Abstract
This research work attempt to examine the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria
and how it undermines socio-political development, with Niger State
being our case study.
The work has five chapters, each chapter structured in analyzing the
Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria and how it affects the socio-political
development of Nigeria. To do this, the researcher developed twelve
(12) questions, these questions were administered in form of
questionnaires to 400 people who were selected as a sample of the
population primary and secondary data were used as a source of data
while tables and percentages were used in organizing and presenting
the data collected. The data analysis revealed that Boko Haram crisis
has created so many backwardness, hatred, national disintegration and
lack of unity in Nigeria. The researcher therefore recommended that for
Boko Haram crisis to be prevented, the government should take
adequate measures to shut down any training terrorist camps operated
by t
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Over the years, Nigeria has experienced series of attacks and
blast in most region of the country. The violent agitation by Militants in
the Niger Delta region (MEND) has often led to loss of lives and
properties otherwise known as “Movement for Emancipation of Niger
Delta. So many spirited groups hide under this body to carry out their
nefarious acts of rebellion govern the Nigerian state to express their
governances over the degradations of the operation of the multinational
organization.
Similarly, there are groups that exist in other parts of the country
and they include; the “Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) which is located in
the South-West. They are often called the Afeinifere group. There exists
also the “Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB), in the South-East while the „Boko Haram? uses the Northern
part of the country as their operational base.
This research study will critically scrutinize and evaluate the
activities of the latter amongst the above mentioned political and or
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religious sects, because that is the thrust of this research. It can be
deduced that socio-political development are instrumental to the
incessant crisis that has bedeviled our beloved country „Nigeria? today.
People are said to be poor when they experience lack of sufficient
income to purchase material needs which often excludes individuals
from partaking in generally accepted activities of daily life in the society
at large. According to ALI MAZRUI in his „Paradox of Retardation?, Africa
is not the poorest of the regions of the world but it is the most
retarded. He argued that Africans are richly endowed; as such they
have no reason to be poor.
In spite the fact that June 10, 2006 marked 50 years of oil
exploration and production, and over & 400 billion accrued to the
Nigerian state in terms of revenue, Nigeria is still referred to as one of
the poorest and developing countries in the world.
Boko Haram as the name denotes, does not have one particular
meaning. The name more or less connotes different meanings to
different people. The group is a Nigerian Islamic group that seeks the
imposition of Sharia Law throughout the whole of Nigeria. Figuratively
members of this group believe that “Western education is a sin”.
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Presently, the group has an undefined structure and chain of command.
It is of a paramount importance to note that the official name of the
group is „Jama? atu Ahlis Sunna, Lidda? await Wal-Jihad?, which means
or rather is tantamount to “People committed to the propagation of the
prophet?s teaching and Jihad”.
Since its formation in 2002 in Maiduguri by the leader of the
group Mohammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram has been a thorn in the flesh
of Nigeria?s security agencies, precisely the police force, over its
opposition to western education that it believes is a sin. In the year
2004, the Islamic fundamentalist group relocated its base to Kanamma,
Yobe State. The new location was named “Afghanistan”, and from
there, the group set about attacking and leaving members of the
Nigerian Police Lifeless.
Almost the various crises due to bombings carried out by the
Boko Haram are:
? The Nigeria sectarian violence in the year 2009.
? The Bauchi Prison Break on the 7th of September 2010
? Abuja attack on the 31st of December, 2010
? Northern Nigeria bombings on the 29th of May, 2011
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? Abuja Police headquarters bombing on the 16th of June, 2011.
? Bombing at the All Christian Fellowship Church in Suleja, Niger
State on the 10th of July, 2011.
? Bombing of the Abuja United nations Building on the 26th of
August, 2011.
? Damaturu attacks on Friday, November 4th 2011.
? St. Theresa Catholic Church attack in Madalla at Suleja, Niger
State on the 25th of December 2011.
? Kano attacks on 20th of January, 2012
? Suicide bombing at the Army Headquarters in Kaduna on the 8th
of February, 2012. Just to mention but a few.
