The Boko Haram Terrorism: Causes Still Misunderstood

Abstract

There have been widespread assumptions across the globe that the root cause of Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria is religious rather than socio-economic. An investigation into this dichotomy allowed this study to fully demonstrate that the root cause of Boko Haram's terrorist actions emanates from the non-fulfilment of socio-economic goals that are prompted by the violation of fundamental human rights, corruption, poverty, unconstitutional and undemocratic practices in the northern part of the Nigerian state. To achieve its aim of establishing the root cause of the terrorism crisis in the latter country, the study critically appraised the socioeconomic context of the insurgency by adopting one-on-one in-depth interviews involving forty (40) participants to interrogate the phenomenon. Empirical evidence from the study demonstrated that the evolution of Boko Haram terrorism was a response to socio-economic phlebotomy, political and moral putrescence and the dehumanization of people that stem from a combination of decades of mismanagement and pervasive corruption by various Nigerian leaders. The study concludes that, as long as the endemic socio-economic problems caused by global capitalism vis-a-vis unequal hegemonic power exchange as expressed in socio-political, ethno-religious and cultural forms persist in the Nigerian society, the terrorism insurgency will recur and remain an inevitable enterprise and indeed a normal social reaction to every undesirable state of affairs. Based on the findings, the study urges the need for the amelioration of the conditions of the vast majority of the Nigerian populace by making socio-economic facilities available to them through the political state.

Victims of Terrorism in Nigeria: A Study of Boko Haram and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS)

“…Before we present scholarly review on causes of Boko Haram, it is ideal we confess that while some scholars have divergent views on the cause of the menace, there is congruence of ideas on certain causative issues on the terrorist act of the insurgents. For instance, Olofinbiyi and Steyn (2018) have observed that there have been widespread assumptions across the globe that the root cause of Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria is religious rather than socioeconomic. The root cause of Boko Haram emanates from non-fulfillment of socio-economic goals that are prompted by the violation of fundamental human rights, corruption, poverty, unconstitutional and undemocratic practices in the northern part of Nigeria.…”

The Intractable Malaise: Understanding the Patterns That Maintain the Terrorist Stronghold in Nigeria

“…Tersoo and Terzungwe (2015) argue along the same lines, stating that “just as diverse as the techniques of terrorists are, so are the contending issues about terrorism, as well as the tactics of terrorism and the strategies of curtailing it from ravaging national security and world peace” (p. 28). Terrorism has been acknowledged as an enshrined phenomenon in human societies and has thrived for centuries as a dynamic instrument for those who believe in using it (Olofinbiyi & Steyn, 2018; Rapoport, 1984). However,in modern times the spate of terrorism is taking on new dimensions due to technological advancement, globalization, and its dominant popularity which was accentuated by the attack on the World Trade Centre (WTC) and the Pentagon Building in the USA on September 11, 2001.…”