CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

After decades of dictatorships, Nigeria saw its fourth ever democratically elected president take office in 1999. Today, the country’s nascent democracy is being tested by rampant crime, a disaffected public, and an unprecedented campaign of terror. In the south, civil unrest threatens safety and stability. To the east, gangs who kidnap expatriates for ransom lie in wait on the roads, in bars, and in town centers. And to the north, the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram is growing in both organization and brutality. The group has issued brazen challenges to the government and the ultimatum “leave or die” to Christians and those living in the northern region but belonging to ethnic or religious groups from the south. Confidence that the government can protect the people is at an all-time low. The security situation there is very fluid right now (Kajo, 2012).

Since 2009 Nigeria has been in the grip of a violent Islamic insurgency by the extremist sect widely known as Boko Haram. More than 12,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram attacks across northern Nigeria and hundreds of thousands displaced (Meagher, 2014). Military action and civil resistance have driven the group back into the three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where a state of emergency has been in force since November 2013. However, Nigerian security forces have been unable to restore order, as evidenced by their failure to rescue over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in April 2014, the ongoing capture and destruction of towns in Borno and Adamawa states, and continued bombings in recent months in major cities across Nigeria, including the capital, Abuja, and the southern city of Lagos.

Boko Haram first emerged in the early 2000s. It attacked government buildings and churches, making demands that the country reject any notion of Western culture. The Nigerian government fought back, killing hundreds of the sect’s members and, eventually, the head of the group. That was thought to be the end of the Boko Haram threat. But its recent activities have shown that the group was only dormant, and rebuilding its capabilities so that it could return. Its bombings are now expected occurrences. Literally the concern in the north is when the next explosion is going to go off. The United Nations says Boko Haram’s links to al Qaeda are a concern. Boko Haram’s reemergence comes amid great civil disenchantment with the current government of President Goodluck Jonathan and as the country’s fragile democracy struggles to develop. After the government canceled subsidies on oil in January, gas prices skyrocketed, causing workers across the country to strike in protest. Workers refused to work until the subsidies were reinstated. The strike ended on January 16, after Jonathan agreed to cut fuel prices by one third. Four days later, Boko Haram bombed several government buildings. In the attacks, 185 people died, according to reports from African media agencies (Oderemi, 2012).

With its violent escapades, Boko Haram was ranked by the Institute of Economics and Peace Global Terrorism Index (2015) as the world’s deadliest terrorist group; attacks in 2014 alone caused about 6,644 deaths, compared to the 6,073 deaths caused by the 3 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Another report indicated that Nigeria experienced the largest increase in terrorist deaths ever to be recorded in a given year: 7,512 deaths in 2014 compared to 1,850 deaths recorded in 2013, representing an increase of about 300% (Nigeria Security Tracker, 2014). The Boko Haram is believed to have killed between 20,000 and 35,000 people since its emergence in 2002; most of these deaths occurring after 2009 (CNN Library, Boko Haram Fast Facts, 2014). Because of the associated bombings and its other violent activities, the Boko Haram insurgency has stood out as a unique and ominous challenge.

With Boko Haram, Nigeria has witnessed high incidences of violence and turbulence that have posed serious challenges to peace and security (Madau & Madu, 2013). People in Nigeria no longer feel secure and safe in their homes. They fear walking the streets even in their immediate neighborhoods. They fear that their children may be attacked, kidnapped or abducted by Boko Haram on their way to or from school. The 2 Boko Haram assaults and molestations of innocent people and the bomb blasts have been palpable (Madu & Madu, 2013).

Violence by terrorist groups like Boko Haram have constituted a major security challenge to all countries, and in response, many international organizations and countries adopted a counterterrorism strategy (CTS) as a response to prevent and reduce its threats (Udeh, 2013). On November 30, 2005, the European Union (EU) developed a CTS based on four pillars—prevention, protection, pursuance, and response—to resolve the challenge of terrorism in the region (Council of European Union, 2005). Similarly, on September 8, 2006, the United Nations adopted a CTS designed to enhance national, regional, and international efforts to counter terrorism (United Nations, 2006). This included measures to prevent the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. After the 9/11 attacks on the United States, U.S. authorities enacted the Patriot Act and other legislation and established the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate 4 antiterrorism functions (Udeh, 2013). To prevent terrorist acts on U.S. soil, in June 2011, the United States developed a National Strategy for Counterterrorism to build partnerships over security issues (Udeh, 2013).

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Security of Nigeria people is paramount- the responsibility that government must not fail to ensure. Mangold (1990) views security as a pre-condition of ordered human existence by citing Thomas Hobbes idea that states were found to defend the people “from the invasion of foreigners and the injuries of one to another, and thereby to secure them …” Some commentators did not mince words when they raised the opinion that Security is a condition where our most cherished values and beliefs, welfare and well-being as a nation and people are lastingly protected. Nwozor (2013) views Nigeria’s security management from the dimension of prorealist orientation that deploys forces to combat attacks for the survival of the state. Nwozor pressed on that internationally and domestically the issue of security is on the front burner irrespective of the regime.

