ATTENTION:
BEFORE
YOU READ THE CHAPTER ONE OF THE PROJECT TOPIC BELOW, PLEASE READ THE
INFORMATION BELOW.THANK YOU!
INFORMATION:
YOU CAN
GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT OF THE TOPIC BELOW. THE FULL PROJECT COSTS N5,000
ONLY. THE FULL INFORMATION ON HOW TO PAY AND GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT IS AT THE
BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. OR YOU CAN CALL: 08068231953, 08168759420
TERRORISM:
THE BOKO HARAM PHENOMENON IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The Boko
Haram insurgency in Nigeria has been a source of concern not only to the
government of Nigeria, but also to the international community especially when
they bombed the United Nations headquarters in Abuja in 2011. After this
attack, the sect has carried out numerous attacks in Nigeria killing hundreds
of people.
There has
been plethora of reason adduced to this development. Some opinion and political
leaders within and outside Nigeria adduced the causes of Boko Haram insurgency
to poverty, injustice, and lack of civil liberties, while others disagree with
this line of thought.
Based on
this, using both quantitative and qualitative method of analysis in determine
the causes of Boko Haram insurgency. The research found out that the insurgency
was not as a result of poverty, injustice, or lack of civil liberties, though,
it could be a contributing factor, but deep seated ideology rooted in Islamic
fundamentalism was to be blamed for the chaotic development of the sect.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The
emergence of Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist sect that has been agitating for
the introduction of strict Islamic laws and the Islamisation ofNigeria through
violent activities such as killing, bombing, and suicide bombing has taken a
worrisome dimension. Though, Nigeria is no stranger to violent extremist
groups’ crises. These include the 1980 Maitatsine riots in the Northern Nigeria
which left thousands death. The Kano riot in 1982, Ilorin crisis of March 1986;
crisis over Nigeria membership of Organisation of Islamic Conference in 1986;
the Zangon-Kataf riot Kaduna State in May 1982; the recurrent Jos crises from
2001 up to the present, to mention just but a few (Abimbola 2010: 97; Kalu
2008: 77 – 85; Bah 2008: 49 – 52). In addition, there are agitations, which at
times turn violent, by different ethnic nationalities that made up Nigeria. For
instance, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and the
Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) in the South-south of the
country, are agitating for a fair share of the oil revenue from their lands.
There is the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB), in the South-east, agitating for independence for the Igbo speaking
people in that region. There is the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the
South-west, whose agitation is the protection of the interests of the Yoruba
race in Nigeria. Also in the North, there is Arewa Youth Organisation (AYO)
championing the interests of the North (Kalu 2008: 173 – 185; Bah 2008: 49 –
52).
Therefore,
Nigeria is not new to agitations from different ethnic nationalities that
made-up the country for a fair share in its governance and equitable
distribution of its wealth and resources. It however, took an unprecedented
violent dimension when Boko Haram, a deadly Islamic sect, surfaced to demand
for the introduction and imposition of Sharia, an Islamic penal code, not only
in the Northern part of the country that is populated by the Muslims, but also
in the entire country. The advent of Boko Haram and its demand added a new
phase to ethno-religious crises and insurrectional groups’ agitations in
Nigeria. Although, Boko Haram started out as a benign Islamic organisation,
providing social services and preaching strict adherence to Islamic
injunctions, it, however, along the line made a detour by engaging in violent
activities which not only undermine the legitimate authority of the government
of Nigeria, but also, posing existential threat to the cooperate existence and
unity of the country.
A US
congressional report of Nov 30, 2011 on Boko Haram says the sect is an
“emerging threat” not only to the US, but also to its interests. The
Congressional committee Chairman, Mr Patrick Meeham in an interview said the
“fast evolution” of Boko Haram was worrying. He stated further that there was
little evidence as of that time to suggest that Boko Haram was planning an
attack against the US; he quickly added that for the fact that there was lack
of evidence “does not mean it cannot happen” (BBC).
The US
Congressional findings (homeland.house.gov/files/ Boko Haram: 4) stated inter
alia:
Ø Boko Haram has quickly evolved and poses
emerging threat to US interests and the U.S homeland.
Ø Boko Haram has the intent and may be
developing capability to coordinate on a rhetorical and operational level with
Al Qaeda in the land of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al Shabaab.
Ø Boko Haram’s evolution in targeting and
tactics closely track that of other Al Qaeda affiliates that have targeted the
U.S homeland, most notably Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Tehrik
– I – Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Ø The U.S intelligence community largely
underestimated the potential for Al Qaeda affiliate groups to target the U.S
homeland, wrongly assessing they had only regional ambitions and threats
against the U.S homeland were merely “aspirational”.
Ø The United States should work with the
government of Nigeria to build counterterrorism and intelligence capability to
effectively counter Boko Haram.
