ABSTRACT
Since the dawn
of this millennium, terrorism has been on a steady rise worldwide. In fact,
terrorism, arguably, is the biggest threat to global peace and security in this
era. In Nigeria, the dynamics and manifestation of Boko Haram insurgency have
led to the death of thousands of Nigerians. The worst hit among the causalities
and fatalities of the attacks by this group that is riding on the back of
Islamic revivalism and fundamentalism is women and girls, particularly in north
east Nigeria. However, the study aimed
at identifying major impacts of Boko Haram insurgency on the Nigerian economic
development. In carrying out this study, the paper employed documentary and
qualitative method in generating data while Frustration aggression theory was
adopted as framework of analysis. From the study it was discovered that Boko
Haram insurgency impacted negatively on Nigeria’s economy through destruction
of lives and properties, disruption of business, reduction in government
revenue, fear of foreign investors to live and do business in Nigeria, among
others. The paper studies the causative factors and unravels the dominants
causes of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Specifically, it also provides a
better understanding of the growth and development of Boko Haram terrorists. It
also shows the military measures adopted to curb this menace. Consequently, the
paper recommends that, the government should focus on measures for
engaging the large pool of idle youths that are easily lured into the nefarious
activities of terrorism.
CHAPTER
ONE
1.1 Background to the Study
Nigeria as a
nation-state is under a severe internal socio-economic and security threat. As
a more general level, the threat has social, economic, political and
environmental dimensions. Each of these dimensions has greatly affected the
nation’s stability, and can be traced to the ethnic militia armies, ethnic and
religious conflicts, poverty, terrorism, armed robbery, corruption, economic
sabotage, and environmental degradation (llufoye, 2009).
Boko Haram insurgence
becomes the major problem facing Nigerian in the recent time. These groups have
perpetrated several bombing that have killed millions of innocent citizens of
this country Nigeria and also caused the destruction of both private and public
properties worth of billions of naira. It is imperative to note that these
groups have also engaged in abduction of school girls. This derives from their
bid to make people in the north east geo-political zone of Nigeria to embrace
their view on Islamic Nigeria code and western education.
Perhaps, no one saw it
coming. No one also believed it would happen. It appeared to have taken us
unawares even as it is considered very novel and alien to this clime. To many
people, it is totally un-African. But surprisingly, what started like a bully
at the thresholds of 2009 has grown and assumed a gargantuan dimension,
menacingly and uncontrollably tearing the country apart. It has caused us
injury and pain. It has brought us hunger. It has spelt and unleashed untold
hardship on the people. The economy is bleeding; it has brought division
amongst us, fueling animosities amongst adherent of Islamic and Christian
religions (Chioma, 2014).
Boko Haram activities,
has destabilized socio-economic activities, increased crime and destruction of
both life and property of Nigerian citizens. This can be attested in the
northern part of the country most especially Maiduguri, which is the capital of
Borno State. This situation has made it impossible for the citizens in that
part (Northern) of Nigeria to carry on their legitimate businesses. It is also
scaring foreign investors out of the country. Students have been forced to flee
their schools, especially after the abduction of over 100 school girls in
Chibok, Borno State. The gravity of the crisis has made some government to vow
never to allow students from their state to go to the northern part of Nigeria
for anything. Boko Haram activities also affected the posting of students of
southern and eastern extradition on national youth service corps (NYSC) to the
north, to the extent that parents are strongly resisting the posting of their
children as corp members to the North.
Boko Haram itself is a
fatal blow to the noble objective of the scheme as a unifying strategy. The
unity of Nigeria is seriously threatened by the Boko Haram insurgence and
therefore, Boko Haram fundamentalist sect is considered to be a major potential
terrorist threat affecting Nigeria mostly on the part of socio-economic
activities of the country.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Boko Haram, a diffuse
Islamist sect, has attacked Nigeria’s police and military, rival clerics,
politicians, schools, religious buildings, public institutions, and civilians
with increasing regularity since 2009. Some experts view the group as an armed
revolt against government corruption, abusive security forces and widening
regional economic disparity in an already impoverished country (Akintunde,
2014).
According to Campbell
(2011), Boko Haram is a way of thinking, it is politically driven, and they are
loosely organized grassroots insurrection against not only the Abuja government
but the traditional Muslim establishment as well.
After nearly a decade
of violence, Nigerian government still does not have an effective strategy for
dismantling the group. The terrorist organization preys on the disillusioned
Muslims of the north, who are fed up with corruption and who have few economic
opportunities, Nigeria is a heterogeneous country divided by two religious
beliefs aside traditional religion. The northern half of the country is almost
completely Muslim (50 percent of the total Nigerians population) and the
southern half is mostly dominated by Christians (40 percent of the total
Nigerians population) originating in the Muslim dominated northern region of
the country. The movement rejected everything deemed western. The activities of
the group “Boko Haram” grew its ranks by taking advantages of the widespread
anger in the north over the country’s gap. In the north, 72 percent of the
population lives below the poverty line, compared to only 22 percent in the
southern part (Bartolta, 2011).
