Keys on How to identify a potential suicide bomber

Suicide bombing is an act whereby an individual personally delivers
explosives and detonates them with the sole aim of inflicting the
greatest possible damage, killing himself in the process in order to
serve the interests of the sponsoring individuals or organisations.

Records have revealed that suicide bombers are capable of carrying out
very wicked, audacious and highly destructive acts that are shocking
on the account of their specific intention to destroy critical
infrastructure and kill mostly unsuspecting civilians or injure anyone
within the range of the explosion. But if I may ask, what kind of a
person would sacrifice his life in order to kill innocent people and
what would possibly motivate that person to take the offer of becoming
a suicide bomber?

In the wake of several tragic incidents, the government, civil society
as well as security agencies have always found it difficult to
objectively analyse the causes and processes through which suicide
bombings are carried out since there is no single theory as to what
brings about such wicked act. Although many people have cited negative
indoctrination, radicalisation and religion as prime motivators but
the act involved a wide variety of motivation including politics,
quest for revenge, humiliation as well as altruism.

The willingness of the perpetrator to kill himself shows a very high
symbolic value and dedication to whatever may be his cause. However,
the truth is that suicide bombing has become a most accessible weapon
of choice available to the terrorist groups because of its
cost-effectiveness, lethality, ability to cause confusion as well as
the tremendous amount of publicity and fear it generates as clearly
witnessed in the series of bomb attacks across the nation. For
example, immediately after the last blast, the usual crowd witnessed
at motor parks, night clubs and other social event centres, in no
time, disappeared because of the wide speculations through the media
that there was likely to be another bomb attack in those areas. This
is a classical example of the effect of fears associated with
terrorism.

Characteristics of a potential suicide bomber

There is no specific profile for anyone who engages himself in suicide
bombing. A suicide bomber can come from nearly every cultural
background, religion, race, creed or gender. However, the following
are common characteristics of a potential suicide bomber.

* Through his behaviour

• He behaves in a way similar to someone with no future.

• His mental state could present clues – his eyes are secretive, he
makes obvious attempt to avoid eye contact with the people he
perceived to be his enemies and always looking at every possible exit.

• Mumbling prayers – may be fervently praying to himself, showing the
impression of whispering to someone else.

• He shows no response to any authoritative voice, command or instruction.
Through his appearance

• He wears clothes that are unsuitable for the present-day weather.
For instance, wearing of sweater or rain-coat during hot weather.

• He wears slack or puffy clothes. This gives the impression that his
body is excessively larger than his head or feet.

• Sweating – resulting from tension and stress or wearing of
unsuitable clothes. For instance, wearing a heavy coat during high
weather temperature.

• He will usually have his hands placed in the pocket, around the
button of the detonator and ready to set off the bomb at the slightest
opportunity.

• He carries big bags or backpacks tightly with wires piercing out of the bag.

• He may most likely have a clean shave or low hair-cut especially
when he is ready to carry out the task. This may be done to disguise
his real appearance.

• He displays signs of drug use. For instance, his pupils become
enlarged with fixed staring.

• His breathings are heavy and rapid.

• Mostly male who falls between the age range of 16 to 30 years of age.

• He looks aggressive, restless, irritable and nervous.

Through his movement

• He walks awkwardly or clumsily in an unusual and odd manner. This is
usually due to the unsuitable attire he is wearing and sometimes due
to the weight of the explosive devices tied around his body.

• He tries to be evasive in movement. This unusual gait is adopted to
evade security agents and some other persons who may foil his plans.

• Often times, he may not know the route to his target destination
very well, hence he may occasionally ask for directions. One of the
suicide bombers that struck at a church in Kaduna in late 2013 had to
ask commercial motorcyclists for direction to the church he eventually
struck.

Through his kind of person/other features

• He tries to blend into a group which he clearly does not belong to.
For instance, he tries to attend Church worship services even as a
non-Christian with clear intention to carry out surveillance and
identify vulnerable areas before attack.

Source •Frank Mba's blog