From the above
painted scenario, it is valid to assume that Boko Haram is not only a threat to
Nigeria, but also to world peace at large. This was ably demonstrated when it
attacked the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on
August 26, 2011,a suicide bomber drove a vehicle laden with explosive device
into the building, killing 23 people and more than 80 people were injured. The
United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon in condemning the attack
described it as “an assault on those who devoted themselves to helping others”
(The guardian).
Apart from
the United Nations headquarters bombing in Abuja, Boko Haram has carried out
numerous deadly attacks in the North. It is estimated that Boko Haram sect has
killed more than 1000 people and injured thousands more.
Problem
formulation: Why has Boko Haram, a benign Islamic sect metamorphosed into a
terrorist organisation?
In order to
comprehensively explore the above question, then one has to look at the
definition of terrorism. Defining terrorism has been a subject of controversy
among researchers, whilesome would include both state actors and non-state
actors; some rejected the inclusion of state actors as possible terrorist.
Other definitions restrict terrorism to attacks on civilian targets. Some
definitions limit terrorism to an act with political goals, and exclude
criminal purposes, while some include both political and criminal purposes.
Most definitions regard terrorism irrespective of its goal as illegitimate
method or means, while few definitions consider it legitimate if it is for a
just cause, hence the aphorism “one person’s terrorist is another person’s
freedom fighter” (Martin 2008: 11).Nevertheless, there is a consensus that no
matter how altruistic terrorism is, it is an extreme method or tactic.
The United
State Codes prepared by the US House of Representative defines terrorism “as
premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant
targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.” While executive branch
codes defines it as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or
property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any
segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (Mahan and
Griset 2008: 3).
The British
on the other hand defines it as “the use of violence for political ends
including any use of violence for the purpose of putting the public or any
section of the public in fear” (Imobighe & Eguavoen 2006: 14).
Bruce
Hoffman defines terrorism as the “deliberate creation and exploitation of fear
through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change.”
While Stern defines it as “an act of threat of violence against noncombatants
with the objective of exacting revenge, intimidating, or otherwise influence an
audience.” Laqueur argues that there is no definition that comprehensively
addresses the issue of terrorism, but all the same, he defines terrorism as
“the use of covert violence by a group for political ends” (Mahan and Griset
2008: 4).
For the purposes of this thesis, and to fully
understand Boko Haram ideology, I will define terrorism as a premeditated act
of violent carried out by extremist organisations, or individuals against
unarmed or defenceless civilians, civilian targets, soft spots, and passive
military and police targets,to cause maximum carnage and destruction, in order
to instil fear, confusion, and apprehension in the minds of people. And in
pursuance of political, social, religious, or ideological agenda.
It is very
important to note that the above definition does not take into cognisance
terrorism from the top, that is, terrorism perpetrated by the states. It only
covers terrorism from the bottom, that is, terrorism carried out by non-state
actors.
To put Boko
Haram in a perspective, it is pertinent at this juncture to distinguish between
terrorism, extremism, and freedom fighting. There is a thin line between these
three concepts. An extremist holds a radical opinion or view about a belief or
political ideology, which does not accommodate contrary opinion. The extremists are intolerant of any other
belief systems, they consider their cause as absolutely just and good, and any
other cause aside theirs, is considered evil.For the fact that the extremists
hold such belief or ideology does not translate into terrorism, but the moment
the Rubicon is crossed by forcefully and violently imposing their beliefs and
ideologies on the others through killings, bombing, kidnapping, etc., then it
becomes terrorism. While a freedom fighter is someone who is perceived to be
fighting for a just cause, either the liberation or emancipation of a people,
or any other just causes. But when freedom fighters begin to use unconventional
means to achieve their purpose, then it becomes terrorism. For example, the
Provisional Irish Republican Army in the United Kingdom and the Basque
Separatist Organisation known as Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) in Spain declare
that they are fighting for the oppressed, and for a homeland. These causes are
noble, but the ways and manners they go about it have resulted into labelling
of these organisations as terrorist organisations.
Although,
terrorism is not a recent phenomenon, it has been in existence for ages, taking
different forms and modes.From the fearful group known as the Thugs, also known
as Phansigars or stranglers, that existed in the seventh century, who committed
violent acts and atrocitiesby killing and dismembering the corpses of their
victims to prevent cremation or proper burial to satisfy Kali the Hindu goddess
of death and destruction. To the Assassins also known as Ismailis-Nizari, which
existed between 1090 and 1275, whose objective was to purify Islam, and hasten
the eventual emergence of a Mahdi or Messiah who would ultimately lead a holy
war or Jihad against the traditional establishment. In addition, the Jewish
group known as Zealots-Sicarii, whose activities eventually led to the exile
and ultimate destruction of the ways of life and Jewish structure and
institutions, was dreaded as a violent group (Rapoport in Horgan and Braddock
2012: 9 – 11).
