TERRORISM AGAINST THE ECOSYSTEM

Abiodun A. Denloye, PhDAssociate Professor

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology

Lagos State University

Introduction

• The topic suggests that we have some people, activities and action that are causing terror in the ecosystem

• It demands a good understanding of the following:

• i. Terrorism• Ii Ecosystem• Iii What should we do.

• What is terrorism?• Terrorism is simply the use of fear and acts of

violence in order to intimidate societies or governments done by different types of social or political organizations to achieve their goals. People who do terrorism are called terrorists.

• Terrorism therefore operate by fear. Fear is the weapon of terrorism.

• Someone who carries out the act is a terrorist.

Examples of Terrorists

• What is an ecosystem?• An ecosystem is simply described as a

community of living organisms together with the nonliving components of their environment such as air, water and mineral soil etc interacting as a system. The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.

Pictorial Examples of Ecosystems

• Can we or do we have acts of terrorism against the ecosystem?

• YES.• We have known terror groups in Nigeria for

example:1. Boko Haram/ISIS2. Niger Delta Avengers• All their activities have bearing on the

ecosystem.

“Terror struck the Nigerian capital Abuja on Monday (14.04.201) when more than 70 people were killed and more than 120 were injured in an attack on a

bus station packed with morning commuters.GEJ accused the Islamist group Boko Haram, which has been carrying out

attacks in the northeast of the country since 2009, of being behind the bloodshed.

The issue of Boko Haram is temporary."

BIOTERRORISM• Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other

germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants.

• These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment.

• Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in food.

• Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, can not (CDC).

• When they are human-modified they may occur as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

• Bioterrorism therefore illustrate a situation where organisms within the ecosystem are used as terror agents within the ecosystem.

• In bioterrorism, the agents proliferates itself and takes a long time to be controlled once it establishes itself in the ecosystem.

• What can we do about terrorism against the ecosystem?

• Acquire knowledge and relevant skills (Education)(Biorisk Management) Curriculum design and implementation)

• Policy drive• Bring up emergency responders• Be your neighbour’s keeper.

THANK YOU