CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Democratic government was installed in Nigeria in 1999 after more than 16 years of military dictatorship. The aspiration of the populace was that with the coming of civilian government the dividends of democracy will spread to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria. However, their hopes have been dashed by the recent events in Nigeria. Fifteen years after civilian rule, the country’s security situation is pathetic that nobody in the country is safe from the attacks of terrorists, kidnappers, armed gangs and militants. Electoral and communal violence has also compounded the security situation that has made Nigeria unsafe for residence. The activities of the dreaded Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram has been a great concern to the Nigerian government and the international community, as in up to date; Boko Haram has killed more than 10,000 citizens despite the security measure taken by the federal government of Nigeria to checkmate the heinous crime of the sect against humanity. It was in light of the failure of the government counter terrorism drive that made youths in the North-East part of the country to form a youth anti-terrorism movement called “Civilian JTF” to complement the effort of the government counter-terrorism strategy.
According to Alozieuwa (2012) as cited by Anyadike (2013) “the challenge posed by Boko Haram in Nigeria is not only about the viciousness of either its terror campaigns or the sect’s avowed mission to impose Islamic law on the country, but about the confusion regarding the exact cause(s) of the violence”. A lot of factors have been attributed to the cause of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria such as socioeconomic, political, and religious factors. However, Awojobi (2014) and Onuoha (2014) posit that the high-rate of poverty in Nigeria has made the youths enlisted in the ranks of Boko Haram foot soldiers which have to elongate the conflict since 2009. Most of the activities of the sect are concentrated in the North-East of Nigeria. Despite the state of emergency that was declared by the Federal government, the killings, bombings, and kidnappings of Boko Haram continue unabated. The activities of the Boko Haram sect have led to economic, social, and psychological implications in North-East Nigeria where the sect has a strong presence.
Globally, insecurity phenomenon has, indeed, posed the greatest threat to the present world order and has been encapsulated in the nine-letter word: “Boko Haram”. Boko Haram may have existed in diverse ways in the decades; even centuries that had gone by without much the threat to international security and global order, but the world of the twenty-first century appear to be witnessing a major scourge borne out of the phenomenon of Boko Haram. As noted by Nkwede (2013), the issue of security has remained topical and indeed constituted a serious course for concern not only to the private but also to public individuals in Nigeria. The security question has, in recent times, emerged as a key concept in Nigeria’s struggle for good governance, sustainable democracy, and development.
Apparently, the increasing spread of nefarious activities of Boko Haram sect in Nigeria and the destruction of lives and property is a growing concern that could not be wished away with a wave of hand (Alao. Atere, Alao, 2015 and Ogege, 2013).
Nigeria has all it takes to be great in terms of human and natural resources and wants to be one of the developed economies of the world and a leading nation in Africa by the year 2020. In order to actualize its dream, it sets the process, for the exploitation of resources and the attraction of indigenous and foreign investors. In spite of this laudable goal and an arrangement put in place, Nigeria has nothing substantial to show to that effect. It is in the news now that, most of its citizenry (victims of Boko-Haram) wallow in poverty and do not have access to the modern health care delivery system, pipe-borne water, quality education, and job opportunity and cannot afford three square meals daily. This unpleasant development or condition/situation is as a result of devastating attacks by the Boko-Haram insurgency on the people in the area.
The poor development status of Nigeria no doubt breeds an atmosphere of frustrated expectations and fosters widespread indignation on the part of those that are trapped in the vortex circle of abject poverty. The condition of hopelessness is further aggravated by impotent poverty eradication programmes and conspiratorial neglect by the Nigerian state. In the face of this predicament, individuals and groups respond differently depending on situational factors and capacity. These responses are crystallized and find expression in various shades of antisocial behaviors not only insurgency but might result in others like; armed robbery, and kidnapping among others.
