The Boko Haram Insurgence in Nigeria and the Threat to National Security

Abstract

Boko Haram, is an insurgent Islamic sect founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002; it has its base in Maiduguri the capital of Borno State at the north eastern end of Nigeria. It has carried out series of vicious and pernicious attacks on the people and government of Nigeria and all her institutions with the view of Islamizing the country. In the light of the horrendous and fortuitous attacks they have unleashed on Nigeria and despite efforts made by government to douse the problem, the group kept on springing surprises on targets, while the country.s peace and security remained comatosed. This paper made use of exploratory and descriptive research methods, data were assessed from books, journals, newspapers and the internet. It was found out that Boko Haram attacks on the nation are externalizations of the people's frustration against poverty,  unemployment, immoral, unjust, decadent and corrupt leadership with the political power shift to the south in the last decade. It was found out also that the group wants to make the nation ungovernable because they or their cronies are not in power. It is also not unlikely that this might be the strategy and preparation of some northern elements to wrest power back to the north come 2015.

Key words: Boko Haram, Islamic extremist, Mohammed Yusuf, Secular system, Nigeria