The impact of boko haram insurgency on nigerian national security. War crimes committed by the nigerian military, amnesty international, june 2015. Boko haram gained more international notoriety in 2014 when the group kidnapped over 200 chibok schoolgirls for various purposes, such as prisoner exchanges and to sell them into marriage. Beginning in the late spring and summer of 2014, boko haram began seizing villages in towns in borno, yobe, and adamawa states. The islamic state in west africa or the islamic states west africa province abbreviated iswa or iswap, formerly known as jamaat ahl assunnah liddawah waljihad arabic. Group of the sunni people for the calling and jihad and nigerian talibanother translations and variants are usedis a nigeriabased group that seeks to overthrow the current nigerian government and replace it with a regime based on islamic law. The groups leaders have never declared allegiance to alqaeda and, apart from some individual contacts, have never coordinated. The place of bokoharam insurgency under international. The fight against boko haram requires significant expenditure on domestic security and defence.
Democratic party to boko haram, casts the nigerian political party the all progressives congress as an islamist organiza tion, and accuses emir of kano muhammadu sanusi ii a target of boko haram of supporting the sect. The conflict takes place within the context of longstanding issues of religious violence between nigerias muslim and christian communities, and the insurgents ultimate aim is to establish an islamic state. Jun 06, 2014 the growing connection between boko haram and al qaeda is alarming to observers of the region who fear that boko haram will begin striking outside nigeria. An analysis of boko haram insurgency article pdf available february 2016 with 1,167 reads how we measure reads. Fascinatingly, what emerges is that terrorist groups are highly organized. Using the boko haram situation as a case study, this paper examines the legal framework for combating terrorism and extremism in nigeria and suggests the need for a purely secular state as a. The history of boko haram boko haram s origins lie in a group of radical islamist youth who worshipped at the alhaji muhammadu ndimi mosque in maiduguri a decade ago. Domestic terrorism and its impacts on nigerian state. It analyses the nature of political violence and the dominant roles of a violent nationstate in both colonial and postcolonial experiences and the rise of terrorism in nigeria. A hisorical discourse, sees boko haram insurgency as. The best articles from christianity today on boko haram nigeria.
Washington, she examines the attempt to designate boko haram as a foreign terrorist organization, and the way ahead for u. While the collaborative response from the countries of the lake chad basin lcb is acceptable for the global war against terrorism the activities of the terrorist group and the responses they generate have exposed the gender strains within the societies around the lcb. Since 2009 the group has carried out largescale acts of violence. Boko haram is a violent sunni jihadist group founded by cleric mohammed yusuf, who was previously a leader within a salafist group in the 1990s, and was inspired by 14th century fundamentalist scholar ibn taymiyyah. Confronting the terrorism of boko haram in nigeria forest confronting the terrorism of boko haram in nigeria james j. Cameroons military campaign against the boko haram insurgency started late but has met with partial success. Federal university lafia, nigeria abstract this paper explores the humanitarian impact of terrorism in nigeria from the standpoint of boko haram insurgency. The insurgency and counterinsurgency in northern nigeria, 12 samson eyituoyo liolios rethinking counterinsurgency. Religion remains a huge factor in the nigerian polity, which competes for legitimacy with the state. Boko haram terrorism, the international dimension article pdf available in south african journal of international affairs 193. Pdf boko haram terrorism, the international dimension. The international centre for counterterrorism icct the hague is an. Some analysts argued that the affiliation between boko haram and is was a desperate move by boko haram to boost its members morale, image and attract local support after the african union coalition force drove the group into the sambisa forest.
For more on for more on the challenges in translating the hausa word boko, see, e. Public opinion on the root causes of terrorism and objectives of. The concerted efforts embarked upon by the international community to ensure its. It also examines if the nigerian government has adopted a soft power approach in its counter terrorism efforts. In 2015 the group began calling itself islamic state in west africa.
