Why Boko Haram Hates Geography Teachers

Online reports say Nigeria is the world’s most dangerous place to be simply because of terrorism and an increased crime rate which are common vices found in many other countries around the world.

The facts speak for itself inasmuch as people have their rights to freedom of speech.

I am more interested in the revelation that the terror group Boko Haram hates geography and it’s teachers with a passion.

In their bloody campaign against Western Education which they declared as ‘evil’, geography is their most hated subject for a few reasons.

In recent times, the terrorists have attacked schools killing teachers and students while taking some hostage. This brings to the mind that on this Thursday, it will be exactly 2 years since Boko Haram kidnapped a total of 200 Chibok school girls who are yet to be rescued till this day.

Geography teachers sit at the top spot as assassination targets, reports revealed.

Their direct attack on geography teachers is because of the contradictory world view held by science and religion on how the earth was formed.

Boko Haram believes that the Earth is flat rather than spherical.

The religious/terror group also believes that rainfall is not caused by evaporation but only by Allah’s divine making.

With these contradictions, eradicating Western Education becomes a greater success for them if geography teachers are removed from the list of enemies – or rather, massacred.

The bloody attacks on schools have greatly impacted negatively on Nigeria’s education system especially in the north. Borno state has seen the worst of terrorism in Nigeria. It is also acclaimed the terror group’s stronghold.

Reports confirm that 22 local governments out of a total 27 have closed down schools and completely stopped any form of schooling for fear or attacks. Hundreds and thousands of school children have therefore been deprived of their rights to education.

The most recent report from Human Rights Watch says: “It says that a total of 600 school staff have been murdered by Boko Haram since 2009, and that 19,000 have quit their jobs due to threats and attacks.”

“Boko Haram insurgents have shown particular distaste for certain subjects like geography.”

Speaking on the huge effects of terrorism against schools and Nigeria in general, Mausi Segun ( a Nigerian researcher with Human Rights Watch) said: “In its brutal crusade against Western-style education, Boko Haram is robbing an entire generation of children in northeast Nigeria of their education.” 

An 86-page report on interviews gathered from over 200 persons (teachers, students, parents and school officials) confirmed that there has been many deadly attacks in Nigeria by these Boko Haram insurgents.

In some of these attacks students, teachers and school officials were either killed, maimed or abducted.

The report continued: “Boko Haram insurgents have shown particular distaste for certain subjects like geography and science… Teachers of these subjects are targeted.”

A confession from an anonymous witness said: “I dived for protection, but the gunmen simply rained six bullets into the teacher and calmly walked away. No one else was touched.”

The witness who spoke to Human Rights Watch explained how it happened one day at the Mafoni Government Day Secondary School in Borno’s regional capital, Maiduguri.

In the attack that occurred in September, 2012, some men wielding big guns broke into the school premises – apparently they already knew their target. Immediately they “set their sights” on the geography teacher Malam Anjili Mala, it was click, click, click and that was a sad story of how the teacher died.

The combined efforts of the security outfits among the affected West African countries, it is hoped, will bring an end to the Boko Haram’s reign of terror.

While we pray for a quick solution, everyone is urged to be on red alert and report any suspicious movements to the authorities. Boko Haram terrorists are people well known by family and friends.

Reports say geography teachers, political big wigs and Nigerian security chiefs top the list of approved candidates that must die at any cost. But hundreds and thousands outside this group have died in the most brutal manner.

Which way Nigeria? We can prove facts and reports wrong by joining in the fight against terrorism and crimes.