ABSTRACT
The state of
insecurity engendered by Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, especially in the
North-Eastern part of the country is quiet worrisome, disheartening and
alarming. Terrorist attacks of the Boko Haram sect have resulted in the killing
of countless number of innocent people and wanton destruction of properties
that worth billions of naira through bombings. Thus, the Boko Haram scourge
remains intractable to the government who appears helpless in
curtailing/curbing their activities. The dynamics and sophistication of the
Boko Haram operations have raised fundamental questions about national
security, governance issue and Nigeria’s corporate existence. The major thrust
of this project work is to investigate the activities of Boko Haram insurgency
in Northern Nigeria and to underscore the urgent need for a permanent
resolution of the crisis. The research work argues that most of the
circumstances that led to this insurgency are not unconnected with frustration
caused by high rate of poverty, unemployment, weak governance, religious
fanaticism among others. It also addresses the effects of the insurgency which
among others include serious threat to national interest, peace and security,
internal population displacement, violation of fundamental human rights,
debilitating effects on the entrenchment of democratic principles in Nigeria
among others. The project recommends among others, the necessity to address
poverty reduction, religious secularism and political re-orientation. The need
for adequate collaboration and partnership between the government,
non-governmental organizations, civil society organization as well as the
individuals is also advocated. Finally, the need for the re-evaluation of the
country’s domestic and foreign policies as a means of combating the menace of
this domestic terrorism is also stressed.
Key Words:
Boko Haram, Insurgency, Threat, Sustainable Development and
National Security
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
Page i
Certification
ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table
of Content v
Abstract vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Research Questions 3
1.4 Objectives of the Study 4
1.5 Scope of the Study 4
1.6 Significance of the Study 4
1.7 Possible Limitations of the Study 5
1.8 Definition of Terms 5
1.9 Outline of Chapters 6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Contextualizing
Terrorism 7
2.1.1 Eight
Signs of Terrorism 10
2.2 Emergence of Boko Haram Insurgent in Nigeria 11
2.3 Factors
that Led to the Emergence of Boko Haram Sect 14
2.3.1 Rejection
of Western Education and Values 15
2.3.2 Religious
Bigotry and Imposition of its Ideals 15
2.3.3 Poverty,
Unemployment and Ignorance 17
2.4 Theoretical Framework 17
2.4.1 Structural Violence Theory 18
CHAPTER THREE: HISTORY OF INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA
3.0 Introduction 22
3.1 History
of insurgency in Nigeria 22
3.1.1 Declaration
of Niger Delta Republic 22
3.1.2 Nigerian Civil War 23
3.1.3 Movement for the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra 25
3.1.4 Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta and Related
Insurgencies 26
3.1.5 Oodua
People’s Congress 28
3.1.6 Northern Arewa Groups 28
3.1.7 Jama’atu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad
(Boko Haram) 31
3.1.7
Jama’atu Ansaril Muslimina
fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) 31
3.2
Causative Factors Behind Insurgency in
Nigeria 32
3.2.1 Land use and proprietary rights 32
3.2.2
Growth of Social
Class Awareness and Desire for Equality 34
3.2.3 Discrimination 36
3.2.4 Poverty
37
3.2.5 Unemployment 40
3.2.6 Political Alienation 40
3.2.7 Religious and Ideological Discontent 42
CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATION OF
BOKO-HARAM INSURGENTS
IN NIGERIA
4.0 Introduction 46
4.1 Chronology of
Major Incidents of Boko Haram Insurgency 48
4.2 The Socio-Economic Implications of the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria 61
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 67
5.2 Conclusion 69
5.3 Recommendation 69
References 72
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Insurgencies has been as old as civilization but
became most prominent after the September 11 2001 bombings of the United States
by Al-Qaeda. The bombings were carried out on World Trade Centre which has
adverse effects on the business activities of America and globally (Rogan,
2007).
Terrorism which has become a global phenomenon
is a deliberate and systematic use of violence to destroy, kill, maim and
intimidate the innocent in order to achieve a goal or draw
national/international attention or demands which ordinarily may be impossible
or difficult to achieve under normal political negotiation or on the battle
field against a government army. Terrorism whether internationalized or
localized is always politically motivated. Though it may also show other
auxiliary motives include religion, economic or social reasons. These motives
constitute the ideology of a case for which terrorism seeks solution or
sympathy of all terrorist groups that have ravaged Nigeria. The Boko Haram is
undoubtedly the most blood thirsty and destructive both in terms of its demonic
brutality, mindless savagery and increasingly in scope of operation (Obioma,
2009). From Harmless group of 12 has in recent times increased to more than
10,000 violent members (Akpan et al, 2012). According to Eme and Ibietan (2012)
“Boko Haram is an indigenous salafist group which turned itself into a salafist
Jihadist in 2009. The group was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002 in the city
of Maiduguri with the aim of establishing a Sharia government in Borno State
under former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. He established a religious complex that
included a Mosque and a school where many poor families from across Nigeria and
from neighbouring countries enrolled their children”. From the beginning, the
group made its manifest known: Rejection of western education, institutions,
and agencies that go with it, including government institutions. It prefers to
have a sharia law applied all over the country, but if that is difficult to
grant, they would rather have a separate Islamic state carved out of Nigeria, where
they can practice their religion unhindered. If this is not granted Nigeria,
will be made ungovernable.