Boko haram, islamic sectarian movement founded in 2002 in northeastern nigeria. In april 2015, the nigerian government considered the offensive against boko haram to be in. Boko haram, insurgency, international terrorism, humanitarian crisis, nigeria, isil. Understanding nigerian citizens perspectives on boko haram. Read about nigerias ongoing battle with insurgent group boko haram and keep track of the latest developments using the global conflict tracker from the council on foreign relations.
The history of boko haram boko harams origins lie in a group of radical islamist youth who worshipped at the alhaji muhammadu ndimi mosque in maiduguri a decade ago. Why the nigerian counterterrorism policy toward boko haram has. Some were killed, others displaced while women and children were raped and force to marry against their will. Terrorism, perception, root causes, objectives, boko haram, nigeria. The narratives of sahelistan terrorism reveal a degree of historical myopia. A heavyhanded or solely military response will not bring peace and may be counterproductive. Pdf domestic terrorism and its impacts on nigerian state. Responding to boko haram, 14 have analyzed the various.
This book focuses on boko haram and terrorism in nigeria, framing the conflict in an international law context. The study relies on dependable news reports, which include interviews with key actors relevant to the subject matter, and finds that boko haram terrorism has its roots in the ideology and motivations of its founder and members, the failures and deficiencies of the nigerian state, and the modern trend of religious terrorism in the international. Finally, dr joseph siegle closes the collection with an analysis with a view outward examining the international connections of boko haram and potential links between the group and volatility in mali. In the case of boko haram, a jihadist sect in northeastern nigeria, these narratives ignore ancient rivalries between the borno empire and the sokoto caliphate.
International journal of politics and good governance volume vi, no. It argues that boko haram s terrorism does indeed have a transnational dimension, demonstrating that its agenda and targets transcend nigeria, and that there are international links to the operations of boko haram. Soon after the kidnapping, reports surfaced that boko haram may have transferred many of the girls from nigeria to cameroon, chad and as far as central african republics birao region near sudan. Between june 2014, when boko haram reportedly deployed its first female suicide bomber, and february 2018, about 468 women and girls have been deployed or arrested in 240 suicide attacks, killing. Pdf terrorism in west africa boko harams evolution. A hisorical discourse, sees boko haram insurgency as the latest. To consolidate gains and bring lasting peace to the far north, the government must now shift to longterm socioeconomic development, countering religious radicalism and reinforcing public services. Terrorism according to lodge is an illegitimate means of attempting to effect political change by the indiscriminate use of violence lodge 1988.
The movement is unique in that it combines a sectarian, radical islamic agenda with violence. Abimbola and adesote 2012, in domestic terrorism and boko haram insurgency in nigeria issues and trends. Origin and the spate of terrorism in nigeria boko haram is a dreaded islamic sect known as jamaatul alhul sunnah lidda wat, wal jihad meaning a group committed to the propagation of prophet muhammeds teachings and jihad meehan and spaier, 2011. The international dimension the terrorist group boko haram, or the selfdescribed people of the tradition of. The boko haram terrorists are not islamic nigeria the nigerian terrorist group that kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls has nothing to do with islam, and its grotesquely irresponsible of. Islamic caliphate if boko haram can moderate its extremist tactics in order to tap into the vast reserves of antigovernment sentiment and religious fundamentalism in the north. This article offers a new perspective to the burgeoning literature on boko haram terrorism by examining whether or not it possesses elements of soft power that are appealing to certain nigerians. Terrorismrelated deaths committed by boko haram dropped 42. Boko harams violenceincluding the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in borno state, nigeria, in april 2014brought international condemnation and in february 2015 provoked a large regional ct offensive against the group that displaced it from the majority of its strongholds in nigeria. However, in recent years, boko haram has gradually evolved from a nigerian based antigovernment sect to an international terrorist organization. It also examines if the nigerian government has adopted a. A case study of boko haram in nigeria, and solomons counterterrorism in nigeria. To help defeat boko haram, the eu should push for good governance and accountability. Boko haram has been declared the deadliest terror group of.
