an assessment of nigeria's counter- terrorism policies against boko haram

175 Pages·2017·1.3 MB·English

by  Olumuyiwa Faluyi (216073793)

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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2.3 Counter-terrorism: Global View ................................................................................................. 26
2.4 Counter-Terrorism in Nigeria ........................................................................................................ 33
2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 37
CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 39
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................ 39
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 39
3.2 Theorectical Framework Explained ............................................................................................ 39
3.3 Systems Theory ........................................................................................................................... 40
3.4 State Fragility Theory ............................................................................................................. 45
3.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 49
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 50
THE NIGERIAN STATE AND ITS COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICY PROCESS .............. 50
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 50
4.2 The Nigerian State: History, Geography and Politics ................................................................. 50
4.2.1 Islam in Nigeria ................................................................................................................... 53
4.2.2 Islamic Religious Movements in Northern Nigeria ................................................................. 54
4.3 History of Ethnic, Religious and Political Violence in Nigeria .................................................. 57
4.4 Nigeria: the Political Environment.......................................................................................... 60
4.5 Nigeria: Economy in Focus ..................................................................................................... 64
4.6 Counter-Terrorism Policy Process in Nigeria ......................................................................... 69
4.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 72
CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 73
UNDERSTANDING BOKO HARAM ........................................................................................ 73
5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 73
5.2 Origin and Ideology of Boko Haram .......................................................................................... 73
5.3 Survivalist Strategies of Boko Haram ......................................................................................... 76
5.3.1 North- South Power Tussle ...................................................................................................... 76
5.3.2 Porous Borders .................................................................................................................... 77
5.3.3 Historical Affiliation of Northern Nigeria to Islam ................................................................. 78
5.3.4 Iranian Revolution of 1979 ................................................................................................. 78
5.3.5 Bad Governance and Corruption ......................................................................................... 79
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5.3.6 Poor Funding and Brutality of the Security Forces ............................................................. 80
5.3.7 Poverty, Unemployment and Ignorance .............................................................................. 80
5.3.8 Rejection of Western Education and Values ....................................................................... 82
5.3.9 Sharia Legal System............................................................................................................ 82
5.4 Leadership and Structure ............................................................................................................ 83
5.5 Reign of Terror ........................................................................................................................... 84
5.6 International Links and Funding ................................................................................................. 90
5.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 92
CHAPTER SIX ............................................................................................................................. 93
NIGERIA’S COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICIES: EXPLANATION AND ASSESSMENT .93
6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 93
6.2 The Establishment of NACTEST and other Associated Acts ..................................................... 94
6.3 Objectives of NACTEST and other Associated Acts ................................................................. 95
6.3.1 Forestall ............................................................................................................................... 95
6.3.2 Secure ................................................................................................................................ 106
6.3.3 Identify ............................................................................................................................ 113
6.3.4 Prepare .............................................................................................................................. 117
6.3.5 Implement ....................................................................................................................... 120
6.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 125
CHAPTER SEVEN .................................................................................................................... 126
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION ................................................. 126
7.1 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 126
7.2 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 128
7.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 133
BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 135

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LIST OF TABLES
1 Nigeria’s Positions in the Failed State Index (2005 to 2015) ...........................................47
2 Chronology of Ethno Religious and Political Violence in Nigeria....................................57
3 Transparency International- Corruption Perceptions Index (2000 to 2015)......................68
4 Boko Haram’s Attacks during the 2009 Violence.............................................................86
5 Boko Haram’s Onslaught before the NACTEST and Other Associated Acts..................87
6 Boko Haram’s Onslaught after the NACTEST and Other Associated Acts....................88

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