Defending the Homeland: A Critical Assessment of Government’s Response to the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria
Defending the Homeland: A Critical Assessment of Government’s Response to the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria

Summary/Abstract: Like all federal systems, Nigeria has had its own fair share of insurgencies which rangedfrom conflict amongst ethnic nationalities to even religious terrorism. Of course, stateshave no option than to ensure and assure its citizens safety and security any way and anyhowthey can guarantee it. Reprisal attacks on terrorists is a mere bandage method, basicallybecause the wound has already been inflicted, but also since ensuring security isalso target hardening, and has little effect on the success or failure of a terrorist attack.Security can only minimise casualties, not prevent attacks, especially those delivered bythe terrorist suicide bombers. This paper uses secondary data as a source of informationand presents the results of their content analysis to explain Nigeria efforts to protect thecitizens. It argues that terrorism is a violent form of insurgency that must be retorted accordinglyand any policy response that does not take this into consideration is not onlynaïve, but also utopian. The paper, then, recommends solutions adapted to particularcircumstances. While it supports negotiation with Niger-Delta militants, it objects negotiationwith Boko Haram, because these groups are pursuing totally different agendas.

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