Boko harams international reach karmon perspectives. To help defeat boko haram, the eu should push for good. A case study of bokoharam in nigeria olanrewaju john shola lecturer, department of political science and international relations, landmark university, omuaran, kwara state, nigeria abstract. Since west africa emerged to be a hub for international terrorism, boko haram, a domestic actor in nigeria, is locally grown with grievances rooted in cultural cleavages that have quickly gained international attention.
Pdf boko haram and transnational terrorism in africa. Forest jsou report 125 may 2012 joint special operations university 7701 tampa point boulevard macdill afb fl 33621. This is against the backdrop of the rising spate of violent attacks. Boko haram remains a major security challenge for nigeria and its lake chad basin neighbours, and the conflict in the north east has triggered a tragic humanitarian crisis affecting more than seven million people in the region. Boko haram, which refers to itself as jamaatu ahl assunnah lidaawati waljihad jasdj. This paper examines the nature of boko haram terrorism in nigeria. While works such as adeolu adewunmis the battle for the minds. Understanding the roles of women in boko harams terrorism. Military spending and arms imports in five west african countries, briefing note, grip, 15.
The boko haram insurgency began in 2009, when the jihadist group boko haram started an armed rebellion against the government of nigeria. Economics and peace with their global terrorism database gtd datasets on terrorism. Additionally, the article implements document analysis in order to examine the challenges of addressing alshabaab and boko haram in africa. The emergence of boko haram as a terrorist group in nigeria significantly changed the countrys security landscape. According to a september 20 house of representatives homeland security committee report, the aqim boko haram collaboration is a mature relationship that allows boko haram an avenue to advance its capability, and. Nigerias battle with boko haram council on foreign relations. Boko haram terrorism in the lake chad basin region. In the arc of crisis, boko haram appears to be the missing link of a jihadist international looking in the direction of tropical africa. From a quiet religious study group in the early 2000s, the group rose to become the worlds deadliest terrorist group in 2015. President barack obama emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the fight against global terrorism when he noted that, in an interconnected world, the defeat of international terrorism will require the cooperation of many nations. However, the rise of the boko haram terrorists in northern nigeria had been predated by similar. This book focuses on boko haram and terrorism in nigeria, framing the conflict in. President barack obama emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the fight against global terrorism when he noted that, in an interconnected world, the defeat of international terrorism will. The threat from boko haram and ansaru the henry jackson society 7 leadership have recently surfaced.
The impact of boko haram insurgency on nigerian national. The violent rise and resilience of the jihadist group boko haram in the lake chad basin since 2009 poses enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges. In 2009, the boko haram uprising resulted in a fiveday deadlock between police in bauchi, nigeria and the extremist group. On april 14, 2014, boko haram militants kidnapped more than 250 schoolgirls from chibok in nigerias northeastern borno state. Aug, 2017 the boko haram insurgency has taken its toll on nigeria as a nation. This report focuses on two main terrorist groups, namely, isisdaesh in the middle east and beyond, and boko haram in nigeria and west africa.
Boko harams insurgency has jumpstarted a new concern for regional security in subsaharan africa. In 2002, an offshoot of this youth group not yet known as boko haram declared the city and the islamic establishment to be intolerably corrupt and irredeemable. Boko haram and sahelistan terrorism narratives cairn. Study of terrorism and responses to terrorism start, background report. Recent terrorists activities in lake chad basin comprises of countries such as nigeria, niger, chad and cameroon have adversely affected the socio political and economic situation in the region. In 2009, it was assumed that boko haram was a spent force having suffered critical losses in its leadership. Therefore, this study aims to examine the threat of boko haram insurgency on nigerian national security system.
Boko haram, religious violence, terrorism, insurgency, national security. As one of the few organisations with fieldbased expertise in the greater sahel and on all four countries caught up in the insurgency. Nigerias battle with boko haram council on foreign. Boko haram and the kidnapping of the chibok schoolgirls. A more ominous if less likely outcome could be the somaliazation of nigeria, if boko haram can accelerate nigerias centrifugal forces ethno. The menace of crossborder terrorism in africa and the unabated rise of boko haram as a deadly and major terror group in nigeria have raised concerns globally.
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