Internet, Social media responsible for terrorism – Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, said the exposure of the youths of today to Information Technology and new/social media was why they (youths) were becoming Jihadists and Boko Haram members.

The Emir stated this at the 10th annual Ramadan lecture titled, “The challenges of Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century,” organised by VON, NTA and FRCN in Kaduna.

According to traditional ruler, the youths learn new ideologies from the internet and after watching, make up their minds to go to Iraq and Syria, to join the Jihadist groups.

“With information technology and the emergence of the internet and social media, today, youths go on the computer and learn Islam from Facebook and Twitter. They learn Islam from video’s they watch on Facebook and after 14 to 15 hours of watching new things, they feel the need to become jihadists.
“They get up and go to Iraq or Syria or somewhere and join the groups, and there are no controls. Right inside your house, your son can be sitting upstairs in the bedroom getting indoctrinated into an extremist without your knowledge. We need to watch what our children watch and we need to talk to them. If we do not give them the correct Islamic Education, they will find the wrong education on the internet,” he explained.

The former CBN Governor lamented that so much time had been spent in ignorance, adding that Western education was important and it was inevitable for parents to send their children to acquire education but parents had to note that their children could become radicalised in any country of the world through the internet, and not only when they go to Islamic countries.

“You have children going to England and becoming radicalised in America, on the internet, not only in the Muslim countries. So, we need to make sure that we give our children correct Islamic education especially to take them away from religion extremism.
“In the 21st Century, the Muslim Ummah is facing enormous challenges. This century is facing challenges such as changing from traditional lifestyle to modern lifestyles,” he added.

On the issue of forced early marriage of the girl-child, Sanusi said it was one issue that was hurting and destroying the society, adding that it could not be disconnected from the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the country.

“Are we still living in the era where fathers can force their daughters into marriage without their permission? Yes we are. Early marriage, yes we are in Nigeria. And it is hurting and destroying our society. We are the ones to address these social issues and they are problems.

“And you know from taking her out of school and forcing her into marriage without education, it will result in having a child from her who does not have a mother that can give him training. That is a child that gets on drugs, hemp or joins Boko Haram. All these things are connected. We have to face these challenges.”