Boko Haram and the challenges of Nigeria's war on terror

Boko Haram Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: The Soft Power Context

“…The former Commissioner of Borno State Alhaji Buji Foi, who was killed in police custody, was a major funder of Boko Haram. While this might have been part of these governors' attempts to win votes, another possibility is that the payments aimed to persuade Boko Haram to maintain peace in their states (Oyewole, 2013). In addition, a British-born Nigerian military officer who deserted the army, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, was accused of complicity in the 2014 bombings at Nyanya, Abuja (Montclos, 2014).…”

“…He emphasises that while the hard power approach is an ‘enemy-centric doctrine’ that entails activities such as drone strikes and the operations of armed forces and intelligence agencies, the soft power dimension uses ‘population-centric methods’ that hinge on capacity building, economic development and counter-radicalisation. Oyewole (2013) identifies three main counter-terrorism strategies: military-based, justice-based and political-based. He further divided political-based strategies into hard politics or a hard power approach that is enemy-centric and soft politics or a soft power approach that is population-centric.…”

“…However, it would be erroneous to argue that Boko Haram only appeals to the poor as it has attracted many influential individuals in Northern Nigeria (Walker, 2012), members and sympathisers from all walks of life including university students and graduates, professionals and politicians. Oyewole (2013) argues that due to his charisma and radical teachings, Mohammed Yusuf (the founder of the group) quickly gathered 280, 000 followers from Northern Nigeria, Chad and Niger. Aghedo and Osumah (2012) illustrate that the group draws its membership from students at tertiary institutions in Borno and Yobe states including the University of Maiduguru, Ramat Polytechnic, and Maiduguru and Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu.…”

Countering Boko Haram’s Violence: A Deterrence–Backlash Perspective

“…In retaliation, fellow members clashed with police, triggering reprisals by the military. Over 5 days, from July 25 to 30, riots and violence occurred in several states and hundreds of people died, including Yusuf while in police custody (Oyewole, 2013). Yusuf’s death opened the door for Abubakar Shekau, whose new position was first announced via video in 2010, several months after Yusuf’s demise (Weeraratne, 2015).…”

Making the Sky Relevant to Battle Strategy: Counterinsurgency and the Prospects of Air Power in Nigeria

“…It also survived the death of Yusuf and about 700 members in its 2009 uprising that spread across the north-eastern Nigeria. 26 Boko Haram re-emerged with terrorist strategy and guerrilla warfare under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau in 2010. The organization has survived amid a series of leadership struggles and factional crises since 2009.…”