Pages: (63-75 )
Abstract
Nigeria had experienced and is still experiencing terrible socio-political instability, economic backwardness and international opprobrium as a result of sinister assaults being unleashed by the “Islamic” fundamentalists under the name Jama’atu Ahliss-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad otherwise known and widely publicized by Nigerian news media as Boko Haram, which means Western Education – Is – Sinful. The dastardly activities of the sect and its modus operandi have influenced writers, including journalists, scholars and commentators to brand Nigeria a terrorist state. Much has been written on Boko Haram and its insurgency in the Northern parts of the country. The thrust of this discourse is, therefore, to establish or dispute the argument as to whether Boko Haram is a terrorizing force, trace its origin historically and substantiate its foreign backing in terms of its militants and weaponry. In addition, this study examines some instances of the sect’s mayhem and highlights the repercussions vis–à–vis the visible instability and underdevelopment, underscoring the variables underlying the poor performance of the security agencies and later the Nigerian Army and the Air Force. This academic engagement is very crucial bearing in mind that the Crippled Giant of Africa is backward in the real sense of the word even after her 53rd Independence Anniversary celebration. This pathetic situation of things urgently calls for the attention of all and sundry especially top government functionaries and security decision makers to be awake to their responsibilities by charting a proactive course toward taking the nation to greater heights in all dimensions and the study will go a long way in sensitizing the general public of this onerous task.
Keywords: Boko Haram, Nigeria, National Insecurity, External Linkage, Repercussion,