The Nigerian State since 2009 has been under the throes of the deadly terrorist operations of the Islamic sect formally known as JamaatuAhlis Sunna Liddaawati Wal-Jihad. This sect famously dubbed Boko Haram, meaning western civilization/education is forbidden, claims to be on a mission to Islamize the Nigerian State. Prima facie, Boko Harams motivations appeared to be religious; however considering factors as dismal socio-economic conditions that prevail in the Northern region, the epicenter of the sect, a religious explanation alone is reductive.
More so, relevant and related literature was reviewed using conceptual and theoretical approaches. A threefold theoretical framework constituting of Marxian, Relative deprivation, and Frustration aggression respectively were adopted to explain the phenomenon. Unlike other authors who have hinged the operations of the sect to a kind of political undertone; this study deems fit to establish the poor socio economic conditions especially in the North eastern region which have been serving as a veritable ground for the sect quest to gradually dethrone the legitimacy of the Nigerian State. This study also exposes the extent of the damage further caused by the sect violent operations as well as the suitability of the “carrot and stick” strategies or policies in dealing with the sect negative impact.
Hence, this study employs secondary source of data from library materials, newspapers, journals, articles and so on.
The findings revealed that the strategies of Nigerian government failed because she failed to address adequately the socio-economic factors that equipped the sect such as unemployment, poverty, corruption/bad leadership, poor economy structure. The research further exposed that the strategy used in curtailing militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria failed to tackle terrorism in the North Eastern part of the country which can be regarded as the nerve of the sect because of the international affiliation and its religious connotation to terrorism.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Objectives to the Study
1.6 Significance to the Study
1.7 Research Methodology
1.7.1 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitations of the Study
1.9 Chapter Outline
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Concept of Terrorism
2.2.1 Types and Dimensions of Terrorism
2.2.2 Causes of Terrorism in Nigeria
2.3 The Origins of the Boko Haram Sect
2.3.1 Ideology and Agenda of Boko Haram
2.3.2 Religious, Political and Ethnic Justifications of the Boko Haram Sect
2.3.3 Ethnic Justification
2.3.4 Religious Justification
2.3.5 Political Justification
2.4 Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER THREE: NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT COUNTER TERRORISM STRATEGIES
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Strategies of Combating Terrorism
3.3 Views of Counter Terrorism Strategy
3.4 Nigerian Government Counter-Terrorism Strategies
3.4.1 Soft Approach
3.4.2 The Military in Counter-terrorism
CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Socio-Economic Effects
4.3 The Effect on Political Development
4.4 Root Causes of Boko Haram Terrorism: A Socio-Economic Angle
4.4.1 Unemployment and High Population in Northern Nigeria
4.4.2 Chronic poverty
4.4.3 Economic development and income inequality
4.4.4 Low Educational Profile in the Northern Region
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
Objectives and Research Themes
This research aims to investigate the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape between 2009 and 2014, specifically focusing on how underlying economic conditions, such as poverty and unemployment, have fueled the sect's growth and effectiveness.
- The socio-economic determinants of the Boko Haram crisis.
- The failure of Nigerian government counter-terrorism strategies.
- The role of poverty and unemployment as recruitment tools for extremism.
- The impact of insurgency on national integration and political development.
- Evaluation of military versus soft-approach counter-terrorism measures.
Excerpt from the Book
4.4.2 Chronic poverty
It is no longer a story to be told that a nation as Nigeria is as much blessed with both material and human resources; kudos to the Almighty one for a job well done. In lieu, Nigeria maybe regarded as crème de la crème among the comity of nations. This has made Nigeria assume the position of biggest producer of oil in Africa as well as the sixth oil producer in the globe. However, despite her vast resources, she ranks among the poorest countries in the world. We may now say that a potential developed country warms the backbench of development.
While the debate on poverty-terrorism nexus remains inconclusive, certain region of the world such as Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa present appropriate landscape in which to consider the relations given that “besides being the poorest of the world in terms of average incomes in the 1980s and 90s, it has been the most plagued by civil strife” (Ikejiaku, 2012: 129). West Africa in particular in recent times seems to suggest a positive correlation between poverty and terrorism. To be sure, 11 out of the 25 poorest and underdeveloped countries in the world are in West Africa which has also become one of the most unstable in the globe. Despite being Africa’s largest economy and having the third fastest growth rate in the world in recent years, Nigeria still suffer from the heavy wealth of absolute poverty. It increased from 54.7 per cent in 2004 to 60.9 per cent of the population in 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the context of the Boko Haram crisis, stating the research problem, objectives, and the methodology used to analyze the insurgency.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: This section reviews existing literature on terrorism and applies Marxist, relative deprivation, and frustration-aggression theories to explain the emergence of the Boko Haram sect.
CHAPTER THREE: NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT COUNTER TERRORISM STRATEGIES: This chapter analyzes the various tactics, including military and soft approaches, employed by the Nigerian government to curb the insurgency.
CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA: This chapter examines the specific social and economic impacts of the crisis, linking them to root causes such as poverty and unemployment.
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION: This final chapter synthesizes the study's findings and offers policy recommendations for addressing the underlying socio-economic drivers of the crisis.
Keywords
Boko Haram, Nigeria, Terrorism, Insurgency, Socio-economic, Poverty, Unemployment, Counter-terrorism, Security, Education, Radicalization, Marginalization, Political development, Marxism, Relative deprivation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines the socio-economic effects of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, arguing that the crisis is deeply rooted in structural economic issues rather than solely religious ideology.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the evolution of the Boko Haram sect, the failure of government counter-terrorism strategies, the impact on the Nigerian economy, and the role of systemic poverty and unemployment in fueling the insurgency.
What is the main research objective?
The primary objective is to investigate how the lack of basic life necessities induces terrorism and to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies employed to address this menace.
Which scientific methods does the author employ?
The study utilizes a secondary research methodology, gathering data from textbooks, academic journals, newspapers, and official reports, and incorporates historical and analytical frameworks.
What does the main body of the work address?
It covers the conceptual definitions of terrorism, the historical origins of Boko Haram, an analysis of government strategies, and a detailed investigation into how the insurgency has disrupted social and economic life in Northern Nigeria.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Boko Haram, Nigeria, terrorism, insurgency, socio-economic effects, and poverty.
Why did the government's amnesty program fail for Boko Haram?
The study suggests that the amnesty program failed because, unlike the militancy in the Niger Delta, Boko Haram is a faceless, ideologically-driven group that lacks a centralized leadership with whom the government can negotiate.
How does the author view the role of the military in countering the insurgency?
The author argues that while military force is a necessary component, it is insufficient on its own because it fails to address the underlying socio-economic grievances and can often lead to further civilian alienation.
Does the work suggest a role for religion in the Boko Haram conflict?
Yes, the work explores religious justifications used by the sect but argues that these are often a "decoy" or a mask for underlying economic and political frustrations.
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- Bright Ndimele (Autor:in), 2018, Socio-Economic Effects of Boko Haram Operations in Nigeria, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/918067
