Terrorism and National Security in Nigeria: A Case of Boko-Haram, 2009-2019

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of terrorism and national security in Nigeria: A case study of Boko-Haram, 2009-2019. Specifically, it intends to find out how the activities of Boko Haram terrorists affected the security of the Nigerian State between 2009 and 2019. The framework of analysis of this research is based on system theory. The theory guided the qualitative descriptive analysis of data collected from secondary sources, including from textbooks, journals, archives, and the Internet. The study among other things found that Boko-Haram terrorism is a serious disturbance to Nigerian political system; that it really affected national security in Nigeria especially on socio-economic and political fronts. It noted also that corruption in the military top brass, as well as intersecurity agency feud in the counter-terrorism account for the failure in degrading Boko Haram since 2009. Towards addressing the problem of terrorism in Nigeria, this study recommended among other things, addressing the corruption in the security architecture of Nigeria, and reviewing the NACTEST for curbing the inter-security agencies feud in counter-terrorism. It also recommended the duo of military-centric counter-terrorism and socioeconomic and political strategies against nation-building crisis in Nigeria which are at the roots of the terrorism.