The media have been consistently harping on the fact that without patronisation at home, particularly from political quarters, it could never have been possible for the militants to survive. There is also a strong rationale that suggests support from certain section of the administration that allowed these groups not only to germinate but also to spread and strengthen their tentacles.

We have been witness to blatant political exploitation of the religious sentiments of the people through what has been the worst kind of abuse of politically elected position. The denial mode of the previous government was incomprehensible and not surprisingly some of those in the administration who were the most vociferous in denying the existence of the JMB are suspected accomplices of the crimes of JMB militants. One wonders whether the two major parties realise that it's their political animosity over the last several years that had provided space to these elements to exploit.

The convicted militants have met their deserved fate. One hopes that they have not taken all their secrets with them to their graves. We must not lose sight of the fact that in such organisations it is not people but extremist ideology that drives its members. And these ideologies are sustained by their patrons at home and abroad. The only way to curb the spread of the network is to counter their ideology but even more importantly cut off their source of sustenance totally. Once the tap is turned off the plant will starve to death. The sooner that is done the sooner will we be free of the threat that these elements pose to the nation.

We also feel that not only must the local patrons be brought to book and served the severest of punishment, it is also imperative that the external links, if any, must also be unearthed. We must know the extent of foreign support, without which future planning of the defensive mechanism against such elements is likely to prove difficult, if not altogether impossible.