The goal of Boko Haram
sect is to create an Islamic nation in the twelve northern states of Nigeria,
which will eventually spread to the rest of the country. From its inception,
Boko Haram sect viewed Nigeria as a state or a country running by non-believers
and made the government its main target mostly when it is ruled by a
non-believer (non-Muslim) President.
The economic
implication of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the major thrust of this thesis. Outright
confrontation with police and military officers, violent attacks on the
populace, bombing and kidnapping have serious socio-economic implication for
Nigeria in the international community. Since the activities of the sect,
especially since 2009, it has not only constituted a major security threat to
the nation, but has also made the country one of the most dangerous place to
live in the world. The activities of this sect are capable of disintegrating
the country. Thus, the need to unveil these effects is important.
This research work will
seek to study the in-depth analysis of the effect of Boko Haram Insurgency on
the Nigerian economy.
1.3 Research questions
i.
How does the Boko Haram Insurgency
militate against economic development in Nigeria?
ii.
Is the military option the best strategy
in tackling the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
By explaining how the
sect came into being and by showing that they posed serious threat to national
security, the broad objectives of this research work is designed to examine;
i.
To
ascertain how the Boko Haram Insurgency militates against economic development
in Nigeria.
ii. To find out if the military option is
the best strategy in tackling the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria.
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
i.
Boko
Haram Insurgency militates against economic development in Nigeria.
ii.
The
military option seems the best option in tackling this menace.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The problem of Boko
Haram and its implication on economic development in Nigeria is central to this
research. All individual lives in a world prone to crises. No nation is free
from crises. Violence is now endemic in human relations. The global threat of
terrorism respect no boundaries or borders. Nigeria is not free from these
threats, emanating from Boko Haram activities.
This study is thereby
motivated by strong desire to contribute to the ranging dissolution of Boko
Haram and its implication on Nigeria’s economic development.
It is therefore, hoped
that this study will be relevant and will be of great benefits to the students
and scholars of political science, history, intelligent and security studies
and the society at large.
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The scope of this
research work is quite broad that it encompasses the investigations of “the
effect of Boko Haram insurgency on the economic development in Nigeria.
In the limitation of
this study, various factors contributed in affecting the researcher’s
comprehensiveness and totality in carrying out the study. In producing such a
work like this, the problem confronting the researcher is not the scarcity of
materials, but its availability. Some of which are bias in their presentation.
More so, the research work is contemporary and politically sensitive. The
researcher therefore is confronted with the problem of interpretation of the
actions of Boko Haram and their implications.
Finally, there is the
question of time and funds which may serve as impediments to this research.
Nevertheless, limitation or limitating factors will be greatly managed to make
the research work more objective in its presentation.
1.8 Definition of Terms
According to Janet
(2004: 107), definition of terms used in a research is operational. Works are
defined as they are used by the researcher. This means that researcher uses
certain words in the way they fit to the study, which may be different from the
ordinary dictionary meaning. For an operational understanding of the term used
within this study, the definitions are as follows:
Insurgency:
- This
is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority (government of a nation),
when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents.
Crime:
- On
the definitions of crime, the united Nation Research Institution observed
that:-
Crime
in the sense of branch of a legal prohibition, is a universal concepts, out
what actually constitutes a crime and how seriously it should be regarded,
varies enormously from crime are not determined by any objective indicator of
the degree of injury or damage, but by culture values and power relations (UN
Research institute for social development, 1995).
In a strict legal
definition however, a crime is a violation of the criminal low, which is
subsequently followed by an act harmful not only to some individual, but also
to the community or the state. Such acts are forbidden and punishable by law
(Elizabeth, 2003).
Violence:
- The
World Health Organization defines violence as “the intentional use of physical
force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or
against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood
of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal development, or
deprivation” but acknowledges that the inclusion of the “the use of power” in
its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word (WHO, 2002).
Sect:
-
A sect is a subgroup of a religious political or philosophical belief system,
usually an off shoot of a larger religious group. Although in past is was
mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any
organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of
rules and principles. The term is occasionally used in a malicious way to
suggest the broken-off group follows a more negative path than the original. It
refers to a group or movement with heretical beliefs or practices that deviate
from those of groups considered orthodox or wrong (Wilson, 2008).
Terrorism:-
Terrorism
is perhaps one of the most controversial problematic concept to define in the
world today. This is made more problematic blurred distinction between
legitimate act of resistance and criminal act of terrorism. Despite these
difficulties, however motivated act of violation perpetrated against civilian
targets with the aim of inflicting mass causalities, in stilling fear and a
sense of insecurity and affecting a change in the policies and action of the
victims (Nolan, 1998).
Islamic
Fundamentalism:- Islamic fundamentalism is a term used to
describe religious ideologies seen as advocating a returning to the
fundamentals of Islam, the Quran and the Sunnah, it is deemed problematic by
those who suggest that Islamic belief requires all Muslims to be
fundamentalists (Bernard, 1993). Islamic fundamentalist oppose the infiltration
of secular and westernizing influences and seek to institute Islamic law including
in Muslim and strict code of behavior.
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