However,
terrorism became a topical issue after the attack on world trade centre on
September 11, 2001. That is not to say there were no terrorist attacks before
9/11, in fact, the Israeli athletic contingent to the Olympic held in Munich,
Germany, in 1977 were taking hostage by the Palestinian militant from the Black
September Organisation. The attacks resulted into the death of eleven Israelis,
a German police, and five militants (Jackson, et al. 2011: 54). On the 21
December 1988, Pan American Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie
in Scotland, the aftermath of the attack left all the 259 passengers and16 crew
members dead. Eleven Lockerbie residents also died in the attack when parts of
the plane fell and destroyed several houses in the town (Mahan and Griset,
2008: 97).
Terrorism,
however,took a global dimension whereby either you support America’s adventure
on war against terrorism or if you are not in support of the war, you are
labelled an enemy. There had been several terrorist attacks after September 11,
2001. On July 7, 2005, there were the coordinated suicide attacks in London
underground that killed 56 people including the four suicide bombers who
carried out the dastardly act, 700 people were injured. Also in Madrid, there
was an attack targeted the train on March 11, 2004, which killed 191, and
injured around 1,600 people. In India, on July 11, 2006, seven bomb explosions
rocked the Suburban Railway in Mumbai, which killed more than 200 people and
injured 700 people (Williams and Mockaitis in Shemella 2011: 298 – 329). The
list of terrorist attacks after 9/11 is endless if we have to discuss it.
Having
identified Boko Haram as an extremist sect, using the instrument of terror to
achieve its ideological belief, it is of primacy to understand the reason(s)
behind the chaotic transformation of Boko Haram as posted in the problem
formulation. To comprehensively explore the problem field, different
perspectives or schools of thought on the root causes of terrorism must be
looked into. Could the metamorphoses of Boko Haram to a dreaded terrorist organisation
was as a result of poverty, inequality, economic disequilibrium as espoused by
strain and deprivation theorists (Forst 2009)? Alternatively, are Boko Haram’s
operatives psychopaths who just kill for the sake of killing because they are
mentally unstable and deranged? Probably, Boko Haram is just a social movement
in the Nigeria’s political firmament making a legitimate claim for the
recognition, accommodation, and integration of its ideological beliefs into the
governance of Nigeria. Perhaps, Boko Haram was the creation of the Northern
political elites who view the governance of Nigeria as their birthright, and
threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable if one of them did not emerge as the
president of the country during the last presidential election in the
country. Alternatively, perhaps, Boko
Haram’s metamorphosis was as a result of social conflict between the haves
(ruling elites) and the disenchanted have-nots. On the other hand, could it be
a response to the extra judicial killing of their leader, Yusuf, and more than
700 of their members by the Nigerian police and security services during the
first uprising of the sect in 2009?
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
Ø The study will seek to unravel the root
causes of Boko Haram insurgency
Ø The study will consider different narratives,
especially the issue of poverty and injustice as being expressed by leaders as
the causes of Boko Haram crisis.
Ø To determine, if any, the role that the
political system or politicians played in the emergence of Boko Haram
Ø To unravel the ideology driving Boko Haram
insurrection.
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH
Why has Boko
Haram a benign Islamic sect metamorphosed into a terrorist organisation? Nigeria being a secular state has been
affected adversely by the activities of Boko Haram. In fact, Nigeria is titling
on the brink of religious conflict which could destroy the cooperate existence
of the country. Therefore, this study will try to provide an answer for the
germane question posed in the problem formulation.
1.4 HYPOTHESIS
Since Boko
Haram insurgency in Nigeria is the nucleus of this research, and knowing full
well that hypothesis is the cornerstone or foundation of any scientific
research, in view of this, it is pertinent to consider the following
hypotheses:
H0: Boko
Haram metamorphosis was caused by poverty and inequality.
H1: Boko Haram chaotic development was caused by
injustice and lack of civil liberties.
H2: Boko Haram insurgency, a political conflict
of ideologies.
The
aforementioned hypotheses will be thoroughly and methodologically analysed to
have a better understanding of the reason(s) for the anarchic development of
the sect.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This
research will try to answer the following questions, because they are germane
to understanding the problem formulation. Why has Boko Haram a benign Islamic
sect metamorphosed into a terrorist organisation?
Ø Did poverty contribute to Boko Haram
Insurgency?
Ø Is injustice and lack of civil liberties to
be blamed for Boko Haram crisis?
Ø What impact does revolutionary and radical
Islamic ideologies have on Boko Haram Insurgency?
HOW TO GET THE FULL PROJECT WORK
PLEASE, print the following
instructions and information if you will like to order/buy our complete written
material(s).
HOW TO RECEIVE PROJECT MATERIAL(S)
After paying the appropriate amount
(#5,000) into our bank Account below, send the following information to
08068231953 or 08168759420
(1) Your project
topics
(2) Email
Address
(3) Payment
Name
(4) Teller Number
We will send your material(s) after
we receive bank alert
BANK ACCOUNTS
Account Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI
Account Number: 0046579864
Bank: GTBank.
OR
Account Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI
Account Number: 2023350498
Bank: UBA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL:
08068231953 or 08168759420
AFFILIATE
Comments
Post a Comment