B’Haram:They Were Asked,‘You Said Western Education is an Abomination, Why Using a Computer?-Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has argued that the origins of the Boko Haram insurgency were rooted in criminality rather than religion, saying the group merely adopted religious rhetoric to attract followers and justify its activities.

Speaking during an interview on SYMFONI Television on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Okonkwo dismissed claims that the insurgency was fundamentally driven by religious ideology, insisting that its founders used religion as a cover for other motives.

According to him, the contradiction between Boko Haram’s anti-Western education stance and the lifestyle of its leaders exposed what he described as the insincerity of the group’s message.

“Boko Haram means Western education is an abomination, yet those leaders were trained in Western education and were using computers,” Okonkwo said.

He recalled that when members of the group were confronted over their use of modern technology despite their opposition to Western education, they reportedly defended it as a necessity.

“When they were asked, ‘You said Western education is an abomination, why are you using a computer?’ the answer was that it was a necessity,” he stated.

The former Labour Party spokesman argued that the group adopted religious messaging because it was an effective tool for mobilising supporters.

According to him, Boko Haram’s founders knew they would struggle to attract followers if they openly presented what he described as their real grievances, particularly frustrations with political leaders whom they believed had abandoned them after elections.

Okonkwo maintained that while religion was used as a rallying point, criminality remained the underlying factor behind the insurgency and many other forms of violence across the country.

He further contended that insecurity in Nigeria is often given ethnic, religious or political interpretations, whereas the root cause is largely criminal activity carried out by individuals seeking financial gain or pursuing other interests under various disguises.