Abstract
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 BackgroundoftheStudy
Terrorism isoneoftheelementsofcontemporaryglobalstudies.Its
inclusionisperhapsDuetocurrentglobaloutlookandimpactofterrorism
onbothnationalandworldeconomy.TheUnitedStatesofAmerica(U.S.A)
statedepartmentonJune4,2014remarked;thatterrorism hasbecomea
globalandinternationalissuenotadomesticproblem ofanysovereign
state.Itexplains while itshould be given ultimate internationaland
collectionattention.Thecollectivefightagainstterrorism andterrorist
organisationsbecamehighlightedafterSeptember9,2011terroristattacks
onworldTradeorganisations(WTO)andpentagonallintheunitedstateof
America.Theattackinpopulateknownas911attackontheU.S.A.
Backhome(inNigeria)terroristactivitieshavegainedmomentum
since2009whenthegroupknownasBokoHaram firstcametolimelight.
Since the adventofBoko Haram,Nigeria’s foreign policyhas been
broadenedincertainregards,especiallyasitconcernsherimmediate
neighbours.Initially,inthewordsoflabor,C.K(2003)BokoHaram was
lookeduponasamerepoliticaldissentingvoiceandanIslamicinsurgence.
Thedelineationhassincechangedandseenasotherwise.
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TheBokoHaram groupisnottheonlyclandestinegroupinNigeria.
AccordingtoTundeF.K(2010)NigeriahasbeforetheemergentofBoko
Haram otherterrorleashing groups.The likes ofmovementforthe
ActualizationofsovereignstateofBiafra(MASSOB)movementofthe
Emancipation ofOgonipeople and otherthatoperate withoutfixed
locations.Theyoperate occasionalbyapplication ofthreatorforce,
causingdamagestolivesandpropertiestogreatembarrassingofthe
government.
However,itisthecomingintoexistenceofBokoHaramandthelarge
scaleterroritperpetuatesthatattractednotjustforeignattentionbut
involvementofgreatpowerinblaringasolutiontoBokoHaram havocs.
TheimmediateneighboursofNigeria,RepublicofCameroun,Benin,Chad,
andEquatorialGuine;how haveajointmilitaryoperation/commandto
tackletheterroristgroupknownasBokoHaram.Nodoubt,theeffortsof
Nigeriatocontainterrorism ingeneralandBokoHaram inparticularhave
givenrisetoanewperceptionofherconceptofcollectivesecurityinthe
Africancontinent.ShenowaccordingtoNigeriamilitaryauthorizeslooks
beyond WestAfrica in hercontemporary combatplans.This study
therefore,wantstoexaminetheconsequencesofterrorism inNigeria
Africanrelationsintermsofhorizonespeciallyasitaffectsherimmediate
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neighbours.
1.2 StatementoftheProblem
ThoughNigerianforeignpolicythrusthassinceindependencebeen
Afro-centric,theemphasishasbeenonWestAfrica.Ogunchya,I.Sand
Amzat,J(2008)sayNigeriaAfro-centrism inhighlightedinWestAfricaas
heractivityArea.Thelikesofotumba,A(2013)contendsthatNigeria
hegemonyissuitableintermsofwestAfricabecauseithasnarrowvision
oftheentireAfrica.
Itisonthebasinoftheseclamsthatwewanttoevaluatethenew
Nigeria-AfricanpolicyintermsofscopesincetheemergentofBokoHaram.
1.3 ObjectiveoftheStudy
ThegeneralobjectiveofthisstudyistoassessNigeria’sforeignpolicy
towardsherimmediateneighobursinherfightagainstterrorism.However
thespecificobjectivesare:
1. TodeterminewhetherornotNigeriaperceptionofcollectivesecurity
inAfricahaschangedwithemergentofBokoHaram.
2. ToascertaintheroleexpectedofNigerianneighobursinherfight
againstterrorism.
1.4 ResearchQuestions
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Incarryouttheevaluation;thefollowingresearchquestionsare
posed.
1. WhatisNigeriaperceptionofcollectivesecurityinAfricabeforeand
aftertheemergentofBokoHarainthecountry?
