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An Assessment of Nigeria's Counter- Terrorism Policies Against Boko Haram

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An Assessment of Nigeria's Counter- Terrorism Policies Against Boko Haram AN ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIA’S COUNTER- TERRORISM POLICIES AGAINST BOKO HARAM Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (MA) in Politics at the School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal By Olumuyiwa Faluyi Prof. Sultan Khan and Dr. Adeoye Akinola (Supervisors) May 2017 DECLARATION I, Olumuyiwa Temitope Faluyi, hereby declare that this dissertation is my own original work and that all sources have been accurately reported and acknowledged, and that this document has not previously in its entirety or in part been submitted at any university in order to obtain academic qualification. ----------------------------------- --------------------------------- Olumuyiwa Faluyi Date ii DECLARATION BY SUPERVISORS We hereby declare that we acted as supervisor and co-supervisor for this MA student: Student’s Full Name: Olumuyiwa Temitope Faluyi Student Number: 216073793 Title of Thesis: An Assessment of Nigeria’s Counter-terrorism Policies Against Boko Haram Regular consultation took place between the student and us throughout the study. We advised the student to the best of our ability and approved the final document for submission to the School of Social Sciences’ Higher Degrees Office for examination by the University appointed Examiners. Supervisor……………………………………. …………………………… Professor Sultan Khan Date Co-Supervisor……………………………….. ……………………………. Dr. Adeoye Akinola Date iii DEDICATION In memory of all the victims of Boko Haram’s vices and to all who have worked tirelessly to ensure peace reigns in Nigeria. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere gratitude first goes to Almighty God who is the foundation of all knowledge, for His unending love and care over me in the course of this study. I remain highly indebted to my supervisors, Prof. Sultan Khan and Dr. Adeoye Akinola whose priceless contributions, perseverance, guidance and directions saw this study to a logical conclusion. May God bless them for the many sacrifices made towards the accomplishment of this dissertation. Academic pieces of advice given by Dr. Hakeem Onapajo and Mr. Uduak Johnson as well as the impressive editing work done by Dr. Chukwudum Eloboka and Mrs Christy Olorunfemi helped in shaping the study. I also wish to express my deep sense of appreciation to all my friends and family – particularly, Hakeem Sarumi, Rofiah Sarumi, Tosin Adelesi, Kemi Faluyi, Victor Nduka, Oni Ebenezer, Okunade Samuel, Timothy Obaje, Bunmi Bakare, Faith Okite-Amughoro, Tonye Tamuno, Daniel Meduoye, Stanley Ehiane, Teju Adeleke, Teju Ajanaku and Ochonogor Wilson, Quadri Oluwaseyi and Jacob Kutu– for their emotional, intellectual as well as material contributions. May they be highly rewarded in multiple folds. Additional thanks to all the academic and administrative staff at the School of Social Sciences of the University of KwaZulu- Natal. v ABSTRACT Boko Haram has perpetrated its terrorist acts within Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin since 2009. This has drawn local and international attention. The modus operandi of the sect has taken the forms of shootings, kidnappings and use of Improvised Explosive Devices. The Nigerian government has responded to the Boko Haram quagmire. However, despite government’s response, the sect has continued to unleash its terror. This study seeks to assess government’s counter-terrorism policies against Boko Haram. This culminated into the generation of salient questions like what the policies are, factors that informed government’s rationale for adopting these policies, how effective the policies have been and how government can have pro active strategies to address the Boko Haram crisis. Systems and state fragility theories were used as the theoretical lens that guided the study. The systems theory was used to explain factors that informed the adoption of government’s counter- terrorism polices and why feedback is necessary. The feedback is necessary in order to discover flaws in a policy so that such flaws can be addressed and better polices can be made and implemented. This is the thrust of this study. The state fragility theory was used to explain how the weakness of the Nigerian state aided the emergence of Boko Haram and has also affected Nigeria’s counter-terrorism policies in mitigating the excesses of Boko Haram. The weakness of the Nigerian state is hinged on weak state institutions which has manifested through economic inequality, poverty, porosity of border, brutality of the security apparatus and political instability. The study adopted qualitative data analysis method. This was actualised through the review and assessment of journals, books, reports, newspapers and media reports. The study assessed National Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Legislative Acts directed towards counter-terrorism in order to have a robust assessment. The policies are deemed weak due to poor implementation caused by weak state institutions. The manifestations of a fragile state were seen as factors responsible for the non optimal performance of these policies in the course of implementation. The need to strengthen state institutions was given as suggestion on how to make the policies work effectively. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii DECLARATION BY SUPERVISORS ......................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... xi GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY .................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................................................ 9 1.3 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Research Assumption .............................................................................................................. 10 1.6. Research Methodology and Methods ...................................................................................... 10 1.7 Definition of Key Terms ............................................................................................................. 11 1.7.1 Terrorism .................................................................................................................................... 12 1.7.2 Counter-terrorism ....................................................................................................................... 13 1.7.3 Public policy ............................................................................................................................ 14 1.7.4 Radicalisation ........................................................................................................................... 15 1.7.5 Deradicalisation ....................................................................................................................... 16 1.7.6 Counter-radicalisation .............................................................................................................. 16 1.8 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................ 17 1.9 Limitations of the Study .......................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 19 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................. 19 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.2 Terrorism: Historical Perspective ............................................................................................... 19 vii 2.3 Counter-terrorism: Global View ................................................................................................. 26 2.4 Counter-Terrorism in Nigeria ........................................................................................................ 33 2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................
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