Declassified CIA file predicted rise of Boko Haram, Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria
Legit.ng has stumbled on a declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) file released in 1985 predicting the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism in Nigeria.
The CIA report rightly predicted an uprising Islamic revival in West Africa especially in Nigeria and Senegal.
The report noted that Islamic communities in Nigeria have been increasingly exposed to radical and fundamentalist theologies of the Middle East and North Africa.
''Libya buyoed by military successes in Chad, is re-doubling its efforts to use Islam as an entree to Nigeria and Senegal,'' the document revealed.
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The intelligence report however said tension between and among fundamentalist and traditional Muslim organisations will challenge gocernment control.
In the longer term, the document says, the number of fundamentalits will grow and national political leaders will come under pressure to incorporate Islamic institutions in the country's political structures.
The report also revealed that Islam is the fastest growing religion in sub-Saharan Africa and gains new adherents every year at the expense of Christianity and African tribal religions.
Quoting embassy sources, the document suggests that Islamic proselytizers find a receptive audience among many Nigerians alienated by the forces of modernization and rapid urban growth.
These group of people are also disillusioned with entrenched Western-oriented elites who are faulted for corruption and deterioriating living conditions, accourding to the sources.
The embassy report also claim that Islamic fundamentalism is spreading rapidly on school and university campuses in northern Nigeria.
''Islamic student radicals have attacked police and members of conservative Islamic groups and created tension between Christians and Muslims both on campuses and in surrounding communities,'' the report said.
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In giving its future predictions, the report stated: ''In our judgement,, more radical forms of Islam will find fertile ground in the poor economic conditions likely to pertain in West Africa over the next several years.
''Islamic fundamentalism will increase the appeal of radical ideologies, if Western-oriented leadership elites fail to stem deterioriating living conditions.
''The fundamentalists' intense commitment to proselytization will likely result in increased violence on the local and regional levels.''
Source: Legit.ng
