Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on leaders of the Boko Haram insurgency to one day provide written accounts of their actions and motivations, in order to give Nigerians a fuller understanding of the group’s origins and objectives. Speaking in a recent interview, Jonathan reflected on the impact of the insurgency during his administration, emphasizing that the true reasons behind the group’s violent campaign remain only partially understood.
According to Jonathan, while researchers and journalists have attempted to uncover the ideology and demands of Boko Haram through interviews with former fighters, these efforts have only scratched the surface. He suggested that meaningful insight into the group’s operations and goals can only come from those who led it.
He expressed hope that some of these leaders, if they become literate or gain the means to do so, might eventually write their own accounts. He believes such documentation could offer a more accurate picture of the insurgency’s motives and internal dynamics.
Jonathan compared this potential historical contribution to how the Nigerian Civil War is better understood today, thanks to personal narratives from figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.
The former president pointed out that while external investigations provide important information, they often lack the depth and authenticity that only firsthand accounts can offer. He reiterated that without voices from within Boko Haram itself, any understanding of the conflict will remain incomplete.
Jonathan’s remarks highlight the enduring mystery surrounding one of Nigeria’s most devastating security challenges and reflect his continued concern about the need for a deeper, more honest reckoning with the past. He concluded that Nigerians deserve to know the full story—not just fragments—of a crisis that has reshaped the nation’s security landscape for years. See, More, Here>>>>
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