STRATEGIES IN COUNTERING TERRORISM/INSURGENCIES IN NIGERIA AND ITS CHALLENGES

Abstract

Terrorism and insurgency constituted major factors for the growing security challenge in Nigeria and threat to peace and security in the country. In the recent years, there has been a surge in both the tempo and range of global insurgencies and terrorism, with virtually every parts of Nigeria facing/faced with this growing security challenge. Nigeria in a surveyed conducted in 2011 by the Department of State for terrorism, was ranked fifth in number out of 15 countries and in terms of the global number of casualties, Nigeria was also placed fifth after Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Somalia. In the late twentieth century till date, world peace and security has been held under siege due to the heinous crime committed by terrorists the world over, and spread across the continents of Europe, Latin America, America, Arab, Asia, and Africa. Scholars, experts and analysts with different views and backgrounds have expressed concerns about the exponential rate in terrorists’ acts and discussed terrorism in relations to diverse issues such as political, economic, ideological, and socio-cultural dimensions; and the strategies adopted by many countries to end terrorism. Yet, there is no universally accepted definition of the concept terrorism and durable solutions to prevent acts of terrorism, as acts of terrorism are on the increase daily. This article carefully examines some of the major strategies/policies introduced by Nigerian government on counter-insurgency and terrorism in the country and identifies and analyses the challenges in countering insurgency and terrorism. This article adopted a doctrinal research methodology to analyse the 2019 National Security Strategy and 2016 Counter Terrorism Strategy on insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria and the effectiveness of these strategies and policies in countering insurgency and terrorism among other issues. This paper argues that critical as the plight of Nigeria appear to be, with several acts of insurgency and terrorism committed in parts of the country, unless and until something differently is done by the government, ending acts of terrorism will be a mirage. In order words, unless Nigerian government makes provisions for counterterrorist’s radicalization and recruitment processes; it will be fighting a never-ending battle against terrorism in the country. This article recommends that practically methodologically inclined strategies are needed (the establishment of indigenous counter-terrorism/insurgent units at the local level to collect intelligence and maintain pressure on the terrorists/insurgents).