2. WhatroleisexpectedofNigerianeighboursincurbingorcurtailing
BokoHaramactivitiesofsimilargroup?
1.5 Hypotheses
Thefollowinghypotheseswereformulatedtogluedderailmentfrom the
focusofthestudy:
1. NigeriaperceptionofcollectivesecuritybeforetheadventofBoko
Haramhasnotchanged.
2. NigerianeighbourshavesignificantroleinthefightagainstBoko
HaramandterrorisminNigeria.
1.6 SignificanceoftheStudy
Thisstudywhensuccessfullycompletedwillbesignificantinboth
theoreticalandempiricaldimensionsintheoreticalregard,itwillobviously
addtothealreadyexistingknowledgeinthefieldofconflictmanagement
severityand specificallyin managementofinsurgencyand terrorism
relatedcrisesitwillexamineandanalyzeissuesrelatingtocause,fighting
andpreventionofinsurgencyandterrorism.Itwillexposeimpedimentsand
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hindrancesinmanagingterrorism especiallyinternationalaspects.Itwill
show therelevanceofinternationalterrorism toexternalrelationsand
globalpolitics.
Inempiricaldimensionthestudywillbenefit;thegeneralpublic,
experts in conflict management students,Administrators,political
scientistsandinternationalrelationsperceptional.Sovereignstatesand
policymakerswillimmenselybenefitfromtheoutcomeofthisstudy.
1.7 ScopeandLimitations
1.7.1ScopeoftheStudy
Thisworkinintendedtoevaluateeffectsofterrorism onNigeria
foreignpolicyasitconcernsherimmediate.ItcoversNigeriaperceptionof
collectivesecurityinthelightofBokoHaram insurgencyandtheexpected
roleofNigerianeighboursinherdemotingchallengesinhandlingBOKO
Haram.
1.7.2LimitationsoftheStudy
Theresearcherhadanumberofconstraintsinthecourseofthis
study,first,alotofconfidentiallyweretiedtoBokoHaram issues.Officials
whohavedirectresponsibilitytodealwithBokoHaram claim nottohave
permissiontospeakonthepresentofwaragainstBokoHaram.Second
therearelimitedpublicationsonthesubjectMatherofinsurgenceand
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BokoHaram inparticularandterrorism ingeneral.Third,theclandestine
natureofBokoHaramterrorismgroupposesadifficultstudy.
However,thereportsofmediaandthoseofNigerianArmyspokes
man coupled with those ofnationalorientation agencyreduced the
problem ofdatagarteringinitiallyexperiencedbytheresearcherverified
internetinformationwashelpfultoo.Theresearcherwasabletoconvince
officialsthatsuspectedtheresearcherandthemissionoftheworkthatno
harmwasmeant.
1.8 DefinitionofTerms
Terrorism: Referstoanyformofpremeditatedactofviolencecarried
outbyclandestineorganizationorgroupwiththeaim of
embarrassingthegovernmentoftheday.Terrorism is
perpetuatedbypeople/groupthathavefeelingofunjust
treatmentandterroristsdonotdiscriminatetheirtargets.
ForeignPolicy: This is an aspectofpublic policy thatis carefully
articulatedtoscoreasaguidetogovernmentinher
relationswiththeexternalworld(sovereignstateandnonstateactorininternationalrelations,ofacountry’spolicy
ofasort.
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Neighbours: Thisrefersto peoplecommunitycountriesorsimilar
enclaves with human beings thatshave immediate
environment.Inthiswork,Nigeria’sneighboursaresister
statethatshareborderswithher.
Nigeria: Thisisgeo-politicalexpressionthatcametobein1914
throughtheamalgamationofwhatistobeknow as
NorthernandSouthernprotectoratesandthecolonyof
Lagos.Itismadeupofcurrentlythirty-sixstateandthe
federalcapitalterritory.TheformercapitalwasLagosand
itcurrentlyhassix(6)geo-politicalzones,namely,North
East,NorthWest,NorthcentralWest,SouthWestSouth
East.