In conclusive, having said all these at this juncture, this research
work will critically analyze the two concepts i.e. Socio-political
development and Boko Haram in order to create a better understanding
in the minds of the readers and more so, to contribute to existing
knowledge of literature.
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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
It is no longer news that the activities of the Boko Haram and
other similar political and or religious sects have often led to loss of
properties, lives, and even the breakdown of laws and order, peace and
security in the Nigerian society at large. It has been observed that a lot
of attacks have been made onto many states, which include even the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
What puzzles most observers is the fact that most of these
attacks are not carried out by suicide bombers yet the culprits often get
away unharmed. This leaves a big question mark in our security
agencies as regards to their duty in the protection of lives and
properties, and the procurement of weapons of mass destruction to
combat this menace which is eating deep into the Nigerian society
today.
Without being said, Boko Haram crisis do not have any advantage
instead it is a vicious and nefarious act carried out by individuals for
their selfish desires, the motivating factor being to control the religious
and political power.
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However, it is the above stated problems that instigated the
researcher into investigating on the topic the impact of Boko Haram on
the Socio-political development of Nigeria” using Niger State as a case
study.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main thrust of this study is to determine Boko Haram crisis
and the socio-political development of Nigeria to achieve this, the
researcher has the following objectives as it points.
1. To find out if there are Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria.
2. To ascertain the remote and immediate causes of boko Haram
crisis in Nigeria.
3. To ascertain the socio-Political and religious implication of Boko
Haram crisis in Nigeria.
4. To make suggestions to the federal governmet on how to tackle
the Boko Haram crisis.
5. To determine the ways in which the Nigeria citizens can serve as
a helping hand in tackling the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria
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1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
There are numerous reasons why this research is useful, the
research work would be of great importance to students and lectures in
practice of how to carry out further research in the same area. It will
help the government to solve some likely problems that might
encounter in terms of development in Nigeria.
Also, the research will act as a guide to the government in their
quest to quell the problems associated with security, ethnic crisis and
political or religious crisis in Nigeria.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Opinions are however divided over the propelling firing of this
group. It as indeed in a bid to eradicate these incessant chaos and
destruction which has often led to loss of assets, that the researcher
which to posit some research questions. Thus:
1. Are there really Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria?
2. What are the remote and immediate causes of Boko Haram crisis
in Nigeria?
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3. What are the socio-political and religious implications of Boko
Haram crisis in Nigeria?
4. What suggestion can you give to the federal government to help
tackle the Boko haram crisis?
5. What way can the Nigeria citizen help to tackle the Boko Haram
crisis in Nigeria?
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of this research study is quite broad that it
encompasses the investigation of Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria from the
year 2002 till date. This is because of its spontaneous nature.
In view of the limitations of this study, various factors contributed
in affecting the researcher?s comprehensiveness and totality in carrying
out the study. Among these factors include, scarcity of relevant
materials on the issue due to its continuous evolving nature, financial
constraints, some questionnaire administered were not returned and
most of the respondents failed to respond to some important questions
and other tasking campus engagements and the fact that the crisis was
still occurring at the period of research.
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Despite the above mentioned short comings and hindrances, the
research study no doubt turned out to be successful.
1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPT
COHESION: The art or state of sticking together.
SPIRITED: Deals with having or showing mettle, courage,
vigor, energy and determination.
NEFARIOUS: Being wicked.
DEGRADATION: A situation in which somebody has lost all selfrespect and the respect of other people. It is
also the process of something being damaged or
made worse.
BEDEVILED: To cause a lot of problems for somebody or
something over a long period of time.
TANTAMOUNT: Having the same bad effect as something else.
AGITATION: To argue strongly for something you want,
especially for changes in a law, in social
conditions, etc.
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RETARDATION: An offensive way of describing somebody
who is not intelligent or who has not
developed normally.
DEVELOPMENT: The act or process of bringing to a more
advanced state, growth, progress, etc. It
is also the gradual growth of something so
that it becomes more advanced, stronger,
etc.
VICIOUS: Full of hatred and anger, savages, evil,
etc.