This research examines the impact of Boko Haram insurgency on Nigeria’s national security. The objectives were to determine the nature of Boko Haram insurgency on Nigeria’s security, examine the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on the national security challenges confronting Nigeria, and determine the cost of tackling insurgency by the federal government of Nigeria.
The resurgence of the Boko Haram attacks before, during and after the 2019 general elections showed that the Boko Haram insurgency has not been "technically defeated" as claimed by the federal government of Nigeria. As at May 31, 2019 when this work was concluded, the daily update from the Nigeria’s Security Tracker (NST) of the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) showed that more than 200 Nigerian and Multinational Joint Taskforce (MJTF), comprising Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroonian troops, Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF), insurgents and civilians were killed in just May, 2019 (May 10 – May 31, 2019). These deaths were possible through suicide missions, guerilla attacks, bombings, communities’ massacre, gun battles, ambush, sporadic shooting, kidnappings etc.
From 2011 to 2018, Boko Haram insurgents carried out over 3,346 incidents (attacks). This research observed that trillions of naira has been spent in the fight against insurgency by the military as released by the federal government and donor agencies. Countries with strategic economic, political and social interests in Nigeria have also supported financially. However, lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the military, abuse of human rights and lack of transformative approach in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency have undermined the general support (especially morally) needed to ensure that Boko Haram insurgency does not pose any security threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of Problem
1.3 Research Objectives
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY
2.1 Literature Review
2.2 Methodology
2.3 Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER THREE
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
3.1 Data Presentation
3.2 Discussions of Findings
CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Conclusion
4.2 Recommendations
Research Objectives and Themes
This research examines the profound impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on Nigeria's national security, investigating the nature of the conflict, the financial burden placed on the state, and the strategies required to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the North-East region.
- The nature and evolution of Boko Haram insurgency.
- Socio-economic and monetary costs of the conflict.
- Theoretical analysis using Anomie and Relative Deprivation theories.
- Evaluation of counter-insurgency measures and humanitarian implications.
- Strategic recommendations for future policy and military approach.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Background to the Study
From July 26, 2009 when the first police confrontation of the Boko Haram insurgency to date, the Nigerian government has recorded over 3,346 incidents carried out by the insurgent group (ACLED, 2019). From 2011 to 2018, the United Nation’s Refugee Agency (UNCHR) estimated 2.4 million people displaced and 7 million people at the risk of starvation (Campbell and Harwood, 2018). Reports from the Council of Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) and the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) indicated that an estimated 37, 530 people have been killed from 2011 to 2018 by Boko Haram insurgency. These were recorded deaths of mostly civilians. The military and insurgents’ casualties notwithstanding, the impact of Boko Haram’s insurgency on Nigeria’s national security is negatively unprecedented.
Available statistics to buttress the devastating nature of Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria by the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) showed that the insurgent’s brutality led to the deaths of over 500 people in 2011. The death tolls moved to 2,000 in 2012; then to 5,000 in 2013. However, the crisis escalated in its deadliest form under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau who took over from Mohammed Yusuf (the founder) who was killed in 2009. Through Shekau’s leadership, and the support of other internationally recognized terrorist groups, like al, Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq, and the Levant or Syria (ISIS), the death toll rose to about 13, 000 and 11,000 in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: This chapter provides an introduction to the study, outlining the background of the Boko Haram conflict, the research objectives, and the significance of the work.
CHAPTER TWO: This section covers the literature review and the methodology, incorporating a theoretical framework based on Anomie and Relative Deprivation theories to analyze the insurgency.
CHAPTER THREE: This chapter focuses on the data presentation and analysis, examining specific casualty figures and the impact of the insurgency on Nigerian security.
CHAPTER FOUR: This final chapter provides a conclusion based on the research findings and offers recommendations for future government policy and military strategy.
Keywords
Boko Haram, Insurgency, National Security, Nigeria, Terrorism, Multinational Joint Task Force, ISWAP, Anomie Theory, Relative Deprivation, Humanitarian Crisis, Counter-Insurgency, North-East, Radicalization, Military Strategy, Socio-economic Cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research is a comprehensive study of the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on Nigeria's national security, covering the period from 2011 to 2018.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the nature of the insurgency, its devastating impact on civilian lives, the financial cost to the federal government, and the challenges faced by the military.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary objectives are to determine the nature of the insurgency, evaluate its impact on national security, calculate the costs incurred in tackling it, and identify mechanisms for a long-term resolution.
What methodology does the author use?
The research adopts a descriptive design and utilizes content analysis of secondary data, including reports from international organizations, news articles, and statistical data on casualties and budgets.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the conceptual definitions of insurgency and national security, a review of historical trends, data presentation regarding the intensity of the conflict, and a discussion of the current security landscape.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Boko Haram, Insurgency, National Security, Nigeria, Terrorism, ISWAP, and the socio-economic impacts on the North-East region.
How does the author define the role of the ISWAP faction?
The author identifies ISWAP as a dangerous, ISIS-affiliated faction that penetrates local communities through humanitarian and ideological efforts, posing a complex challenge to security.
What is the significance of the Anomie and Relative Deprivation theories in this book?
These theories are utilized to explain the root causes of radicalization among youths, arguing that institutional failure and a sense of being deprived of social rights drive individuals toward insurgency.
- Quote paper
- Leo the Great Ebenezer Ph.D (Author), 2021, Insurgency and National Security. The Case of Boko Haram in Nigeria, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1119010
