police spokesman Adily Toro on Monday on a local television network. Earlier this month, the border area came under attack by the notorious Takfiri terror group. Toro added that the suspects were being interrogated and face charges of conspiracy and terrorism. The arrests came hundreds of people, displaced by the persisting battles, keep arriving at Zinder, Niger's second largest city. According to local officials, there are numerous elements of Boko Haram militants among the people fleeing the Diffa region, in an attempt to infiltrate into Niger's territory.

Boko Haram in Nigeria is a child of Nigerian history and the impunity of Northern Nigeria’s Military establishment. Armed conflict is part of Nigeria history. It is also a business which has enriched many.  People including generations unborn learn from history. The savaged brutality meted on civilians and civilian objects in Nigeria pre-exist Boko Haram. These acts of impunity were some of the methods deployed by successive military regimes, most of them from Northern Generals to accede and sustain power. The ongoing slaughter by Boko Haram follows the same pattern which in 1966 led to the Nigeria/Biafra War. The underlying cause of the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Southerners, mainly of the Ibo ethnic groups in the North was never comprehensively investigated, if at all.  There is no gainsaying that had the crimes been investigated, the result would have pointed to some powerful individuals within the Nigerian Military structure of Northern origin. For these, political power and control of the economy could only be attained through scapegoating communities whom they perceived as serious competitors.