Terror Attacks: Leaders' Rhetoric Reactions Not Good Enough ....Rev. Hayab

Europe, especially France, Germany, Turkey, Belgium (for the attacks in Brussels), some Asian countries, as well as some parts of Africa, have suffered many terror attacks in the last few months which has led to the death of many people and several others injured.

Terrorism is violence aimed at achieving political or ideological objectives. Attacks can be centrally directed from a structured organization or network or by individuals acting without any direct external control.

As these terror attacks continue, people now live in fear and uncertainty. Traveling to some of these countries and even to the USA is now no longer a fashionable thing because one's family and loved ones have to continue to keep vigil for the traveller until such safely returns.

Sadly, all we read and hear from the leaders of these nations is, "the attack is barbaric", "the terrorists are cowards", "we vow to fight terror", etc., which has not in any way stopped, dislodged, or persuaded the terrorists to stop attacking innocent people.

When will these great leaders take measures that will put the terrorists on the run or get them arrested before they carry out their evil? Some of these world leaders seem to be like presenters of major media such as CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, Sky news, to mention just a few, who revel in manipulating stories as they present them to viewers and listeners but without solutions.

It is always sad to hear mostly what the media wants to achieve is getting ISIS or Al-Qaida and any other terrorists group to claim responsibility. Claiming responsibility is not what the victims, their family, or citizens who are in danger want to know or hear.

There are many people in Europe and all over the world who may not have pledged allegiance to ISIS or other terrorist groups but have similar ideologies and will use any opportunity to kill or cause harm to others.

I, therefore, submit that the reaction of leaders' by merely calling the terrorist names is not good enough.

Security agencies must support the government to stop those who have acquired weapons or anything that could be used to harm people. People must defend why they should be allowed to have or use weapons in their possessions.

The general public must also wake up to support and not just to sit and talk like some leaders do. When strange people come to your community what should you do? When you notice a suspicious person around you and in a questionable place, what will you do?



We cannot fight terrorism and win by merely been rhetorical about it. Terrorists really do not care what name you call them or what religion you think they belong to, as long as they achieve their evil plot of killing and destroying others.

Rev. John Joseph Hayab

Northern Coordinator, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria