TERRORISM THE BOKO HARAM PHENOMENON IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has been a source of concern not only to the government of Nigeria, but also
to the international community especially when they bombed the United Nations headquarters in Abuja in 2011. After
this attack, the sect has carried out numerous attacks in Nigeria killing hundreds of people.
There has been plethora of reason adduced to this development. Some opinion and political leaders within and
outside Nigeria adduced the causes of Boko Haram insurgency to poverty, injustice, and lack of civil liberties, while
others disagree with this line of thought.
Based on this, using both quantitative and qualitative method of analysis in determine the causes of Boko Haram insurgency. The research found out that the insurgency was not as a result of poverty, injustice, or lack of civil liberties, though, it could be a contributing factor, but deep seated ideology rooted in Islamic fundamentalism was to be blamed for the chaotic development of the sect.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The emergence of Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist sect that has been agitating for the introduction of strict Islamic
laws and the Islamisation ofNigeria through violent activities such as killing, bombing, and suicide bombing has taken
a worrisome dimension. Though, Nigeria is no stranger to violent extremist groups’ crises. These include the 1980
Maitatsine riots in the Northern Nigeria which left thousands death. The Kano riot in 1982, Ilorin crisis of March 1986;
crisis over Nigeria membership of Organisation of Islamic Conference in 1986; the Zangon-Kataf riot Kaduna State in
May 1982; the recurrent Jos crises from 2001 up to the present, to mention just but a few (Abimbola 2010: 97; Kalu
2008: 77 – 85; Bah 2008: 49 – 52). In addition, there are agitations, which at times turn violent, by different ethnic
nationalities that made up Nigeria. For instance, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and
the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) in the South-south of the country, are agitating for a fair
share of the oil revenue from their lands. There is the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB), in the South-east, agitating for independence for the Igbo speaking people in that region. There is the
Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the South-west, whose agitation is the protection of the interests of the Yoruba
race in Nigeria. Also in the North, there is Arewa Youth Organisation (AYO) championing the interests of the North
(Kalu 2008: 173 – 185; Bah 2008: 49 – 52).
Therefore, Nigeria is not new to agitations from different ethnic nationalities that made-up the country for a fair share
in its governance and equitable distribution of its wealth and resources. It however, took an unprecedented violent
dimension when Boko Haram, a deadly Islamic sect, surfaced to demand for the introduction and imposition of
Sharia, an Islamic penal code, not only in the Northern part of the country that is populated by the Muslims, but also
in the entire country. The advent of Boko Haram and its demand added a new phase to ethno-religious crises and
insurrectional groups’ agitations in Nigeria. Although, Boko Haram started out as a benign Islamic organisation,
providing social services and preaching strict adherence to Islamic injunctions, it, however, along the line made a
detour by engaging in violent activities which not only undermine the legitimate authority of the government of Nigeria,
but also, posing existential threat to the cooperate existence and unity of the country.
A US congressional report of Nov 30, 2011 on Boko Haram says the sect is an “emerging threat” not only to the US,
but also to its interests. The Congressional committee Chairman, Mr Patrick Meeham in an interview said the “fast
evolution” of Boko Haram was worrying. He stated further that there was little evidence as of that time to suggest that
Boko Haram was planning an attack against the US; he quickly added that for the fact that there was lack of evidence
“does not mean it cannot happen” (BBC).
The US Congressional findings (homeland.house.gov/files/ (http://homeland.house.gov/files/) Boko Haram: 4) stated
inter alia:
Ø Boko Haram has quickly evolved and poses emerging threat to US interests and the U.S homeland.
Ø Boko Haram has the intent and may be developing capability to coordinate on a rhetorical and operational level with Al Qaeda in the land of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al Shabaab.
Ø Boko Haram’s evolution in targeting and tactics closely track that of other Al Qaeda affiliates that have targeted the
U.S homeland, most notably Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Tehrik – I – Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Ø The U.S intelligence community largely underestimated the potential for Al Qaeda affiliate groups to target the U.S homeland, wrongly assessing they had only regional ambitions and threats against the U.S homeland were merely “aspirational”.
Ø The United States should work with the government of Nigeria to build counter terrorism and intelligence capability to effectively counter Boko Haram.
From the above painted scenario, it is valid to assume that Boko Haram is not only a threat to Nigeria, but also to world peace at large. This was ably demonstrated when it attacked the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on August 26, 2011,a suicide bomber drove a vehicle laden with explosive device into the building, killing 23 people and more than 80 people were injured. The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon in condemning the attack described it as “an assault on those who devoted themselves to helping others” (The guardian).
TERRORISM THE BOKO HARAM PHENOMENON IN NIGERIA