EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NIGERIA’S INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TO TERRORISM

Abstract

Nigeria has faced a range of serious security challenges, including kidnapping, cattle rustling, pipeline vandalism, armed banditry, and terrorism. Among these, terrorism has been the most devastating, claiming the lives of men, women, and children particularly in Northern Nigeria. In 2022, the southern region also experienced a major terrorist attack when the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, was targeted by suspected terrorists. This incident exposed significant lapses in intelligence gathering and sharing, revealed weaknesses within the security architecture, and highlighted institutional ineffectiveness, particularly on the part of the police. These realities underscored the need to evaluate Nigeria’s institutional framework for combating terrorism. This study adopted the doctrinal research method, relying on both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources included relevant legislation such as the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, while secondary sources consisted of textbooks, academic journal articles, and credible online materials. The paper found that, despite the existence of multiple institutional mechanisms intended to address terrorism, the threat has persisted largely due to poor implementation and structural deficiencies. It concluded that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts will remain ineffective unless institutions particularly the police conduct thorough investigations, present credible evidence in court, and ensure diligent prosecution. Currently, many terrorism-related cases are undermined by inadequate investigations, poorly presented evidence, and a lack of prosecutorial commitment, often resulting in the dismissal of cases by the courts.