The world’s been put to shame. By a bunch of Nigerian villagers.
Ever since Boko Haram kidnapped 276 innocent girls from their school in northern Nigeria, all we’ve heard is how difficult it will be to get them back — and how complicated it is to take on Boko Haram.
Apparently, residents of three villages in northeastern Nigeria didn’t get the memo that nothing can be done.
These villagers got wind that Boko Haram was going to attack them this week. So they made plans to defend themselves. When the Boko Haram fighters showed up, they were met with fierce resistance.
The numbers are not yet clear, but some reports suggest the villagers killed as many as 250 of the terrorists.
The point is these villagers were well aware that if they relied on the Nigerian army or international assistance to protect them, they were doomed. So they took defense into their own hands.
And they handed Boko Haram a stinging defeat.
We appreciate how difficult it will be to find the girls and restore them to their families, especially since the terrorists have now had more than a month’s head start.
But the action by villagers suggests that Boko Haram can be taken on, that there are Nigerians willing to do it and that with the right training and assistance, they might do it even more effectively.
Up to now, Boko Haram has set the terms of the clash, from the original kidnapping to demands the government release prisoners in exchange for the girls. Good for the villagers for turning the tables.