At least 23 people were killed and over 100 injured in multiple suspected suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on Monday evening. Concurrently, a historical analysis reveals how British companies profited from slavery in Brazil long after its abolition, emphasizing ongoing ethical concerns related to global commerce and security.

Nigerian Bombings
On Monday, a series of explosions rocked Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, during iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast in Ramadan. The blasts occurred at the post office, market areas, and the entrance to the University of Maiduguri teaching hospital. Authorities suspect that the attacks were carried out by Boko Haram terrorists using improvised explosive devices, reigniting fears in a city that had seen relative calm in recent years. Military spokesperson Sani Uba condemned the attacks, stating they were aimed at crowded public spaces to inflict mass casualties and create panic.

The recent bombings follow an attack on a military post just outside the city, indicating a potential resurgence of violence in the region. Maiduguri had previously experienced significant violence during the height of Boko Haram's insurgency, which has displaced over 2 million people and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. President Bola Tinubu, currently on a state visit to the UK, has directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to address the situation.

British Companies and Slavery
In a separate but equally troubling issue, a historical examination reveals that British companies continued to profit from slavery in Brazil well after the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act. Historian Joseph Mulhern highlights a notorious case in 1845 where 385 enslaved individuals were "rented" to a British mining company, St John d’El Rey, circumventing legal prohibitions on ownership. Although the practice was technically legal, it exemplifies the moral contradictions faced by British merchants and officials who ignored the suffering of enslaved individuals.

Mulhern argues that the connections between the UK and Brazilian slavery have been largely overlooked, as British narratives often paint the country as a moral leader against the slave trade. Despite Brazil's ban on the trafficking of enslaved Africans in 1831, the law was widely ignored, leading to the illegal importation of approximately 750,000 Africans before the trade effectively ended in 1850.

Wrap-up
The recent violence in Maiduguri reflects the ongoing challenges of security and stability in Nigeria, while the historical exploitation of enslaved individuals by British companies raises critical ethical questions about accountability and complicity in human rights abuses. Both issues serve as stark reminders of the complexities surrounding global commerce and security.

Sources
theguardian.com

@hoju-korean.com Editorial Team