BOKO HARAM, TERRORISM, AND THE CHURCH IN NORTHERN NIGERIA (1999–2015)

Abstract

This study examines the emergence of Boko Haram as a terrorist movement and its impact on the Christian Church and broader Nigerian society between 1999 and 2015. It argues that Boko Haram’s evolution from a local religious sect into a full-scale insurgency was facilitated by structural weaknesses such as poverty, corruption, political exclusion, and the instrumentalization of religion. Drawing on documentary sources and existing scholarly literature, the paper analyses the social, economic, political, and religious consequences of terrorism on Christian communities in northern Nigeria. The study concludes that although Boko Haram has inflicted significant damage on religious institutions and national cohesion, the crisis is not insurmountable if addressed through coordinated security reforms, effective governance, and sustained interreligious engagement.