AN ASSESMENT OF THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

Year 2018, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 1 - 8, 01.10.2018

Amadu Bah

Abstract

This paper will be based on a field research conducted in Nigeria about the
Boko Haram crisis. The paper will provide an understanding of the Boko
Haram phenomenon, especially from the perspective of its socioeconomic,
political and social determinants. It will focus mainly on the Root Cause
(RC) theoretical approaches and the relationship between social, economic,
political, and demographic changes and Boko Haram terrorist activity that
has plagued the country, especially the northern region for more than a
decade. Since its emergence in 2002, Boko Haram has perpetrated a series
of deadly attacks on key governmental agencies, market areas, schools,
religious centers, including Mosques and Churches, kidnappings of
politicians, foreigners and young boys and girls, and extension of violence
in the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and the Republic of Niger.
The philosophy and activities of the group have been subjected to
various interpretations alongside ethnic, regional, cultural and religious
bifurcation amongst the Nigerian populace. However, this article argues
that Nigeria`s longstanding political schism, socioeconomic division,
corruption and mismanagement of its resources, from independence to
the present, has played an immense role in fueling the conflict. The high
population in these areas coupled with lack of education or skilled training
has led to a high demand for the country`s resources and increased youth
unemployment. Consequently, the inhabitants of the north have become
resentful against the government and also on Western influence whom they
blamed for their economic plight. The results of such resentment was the
formation of the Boko Haram Sect. Factors such as poverty, population
explosion, social inequality and exclusion, dispossession and political
grievance as well as oppression, security force brutality and human rights
abuse are considered as the independent variables on which the emergence
of terrorist organizations is dependent.

Keywords

Boko Haram, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, terrorism, religious cleavages, socioeconomic and political grievance, poverty, unemployment, income inequality, oppression, police force brutality

References

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