Boko Haram: the emergence of a terrorist sect in Nigeria 2009–2013

Abstract

So much has been written about insurgency groups in Nigeria; however, little attention has been given to scholarly analysis of the root causes and implications of the Boko Haram menace which currently threatens the stability and cohesive nature of the fragile Nigerian state. This paper takes a panoramic view of indigenous insurgent groups and their assaults on the Nigerian state. It examines the philosophy of Boko Haram and notes the inherent contradictions in the sect's doctrines. It places in context the legitimate grievance of the Boko Haram activists against the state, its institutions and agents in an attempt to unravel the stimulant for the mayhem consistently unleashed by the sect on the state. The nexus between religion, poverty, and politics in the Boko Haram phenomenon is critically interrogated with a view to determining the validity or otherwise of that correlation. The paper goes further to critically query the timid and lackadaisical attitude of successive Nigerian governments towards previous local terrorist attacks. Moreover, the paper reveals identifiable official influence and inspiration for local terrorism, and notes how this has stalled all efforts at stemming this ugly tide – especially when crime masterminds are being used as solutions to crimes, the obvious result being latitudinarianism and inertia. The paper contends that until their legitimate grievances are addressed, and previous terrorists and their official backers are dealt with, indigenous terrorism will not only continue in Nigeria, but it will actually proliferate.

Keywords::

• Nigeria
• religion
• poverty
• Boko Haram
• local terrorism

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Femi Adegbulu

Femi Adegbulu is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and International Relations, Redeemer's University, Ogun state, Nigeria. He has published widely in local and international peer reviewed journals.