COMBATING BOKO HARAM TERRORISM: SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Boko Haram emerged as one of the deadliest terrorist group in the world. Since its rise
in 2009, the group had been more active in the northern Nigeria and later gradually
extended its operations and coalitions beyond the Nigerian borders and transcended
to Niger, Chad and Cameroun. Boko Haram was responsible of the deaths of more
than 37, 500 people since 2009. While there have been significant successes in the
war against Boko Haram terrorism, but recent attacks on military and villages in Chad
and Nigerian territories indicate that, Boko Haram has not been completely
defeated. The group appeared as the most Africa's enduring insurgents group. This
study intend to find out why in spite of several efforts to curb Boko Haram terrorism,
yet it still persists? Secondary source of data comprising both academic and
nonacademic materials were utilized. The study covers the period from 2009 to 1999.
Findings of the study indicate that, in spite of the several efforts and strategies
employed to convert Boko Haram terrorism, yet insurgency persists and remained as
one of the long enduring challenge to Nigeria and its environs. Results further indicate
that counter terrorism in Nigeria is bedeviled by endemic corruption in the defense
sector, lack of local communities' confidence on the security agencies, internal and
foreign conspiracy engendered to perpetuate 'particular' interests in North-Eastern
Nigeria. The study concluded that, the success against B.H terrorism in Nigeria defends
on efforts put in place to eliminate the aforementioned challenges.