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 howthe activities of Boko Haram terrorists affected the security of the Nigerian Statebetween 2009 and 2019. The framework of analysis of this research is based onsystem theory. The theory guided the qualitative descriptive analysis of datacollected from secondary sources, including from textbooks, journals, archives,and the Internet. The study among other things found that Boko-Haramterrorism is a serious disturbance to Nigerian political system; that it reallyaffected national security in Nigeria especially on socio-economic and politicalfronts. It noted also that corruption in the military top brass, as well as intersecurityagency feud in the counter-terrorism account for the failure indegrading Boko Haram since 2009. Towards addressing the problem ofterrorism in Nigeria, this study recommended among other things, addressingthe corruption in the security architecture of Nigeria, and reviewing theNACTEST for curbing the inter-security agencies feud in counter-terrorism. Italso recommended the duo of military-centric counter-terrorism and socioeconomicand political strategies against nation-building crisis in Nigeria whichare at the roots of the terrorism.