https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1748-3822
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ABSTRACT
The rising trend of kidnapping targeting women has shown that counterinsurgency does not begin and end with the strategic advantage of state security providers in the security market and the field. Kidnapping of females by Boko Haram insurgents threatens human security and hinders sustainable development goals in Northeastern Nigeria. With primary and secondary sources, this qualitative study examines how Boko Haram insurgents target women in Northeastern Nigeria. The paper argues that community driven security strategy achievable through the collaboration between state and traditional security providers, can prevent the entry and easy escape of the insurgents. It concludes that the forces of order should sustain a policy of stop and searches until insurgents are defeated along with a programme of community-based human rights education and insurgency emergency response system for quick response to security threats.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. Imam, “Women in Nigeria.”
2. Odoemene, “The Nigerian armed forces.”
3. Uchendu in 2007 chronicled how women were victimised during the war as a result of attack and rape they experienced attack on their person.
4. see note 2 above.
5. Women and food production by Rosemary Okolie-Osemene addresses the effort of women in providing food for their families during the war. Okolie-Osemene, Women and food production in Ikaland.
6. Brinkel and Ait-Hida, “Boko Haram and Jihad in Nigeria,” 1–21.
7. Bavier in “Who are Boko Haram” examined the mystery behind Boko Haram group formation and why Christians are main targets.
8. Onuoha and George, “Boko Haram’s use of female suicide bombing in Nigeria.”
9. Olaniyan and Asuelime, “Boko Haram insurgency.”
10. Idahosa, “Boko Haram and the Nigerian state,” 1–28.
11. Agbiboa and Maiangwa, “Nigeria united in grief; divided in response”; see also Zenn, “Demystifying al-Qaida in Nigeria.”
12. Iyi, “The weaponisation of women by Boko Haram.”
13. Adebayo, “Implications of ‘Boko Haram’ Terrorism on National Development in Nigeria”; Iyi, “On the brink?”; Pérouse de Montclos, “Nigeria’s Interminable Insurgency?”; Rosen, “Boko Haram’s insurgency is now one of the deadliest conflicts on earth”; and Zenn, “Demystifying al-Qaida in Nigeria.”
14. Okoye, “Trends in terrorism incidents in Nigeria and the United States.”
15. The proscription of the insurgent group under Executive Order (E.O.) 13,224 on 14 November 2013 attracted media attention across the world.
16. Sani, “Military adventures of some Generals in the Central Sudan.”
17. Awoniyi, The search for terrorists; Onuoha and Okolie-Osemene, “The evolving threat of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria,” 234–6.
18. Mason, “Colombia’s democratic security agenda”; and Onuoha and Okolie-Osemene, 235.
19. Abolurin’s work on insurgency explores the activities of Boko Haram. See Abolurin, A. Insurgency. Ibadan: Golden-Gems Unique Multi Ventures, 2015.
20. Attoh, “Rethinking crimes and violent behaviour in Nigeria,” 212–6.
21. Greenawalt, Speech, crime, and the uses of language, 92.
22. Cohen and Felson, “Social change and crime rate trends,” 588–608.
23. Clarke and Felson, Routine activity and rational choice; Rossmo and Summers, “Routine Action Theory in Criminal Investigation.”
24. Cohen and Felson, “Social change and crime rate trends.”
25. Ibid.
26. Hipp, Bauer, Curran and Bollen, “Crimes of opportunity or crimes of emotion?”; Delice, “How the routine activity theory can help police understand and prevent burglary?”.
27. Miro’s, “Routine activity theory” explains how kidnappers execute their act against targets.
28. Taylor, The kidnapping selection, 1–2.
29. Stewart (2010) that routine model facilitates the kidnapping process.
30. Ceccato’s work on Women’s victimisation and safety in transit environments.
31. Akinlabi, “The lack that carries lacks.”
32. Panwar, “Explaining cohesion in an insurgent organization.” See also Sanchez and Illingworth, “Can governments negotiate with insurgents?”
33. Idahosa, “Boko Haram and the Nigerian state,” 26.
34. As revealed by the residents in Northeast, the ability to bomb target location is one of the major tasks carried out by members of the group to the extent that any woman that agrees to work for Boko Haram in executing this goal is a plus to the sect.
35. Onuoha and George, “Boko Haram’s use of female suicide bombing in Nigeria”; and Ionova, “Fresh Boko Haram abductions threaten gains for girls’ education in Nigeria.”
36. see note 8 above.
37. Ibid., 7.
38. Rosen, “Boko Haram’s insurgency is now one of the deadliest conflicts on earth.”
39. Matfess, Women and the war on Boko Haram.
40. Mantzikos, “Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria and neighbouring countries,” 63–81.
41. Okoye, “Trends in terrorism incidents in Nigeria and the United States”; Albert, “Beyond Nigeria’s Sambisa: Forests, insurgency and counterinsurgency in Africa,” 33; and Bappah, “Nigeria’s military failure against the Boko Haram insurgency.”
42. Osasumwen et al., “Implications of the release of Chibok Girls on Nigeria’s war on terrorism.”
43. During a presentation at the international conference on Lake Chad Basin in February 2018, Leo Irabor revealed how he commanded the Multinational Joint Task Force to contain Boko Haram.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
James Okolie-Osemene
James Okolie-Osemene is a Lecturer in the Department of International Relations, and Coordinator of the General Studies Unit, Wellspring University, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He is alumnus of Pan African Doctoral Academy, University of Ghana; and a graduate of History and International Studies, Imo State University, Owerri. He is at the advanced stage of his doctoral thesis in the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He has published in local and international journals and contributed chapters to several books.
Rosemary I. Okolie-Osemene
Rosemary I. Okolie-Osemene is a doctoral candidate in the department of history, University of Ibadan. She is at the advanced stage of her PhD programme. Her areas of research interest include gender and economic history.