The Asymmetric Nature of Boko Haram Insurgency and Its Implications on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law

Abstract

Boko Haram is a brutal and rapaciousIslamic insurgency group which began in Maiduguri, Borno State, Northern Nigeria around 2002 and has been declared as an international terrorist organization and described as having links with a dreaded terrorist group, the Al Queda by the United States of America. The group is adverse to Western influence and education in the northern part of Nigeria, seeks to introduce Sharia law and wants to replace government rule in order to establish a Caliphate within the northern region . In an attempt to undermine the government, Boko Haram is employing all forms of guerrilla tactics to unleashhorrific and indiscriminate violence on innocent civilians. As their atrocious attacks increase, the situation in Nigeria continues to worsen with growing numbers of victims resulting in continued destruction of the social, cultural and economic infrastructure. Despite efforts by the Nigerian government to restrain the insurgent group, Boko Haram has transformed into a transcontinental danger, thereby creating more concern for the international community. This work evaluates the operational means and methods being adopted by the insurgents, the impact of their activities in Nigeria and its implications on the human and humanitarian rights of Nigerians. The paper concludes by recommending among others the need for government to focus fundamentally on addressing the underlying socio-political and economic triggers of domestic violence.