The violence arising from the Boko Haram insurgency underscores the need to understand the public policy interventions that can address the root causes of the insurgency and to ameliorate its consequences and impact on citizens. Nigerian citizens are suffering the menace of violence from various episodes like ethno-religious conflicts (IPCR, 2016), extrajudicial killings, and indiscriminate shootings by Nigerian security forces (Elaigwu, 2014). Other forms of violence are Fulani pastoralist attacks, cultism and armed robbery episodes, kidnappings, and clashes by tribal or ethnic communities. The Boko Haram violence is widespread and is affecting the progress and peaceful coexistence of the people of Nigeria (Akpan, 2013; Elaigwu, 2014; Fafowora, 2013).

The violence arising from the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in deaths, severe population displacement, disruption of livelihoods, and acute food insecurity in Nigeria (Akpan, 2013; Onyebuchi & Chigozie, 2013). In addition to the colossal loss of human lives and destruction of property suffered by especially people in the northern part of the country, the Boko Haram insurgency is having a crumbling effect on the economy of Nigeria. This violent disposition of Boko Haram has resulted in wanton destruction of innocent lives, and government efforts to address the situation do not appear to be yielding positive results (Aderonke, 2015; Botha, Ewi, Salifu, & Abdile, 2017). The Boko Haram violence is one of the greatest threats to the internal security of Nigeria (Onuoha, 2014).

Boko Haram is guided by extreme ideology and is focused on establishing an absolute Islamic state in some parts of the northern States of Nigeria (Osuji, 2013). The Boko Haram’s key objective is to destroy Nigeria’s democratic institutions and impose sharia law on the citizens, using violence as its modus operandi (Onouha, 2013). Boko Haram opposes Nigeria as a secular nation, calling it dagut (evil) and not worthy of any loyalty (Onyebuchi & Chigozie, 2013).

In the light of the above, the study will try to investigate the persistent lingering security challenges of Boko Haram. It will examine the adverse effects of the Boko Haram security challenge to economic development. It will also assess the causes associated with Boko Haram security challenge and to know the efforts of the government in controlling the menace of Boko Haram.

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between security challenge and Boko Haram in Nigeria.

The specific objectives of the study will be to:

1. Investigate the persistent lingering security challenge of Boko Haram in Nigeria
2. Examine the adverse effects of Boko Haram security to economic development of Nigeria.
3. Assess the causal factors associated with Boko Haram security challenge
4. Find out the efforts of government agency in the control of Boko Haram security challenge.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Arising from the research objectives, the following research questions will be address in the study:

1. Why is the persistent lingering security challenge of Boko Haram in Nigeria?
2. What are the adverse effects of Boko Haram security to economic development of Nigeria?
3. What are the causal factors associated with Boko Haram security challenge?
4. What are the efforts of government agency in the control of Boko Haram security challenge?

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The following hypothesis will be stated in null and alternate as presented below:

H0 there is no significant relationship between security challenge and Boko Haram.

H1 there is significant relationship between security challenge and Boko Haram.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study filled an important gap in the search for solutions to the Boko Haram insurgency by offering empirically informed public policy recommendations to the Nigerian government and other stakeholders who have been involved in the fight against Boko Haram. The research will help policy makers in Nigeria develop alternative courses of action conducive to peaceful resolution of conflicts involving terrorist violence.

The findings of the study may be useful to government ministries, agencies, and departments and nongovernmental and civil society organizations and resource individuals whose services could be complementary to national security efforts. Through a well-informed public policy effort, Nigeria’s national security strategy should be able to achieve the coordination and utilization of all the available efforts and services for the attainment of national security goals.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to internal security challenges in Nigeria especially in the northern parts of the state. The study focuses and make investigation on the why persistent lingering of security challenge of Boko Haram, the adverse effects, the causal factors and the effort so far made by governmental agency in the fight to mitigate and control Boko Haram insurgrncy in Nigeria.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Insurgency

An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents (lawful combatants).

Conflict

A conflict is a struggle between people which may be physical, or between conflicting ideas. ... Conflicts can either be within one person, or they can involve several people or groups. Conflicts arise because there are needs, values or ideas that are seen to be different, and there is no means to reconcile the dispute.

Boko Haram

Boko Haram is a branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. It has been active in Nigeria since 2009. The name of the group means "Western" or "non-Islamic" education is a sin. The group is active in the north of Nigeria, and wants to impose Islamic law as the only law in Nigeria. ... They follow Sunni Islam.

Terrorism

The term according to Terrorism Research (Undated) is better understood from the point of view of the person that is being represented. This is because to the victims of terrorism the perpetrators are terrorists while to the perpetrators, terrorism is an act targeted at reforming or enforcing change