Boko Haram Terrorism Analysis

This paper examines Boko Haram terrorism and its effects on national security. The study is carried out using the secondary source of data for analysis. The paper reveals that the activities of the Boko Haram pose a serious security threat to the entire nation as the terrorist were bent on leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the country did not witness peace. Some recommendations have been made to help in tackling the menace which include to seek collaboration with the international community in the fight against the sect, as they have international connection, the need to control religious activities in the country to guard against extremism, motivation of soldiers and procurement of advanced weapons to fight the insurgent groups.

It is an antithetical phenomenon whose means, more often than not contradicts and therefore negates its end. When directed to the state, it often takes the posture of anarchro-nihilism. It is employed by disgruntled sub- national movements or clandestine, criminal groups as a means of furthering nefarious agenda. In this light, the Boko Haram (inappropriately interpreted by transliteration as Western Education is sinful), insurgency has been referred “as the violent assertion of a fringe sectarian identity based on the dogma of a subgroup of a larger national confessional group” (Nchi, 2013:200). In this regard, the “larger national group” refers to the wider Islamic community of Nigeria. The sub-group in question is the Yusufiya sect (more formally known as Jama’atu Ahlus-sunnah Lidda’ Awati Wal Jihad). The sect’s mode of terrorism thrives on anti- state offensive wherein ‘soft-targets’, namely the civilians and non-combatant populations, have been massively targeted. Their activities have been decried as insurgency because they are tantamount to a rebellion against Nigeria’s avowed secularity and sovereignty (Okoli and

The advent of suicide bombing as a strategy for prosecuting terrorism by members of the sect has since signaled a new dimension to the national security challenge in Nigeria. To say the least, the rising incidence and prevalence of terrorist attacks in Nigeria have exposed the country to serious levels of humanitarian and territorial vulnerabilities. In the face of this situation, the sustenance of Nigeria national security is at best problematic.

Also the risen war against farmers by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen is describe by many scholars like Jibo (2014), Okoli and Iortyer (2014), Okeh (2013) and Nchi (2013) as Boko Haram disguising themselves as herdsmen and launching violence attacks on the innocents farmers in other to take over their land for grazing purpose. To Dambazau (2016) Boko Haram insurgents are using the pastoralist/Sedentary farmer conflict as a cover to terrorize Nigerians. This did not only affect the national security but it also affects food security and national unity of this country.