State Bastardisation And Terrorism In Nigeria: A Discourse

Abstract

This paper seeks to unearth and analyse the variables which promote and sustain primordial groups’ identities and their linkages to the emergence and sustenance of terrorist groups in Nigeria. Grounded in the pluralist theory of sovereignty, the study adopts historical research design. It relies solely on data from secondary sources, which are presented qualitatively, and the finding is analysed using content analysis techniques. The study reveals that the promotion of primordial identities above national identity for political advantage by the political elites leads to state bastardisation in Nigeria. Besides, it identifies the apostolical promotion of some neoliberal values without corresponding citizenship education, as responsible for the emergence of Boko Haram and other such groups that challenge the sovereignty and legitimacy of the Nigerian state. It also questions the continuous promotion of religion in the public domain in a secular state and concludes that genuine integration policy is an urgent imperative. The study recommends that ethno-religious politics be buried; religion should be returned to the private lives of the citizenry. Besides, citizenship education and societal development should be prioritised in order to strengthen the state, and weaken the capacity of primordial groups to challenge the Nigerian State with violent outbursts.

Boko Haram* Insurgency and the Challenges of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria

“…346 H. Onapajo and co. at 13:09 on August 11, 2015, [Ecole Hautes Etudes Commer-Montréal] For instance, it was asserted that the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa was responsible for the April 2012 raid on the Algerian embassy in the Malian city of GAO, which led to the hostage-taking of seven Algerian diplomats (MUJWA). According to reports, this raid heavily involved members of Boko Haram* (an alleged dissident group of Al Qaeda*) [36]. According to a local official in Mali, there are about 100 Boko Haram* fighters in Gao.…”

“…Significant evidence of connections between Boko Haram* and some very well-established transnational terrorist networks can be found in the group's increased sophistication of its terrorist campaign, which appears to be the result of well-orchestrated planning and significant funding. Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate and Triacetone Triperoxide, two "highly powerful and volatile" plastic explosives, were heavily utilised in the attack on the UN building in Abuja in August 2011, leading Nigerian security personnel and outside security experts to draw the conclusion that the attack was well beyond the capabilities of a local terrorist organisation [36].…”