The Church Militant

In the Northern parts of Nigeria, extremist Islamic groups such as Boko Haram as well as militant Fulani groups generally referred to as bandits, run free, unleashing mayhem in their wake. In some of the affected states, the criminal elements control large territories and force the people living in those areas to bend to their will. The extremist groups and bandists have been known to attack government facilities and establishments, churches, mosques and most especially schools. The Nigerian security forces have been unable to manage the insurgency and has severally been accused of colluding and shielding the extremists who seem to be growing stronger every day. The interest of the extremist groups and bandists for attacking schools appear financially motivated as these extremists groups and bandists strike schools in the Northern part of the country on a regular interval to kidnap young students and hold them for ransom. Despite their public claimsclaims that the government doesn't pay ransom to terrorists, reports have proven that the Nigerian government have paid huge sums as ransom for the release of the kidnapped students thereby indirectly funding the insurgency. Like in the case of Leah Shaibu, not all of those children ever find their way home...