Government saw these demands as treasonable,
unreasonable and unacceptable and in an attempt to purge the group of its
excesses their leader Mohammed Yusuf died in 2009 from that year onwards under
the assumption of a new leader named Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram reinvented
violence and began what can best be described as the bombardment of Northern
Nigeria with such frequency and intensity that are quite unprecedented in
history of violence in Nigeria. Those who escape death by day, sleep with one
eye open by night. The Boko Haram has created widespread tension across
Northern Nigeria and between various ethnic communities, interrupted commercial
activities, frightens investors and generated concerns among Nigerians northern
neighbours. This unprecedented state of terrorism by the Boko Haram sect in
Nigeria has ruined the tranquility of the northern atmosphere and high rate of
insecurity pervading northern region in particular and the nation/Nigeria in
general is alarming and is a cause for serious concern to well-meaning
Nigerians. It is for this reason that this paper is set and aimed at
speculating the possible negative effect of Boko Haram terrorist activities on
the economy of Northern Nigeria and by extension Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The emergence of Boko Haram insurgency
has introduced a terrorist dimension, hitherto unknown, into the criminal space
in Nigeria. Series of bombings have been carried out by the sect, as well as
taking hostage of innocent citizens. Even the United Nations Building in Abuja
was not spared in the bombing spree. In rich as well as poor countries,
terrorism exerts a heavy toll on national economies. It is inevitable that the
economic impact of terrorism would be more felt in unsophisticated
mono-cultural low-income economies than they would be felt in highly advanced,
diversified industrial economies.
Therefore, the continued rise in
terrorism activities in the country, if not checked, may result in greater
investor apathy for the country and resulting in low inflow of Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI), and would make institutional investors look for other stable
economies to invest their money. On the state of the country, when people feel
insecure, their appetite to invest, to buy or rent from the product of
investment reduces; and that is why all over the world, any country that
radiates an environment of insecurity naturally repels investment initiatives
from both the international community and its own local investors.
Hence, terrorism is a threat to the
economic, political and social security of a nation and a major factor
associated with underdevelopment; because it discourages both local and foreign
investments, reduces the quality of life, destroys human and social capital,
damages relationship between citizens and the states, thus undermining
democracy, rule of law and the ability of the country to promote development
(Adebayo, 2013). However, this research work is analyzing Boko Haram insurgency
and its effect on sustainable development
in Nigeria.
1.3 Research Questions
To this end this work will be bounded by these
research questions:
1. What
is the effect of Boko Haram insurgency on the socioeconomic development of
Nigeria?
2. What
is the level of insurgent activities in North-Eastern part and by extension
Nigeria as a whole?
3. What
are the ways of limiting the threat of Boko Haram insurgents and thereby
bringing about sustainable development in Nigeria?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The
general goal of this study is to speculate the possible negative effect of Boko Haram
insurgency on sustainable development
in northern part and by extension
Nigeria, while the particular aims and objectives of this study are:
1. To
examine the effect of Boko Haram insurgency on the socioeconomic development of
Nigeria.
2. To
examine the level of insurgent activities in North-Eastern part and by extension
Nigeria as a whole and finally
3. To
identify ways of limiting the threat of Boko Haram insurgents and thereby
bringing about sustainable development in Nigeria
1.5 Scope of the Study
This study on Boko Haram insurgency
and its threat to sustainable development
in Nigeria
will cover the activities of the Boko Haram sect in Northern part of the
country and its effect of the socioeconomic development of the country.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The following are the significance of
this study:
1. The
findings from this study will educate the government and the general public on
the extent of damage done by the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in
Nigeria and its effect of the socioeconomic development with a view of
resolving the crisis.
2. This
research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers
interested in carrying out further research in this field thereby providing new
explanation to the topic
1.7 Possible Limitations of the Study
Financial constraint- Insufficient
fund might tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the
relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data
collection.
Time constraint- The researcher
will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This
consequently will cut down on the time to be devoted for the research work.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Boko Haram: referred to by themselves as al-Wilāyat al-Islāmiyya Gharb Afrīqiyyah
(Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP), (Daily
Times of Nigeria, 2015) and Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād,
"Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad") (BBC, 2015), is an Islamic extremist group based in
Northeastern Nigeria,
also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon (U.S. Department of State, 2013).
Insurgency: is a rebellion against authority (for example, an authority recognized
as such by the United Nations)
when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents.
Threat: is a communicated intent to inflict harm or loss on
another person. A threat is considered an act of coercion.
Sustainable Development:
is a process for meeting human
development goals
while sustaining the ability of natural systems to
continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depends. While the modern concept of
sustainable development is derived most strongly from the 1987 Brundtland Report, it is rooted in earlier ideas about sustainable
forest management and
twentieth century environmental concerns. As the concept developed, it has
shifted to focus more on economic
development, social development and environmental
protection.
1.9 Outline of Chapters
Chapter One:
this will be introductory part of the project which will center on background
of the study, statement of research problem, research questions, objectives of
the study, scope of the study, significance of the study, possible limitations
of the study and definition of terms.
Chapter Two:
this will focus on review of relevant literatures and theoretical framework on
the subject matter
Chapter Three: this will focus on history of insurgency in
Nigeria with much emphasis on Boko Haram.
Chapter Four: this will dwell on socio-economic implication
of Boko-Haram insurgents in Nigeria
Chapter Five: this is the final chapter of the work which
will be summary, conclusion and possible recommendation on the work
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