TERRORISM AND ITS
EFFECT TO THE SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM
IN MAIDUGURI AND BORNO STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
Terrorism and insurgency is globally
becoming a household word as there is no nation that is completely absolved
from its effect. This is the reason why Rourke (2008) observes that war,
terrorism and other forms of transnational political violence are in many ways
more threatening today than ever before as civilian casualty has been on
increase. It is however difficult to evolve a single definition for the term
“terrorism”. The difficulty emanates from the lack of consensus or unified
perspective among nations or scholars as to what could be regarded as terrorist
act. Hence, terrorism has been described variously as both a tactic and
strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and
inexcusable abomination since it is a function of whose point of view is being
represented.
Indeed,
the worldwide manifestation of terrorism and insurgency has been evident in
Africa, but also in Nigeria. With particular reference to Nigeria, the
phenomenon has found expression in the emergence of Boko Haram insurgency
(2001-date). Since its advent, the sectarian insurgency has wrecked immense
havoc in the country, especially by “using explosives and firearms with
gruesome, fatal” consequences (Awake, 2006).
The alarming level of terrorists attacks in different
parts of the country, leaving unpalatable consequences for the nation’s economy
and its growth. To address the threat to national security and combat the
increasing waves of crime the federal government of Nigeria in the 2013 budget
made a huge allocation to security, and the national assembly passed the
Anti-Terrorism Act in 2011(Ewetan, 2013). Despite these efforts, the level of terrorism
and insecurity in the country is still high, and a confirmation of this is the
low ranking of Nigeria in the Global Peace Index (GPI, 2012). Despite the plethora
of security measures taken to address the daunting challenges of terrorism and insecurity
in Nigeria, government efforts have not produced the desired positive result. This
has compelled the Nigerian government in recent time to request for foreign
assistance from countries such as USA, Israel, and EU countries to combat the
rising waves of terrorism and insecurity. Amidst the deteriorating security
situation in the country, Nigeria is also confronted with daunting
developmental challenges which pose serious threat to socio-economic
development. These developmental challenges include endemic rural and urban
poverty, high rate of unemployment, debilitating youth unemployment, low
industrial output, unstable and deteriorating exchange rate, high inflation
rate, inadequate physical and social infrastructure, very large domestic debt,
and rising stock of external debt (Ewetan, 2013)
Some scholars in conceptualizing security placed
emphasis on the absence of threats to peace, stability, national cohesion,
political and socio-economic objectives of a country (Igbuzor, 2011; Oche,
2001; Nwanegbo and Odigbo, 2013). Thus there is a general consensus in the
contemporary literature that security is vital for national cohesion, peace and
sustainable development. It is therefore apparent that national security is a
desideratum, sine qua non for economic growth and development of any country
(Oladeji and Folorunso, 2007). The areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency have
been devoid of virtually all economic activities. In the intelligence community
there is a consensus that security is not the absence of threats or security
issues, but the existence of a robust mechanism to respond proactively to the
challenges posed by these threats with expediency, expertise, and in real time.
Political, economic and social insecurity
of a country encompasses all development goals and issues being the root of the
issue and the solution. Addressing issues of terrorism is crucial in order to
execute successful development projects. As a goal, it believed that every
country should aspire to reach a point of security by protecting its citizens
from structural violence, crime, and social insecurity. Indeed, without the
safety of citizens, all plans for development, whether economic, political or
social, will fail. Terrorism is a phenomenon that is bedevilling Borno State
and it affects policies and development. Any nation striving towards
development must reduce the frequency of crime to the barest minimum.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The emergence of Boko Haram insurgency has
introduced a terrorist dimension, hitherto unknown, into the criminal space in
Nigeria. Series of bombings have been carried out by the sect, as well as
taking hostage of innocent citizens. Even the United Nations Building in Abuja
was not spared in the bombing spree. In rich as well as poor countries,
terrorism exerts a heavy toll on national economies. It is inevitable that the
economic impact of terrorism would be more felt in unsophisticated
mono-cultural low-income economies than they would be felt in highly advanced, diversified
industrial economies. Therefore, the continued rise in terrorism activities in
the country, if not checked, may result in greater investor apathy for the
country and resulting in low inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and
would make institutional investors look for other stable economies to invest
their money. On the state of the country, when people feel insecure, their
appetite to invest, to buy or rent from the product of investment reduces; and
that is why all over the world, any country that radiates an environment of
insecurity naturally repels investment initiatives from both the international community
and its own local investors. Hence, terrorism is a threat to the economic,
political and social security of a nation and a major factor associated with
underdevelopment; because it discourages both local and foreign investments, reduces
the quality of life, destroys human and social capital, damages relationship
between citizens and the states, thus undermining democracy, rule of law and
the ability of the country to promote development (Adebayo, 2013). However, the
researcher is analyzing terrorism and its effect to the socioeconomic
development of Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine the effect of terrorism on the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.
2. To
examine the level of terrorism activities in Maiduguiri and Borno State.
3. To
identify the factors limiting the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What
is the effect of terrorism on the socioeconomic development of Nigeria?
2. What
is the level of terrorism activities in Maiduguiri and Borno State?
3. What
are the factors limiting the socioeconomic development of Nigeria?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO:
There is no significant relationship between terrorism and socioeconomic
development
HA:
There is significant relationship between terrorism and socioeconomic
development
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1. The
findings from this study will educate the government and the general public on
the extent of damage done by the activities of the Boko Haram sect in Maiduiguri
and Borno state and its effect of the socioeconomic development with a view of
resolving the crisis.
2. This research will also serve as a
resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out
further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to
provide new explanation to the topic
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
study on terrorism and its effect on the socioeconomic development of Nigeria
will cover the activities of the Boko Haram sect in Maiduiguri and Borno state
and its effect of the socioeconomic development.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature
or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire
and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently
will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
REFERENCES
Adebayo, A. A.
(2013). Social Factors Affecting Effective Crime Prevention and Control in
Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Sociology,
3(4); 71-75.
Awake
(2008). “When terrorism will end”. June edition, pp1-6. Barga, T. (2012)
“Towards a theology of peace: A panacea to terrorism and violence”. Jos
Studies, Vol. 20, pp. 1-24.
Igbuzor, S. L. (2011). Borno State Ban
Motorcycle and Commercial Bikes. The
Vanguard, July, 6.
Oche, P. H. (2001). Political violence
and Terrorism Motifs and Motivations. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Nwanegbo, I. and Odigbo, G. (2013). The
President signs the Anti – Terrorism Bill and 13 other Harmored Bill into Law.
The Vanguard, April 6.
Rourke, I. G. (2008). Boko Haram Leader
Killed. Daily Trust, July, 31.