MULTI-NATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE AND BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Boko Haram has perpetrated its terrorist acts within Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin since 2009 with
devastating consequences. This arguably was due to inadequate mechanisms to investigate into the
causes of their actions and make informed alternative decisions to effectively roll back Boko Haram
activism. Paradoxically, the affected countries, either due to the pride of sovereignty or mutual
suspicion, initially preferred to solve the Boko Haram equation in isolation within their national
boundaries, but the persistent excesses of this group continued to threaten the security situation of the
entire region. This necessitated concerted action and consequently led to the establishment of the
Multinational Joint Task Force to roll back Boko Haram extremisms. The study utilized secondary data
using content analysis and the state fragility theory to explain how the weakness of Nigerian state aided
the emergence of Boko Haram and Nigeria's counter terrorism policies in mitigating the excesses of Boko
Harm. The study reveals that multinational joint task force has been relatively effective in the ght
against Boko Haram in Nigeria. The need to strengthen state institution was given as a suggestion on how
to make the policies work effectively. The study also suggest that countries engaged in the ght against
Boko Haram should stay mobilized given the persistence of the threat and the group's capacity to adapt,
as well as its resilience.