The fact that the jihadists may be connected with al-Qaeda may translate into their being better equipped and having connections that reach farther than those of a more local group. But al-Qaeda or not, jihad is jihad, and al-Qaeda certainly didn't invent it. Thus, whether or not there turns out to be an al-Qaeda affiliation does not ultimately make Nigeria more or less safe, if the charges against these men prove true.
"Nigeria makes 'al-Qaeda' arrests,' by Alex Last for the BBC:
A group of militants with suspected links to al-Qaeda in northern Nigeria has been arrested according to Nigeria's internal security service.
A State Security Service spokesman said men in three states were detained and explosive-making devices were found.
Nigeria has not suffered a terrorist attack and despite occasional arrests of suspected Islamic militants there is no evidence of al-Qaeda in Nigeria.
In September, the US embassy warned Nigeria is at risk of a terror attack.
A group of Islamic militants were found with fertiliser and explosive-making devices, following investigations in three states in northern Nigeria: Kano, Kaduna and Yobe.
The SSS said the men had suspected links to the al-Qaeda network and the Nigerian Taleban.
However, over the last few years the Nigerian authorities have detained many suspected militants yet have failed to produce any substantive evidence of an al-Qaeda presence or terrorist plot in the country and there's never been a terrorist attack here.
But there has been a great deal of violence and discrimination against the Christian population by Muslims in the name of establishing and enforcing Sharia law.
[...]
Given that Nigeria is a major oil producer yet its population is poor and equally split between Muslims and Christians, British and American officials have long been obsessed that Nigeria was ripe for al-Qaeda-style groups.
Obsessed? Silly officials. Back to sleep.
"Nigeria has not suffered a terrorist attack. . . ."
quote from the BBC article
Oh? What then are all the Moslem attacks on Christians and Christian churches and schools in Nigeria? If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then . . . .
The Jihaad is real.
The trillionair sheiks pay the mullas to run the brainwashing Madrassahs to teach as many lower class and poorer middle class moslem males that to die for allah is the greatest accomplishment. They are trained from as young an age as possible...and sent out to suicide bomb for allah all over the world ...and to fight the jihaad which the trillionaire sheiks want to eliminate as many young moslem males as possible ...in order to create the greatest number of single moslem women to fill their huge harems and the huge harems of their many sons and grandsons.....a gigantic number.
The sheiks send out harem recruiters to scout for the most and best moslem females for their vast harems. These recruiters are paid well if they succeed. Also sometimes the women are drugged and brainwashed to believe they should be in harems.
That is the root cause of the jihaad.
The question is...how do we shut down all the hate-kill brainwashing Madrassahs?
Perhaps only a one world government would have such power to do that...eh?
New world order?
But one with a good and caring true democracy government which benefits everyone.
Can humanity accomplish that?
I like to think so.
Or else...maybe if this message goes all around this planet..somehow it could get real loud to the extent that it might possibly reach the ears and eyes of the unfortunate madrassah boys...maybe opening their eyes to what how and why they are being destroyed...so that the wealthy sheiks can put their potential brides into their huge harems.
Then perhaps they will opt out of jihaadism...just perhaps.
If anyone is OBSESSED it is mainstream media outlets such as that reporting this story.
Al Qaeda this and Al Qaeada that. Looking for "terrorist" under every rock. I am sick of it.
Jihad is Jihad. Why must every incident that involves muslims planning a violent attack against innocents in the name of Islam have to now have a special relationship with AQ and OBL in order to be newsworthy?
Identifying the problem by using the correct language is becoming critical. The overuse and misuse of "terrorist" is another problem.
Jihad is the correct term and AQ has no monopoly on it.
Then perhaps they will opt out of jihaadism...just perhaps.
from a post
Not likely. They have only one "new world order" and it is the one with the Islamic flag flying overhead. Nothing less will do. Jihadism ends when they are with Allah. They need to be sent on their way.