By Cecilia Ologunagba
A U.S.-based historian and professor of Africana Studies, Apollos Nwauwa says the Taliban takeover of government in Afghanistan has the capacity to embolden Boko Haram in Nigeria and other terrorist groups across the world.
Nwauwa, a director of African Studies at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, U.S. told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the victory might also give psychological boost to terrorist organisations.
He said the victory might embolden not only Boko Haram but herdsmen and other organisations with hidden agenda.
“So they will think they can succeed in Nigeria or in West Africa that is the kind of psychological advantage they may be having now, ’’ he said.
According to him, the Taliban are is an Islamic extremist group that harboured a lot of terrorists with the likes of Osama bin Laden coming readily to mind.
He added that their own interpretation of Sharia law led to all forms of brutality, particularly toward women.
He said Afghanistan became a safe haven for terrorist organisations and it was the reason U.S. wanted to get rid of them.
“Now that they are back full force in government, organisations like Al-Qaeda, Irish, and invariably Boko Haram will see solace in this development,’’ he said.
Nwauwa, who is the Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Movement (NDM), said that the Taliban takeover of power had created fear among Afghans, noting that the international community ” is not also sure if the Talibans will not be brutal toward the citizens.”
“They have told us they are not the same Taliban that we used to know before, and that they are going to treat women better and would grant amnesty as well as do things better.
“But we don’t know maybe they want to consolidate power first and come back with their brutality.
”So it is not certain how their regime will be,’’ he said.
In addition, the official said it was not also clear if the Talibans would pursue the policy of retaliation against certain countries.
“No retaliation, no intimidation. That is what the Taliban have been saying but Afghans who are seeking refuge abroad know that may not be true,’’ Nwauwa said.
He called on the Nigerian government to ensure that its diplomats and citizens were evacuated from Afghanistan.
NAN reports that the Taliban victory is the outcome of years of hard work and strategy.
Afghanistan has 400,000 soldiers yet the government was taken over by Taliban who supposedly had at most 75,000 fighters.
When the U. S. and Nathan forces dislodged the Taliban in Afghanistan in the wake of the Sept. 9, 2011 bombing of the World Trade Center many of the Taliban fighters did not leave the country.
A lot of negotiations took place between the tribal leaders in the country and the fighters.
As a result many of these fighters simply dropped their arms and were recruited into the Afghani army where they remained and rose through the ranks.
They got promotions, training, ammunition, and money legally from the U.S. for the years to come.
As soon as the U.S. began to withdraw its forces from the country based on the agreement reached with the U. S. – backed Afghan government, the Taliban struck and took over the government.