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ABSTRACT
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari continues to insist that Boko Haram has been been ‘technically defeated’, claiming that peace has returned to the Lake Chad Basin. However, reports from the media and people living in affected areas indicate otherwise. Based on analysis of secondary sources and a review of the literature, this article explores how Boko Haram has managed to survive the overwhelming military pressure of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) arrayed against it. Resilience theory informs the analysis. The study’s findings suggest a direct link between Boko Haram’s resilience and its organisational structure, civilian sympathisers, resource flows and intelligence gathering, on the one hand, and corruption and sabotage within the Nigerian military on the other. In addition, Boko Haram benefits from its links with international terrorist networks. The article argues that understanding these factors, and adjusting the counterinsurgency accordingly, is critical to bringing an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
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3 Freedom C. Onuoha, ‘A Danger not to Nigeria Alone – Boko Haram's Transnational Reach and Regional Responses,’ Friedrik Ebert Stifung, Abuja, Nigeria (2014): 5.
4 Jideofor Adibe, ‘Re-Evaluating the Boko Haram Conflict. Africa in Focus,’ 2016. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/02/29/re-evaluating-the-boko-haram-conflict/
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7 Adibe, ‘Re-Evaluating the Boko Haram Conflict. Africa in Focus.’
8 Adibe, ‘Re-Evaluating the Boko Haram Conflict. Africa in Focus.’
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10 ‘Nigeria Boko Haram: Militants ‘Technically Defeated’ - Buhari.’
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14 Kingsley Omonobi and Johnbosco Agbekwuru, ‘50 Soldiers Killed by Boko Haram in Yobe,’ Vanguard Newspaper, March 25, 2020, https://www.vanguardng.com/2020/03/50-soldiers-killed-by-boko-haram-in-yobe/.
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34 Jordan, ‘Attacking the Leader, Missing the Mark.’
35 Jordan, ‘Attacking the Leader, Missing the Mark.’
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42 Farrell, ‘Unbeatable: Social Resources, Military Adaptation, and the Afghan Taliban.’
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53 Walker, ‘Join Us or Die: The Birth of Boko Haram.’
54 Alex Thurston, ‘‘The Disease Is Unbelief’: Boko Haram’s Religious and Political Worldview,’ Center for Middle East Policy, 2016.
55 Walker, “Eat the Heart of the Infidel”.
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74 Clarke, Terrorism, Inc.: The Financing of Terrorism, Insurgency, and Irregular Warfare.
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79 GIABA, ‘Fifth Follow Up Report: Mutual Evaluation: Nigeria.’
80 GIABA, ‘Fifth Follow Up Report: Mutual Evaluation: Nigeria.’
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Notes on contributors
Monday Zitta Hassan
Monday Hassan Zitta obtained his PhD in politics from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019. His dissertation focussed on the ‘Diffusion of the Boko Haram Insurgency in the Lake Chad region, 2012–2016’. His research interests lie within the field of conflict and security studies. He teaches international relations in the Department of Political Science at Plateau State University, Bokkos, Jos, Nigeria, where he is currently also head of the department.