My research Interest also focuses on the killing of over 70 security agents by “Ombatse” in Nasarawa State ——– University Don

A professor of Social and Political history of Nasarawa State University Keffi, Jonathan Ayuba, says lack of meaningful progress caused by widespread corruption has led to a surge of Islamic reform groups in Northern Nigeria.

The professor made the assertion while presenting his inaugural lecture on Jihadi Tradition in the History of Northern Nigeria, held at the Assembly Hall of the institution, in Keffi, Wednesday.

Presenting the thirty second (32) inaugural lecture series of the Nasarawa state University Keffi, the inaugural lecturer, posited that Jihadi Movements that emerged in northern Nigeria followed similar pattern with the protest movement of Fodio in their early stages of development, stressing that such movement usually start with an Islamic scholar attracting a small group of followers with the support of local rulers.

According to the University don, Jihad is an Arabic word that literally means striving or determined efforts established to fight a just society, but has become complicated and controversial term in several centuries, stating that Muslims and non Muslims should not assert that Jihad always means violence or warfare.

Professor Ayuba, said his research interest also turned to insurgency and counter insurgency, particularly when Nigeria was plagued with Niger Delta insurgency and also violence associated with Ombatse, which led to the killing of over seventy security agents at Alakyo in Nasarawa state, maintaining that he was among the first scholars in 202l0 to systematically study the Boko Haram movement between 2009 and 2010.

The Nasarawa state Head of service, Barrister Abigael Waya, who represented Governor Abdullahi Sule at the event, described the inaugural lecturer, professor Jonathan Ayuba, as one who is always focused to achieving success, saying Nasarawa State government is proud of his academic publications, urging him to continue in that regard.

In their goodwill messages, the Chun Mada, Pastor Samson Gamu Yare, and former deputy Governor of Nasarawa state Doctor Silas Ali Agara, among others, said Mada nation is proud with the contributions of the professor of social and political history for his effort towards reviving history of northern Nigeria and the country as a whole, urging him to sustain the tempo.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Nasarawa state University Keffi, professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, informed the congregation that professor, Ayuba, has contributed to the development of the university in different areas as evidence when he was a Dean, post graduate studies, saying the recommendation of his lecture would be made available for use.