AGENDA SHIFTING AND MOTIVATIONS FOR TERRORISM IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA
Authors:
Oboshi Agyeno & Simeon Oludele-Ajiboye
Abstract:
The original agenda of Boko Haram was to establish a caliphate carved out of Nigeria, to be governed under strict adherence to religious creed. Counter-terrorism measures by Nigeria security forces has undermined the achievement of creating an Islamic state by the terrorist organisation in northeast Nigeria. In order to remain relevant and achieve its overall goal and sell their ideology to a wider population, Boko Haram shifted its tactics significantly in 2014 by kidnapping girls and using them as incentives for recruitment, mobilization and motivation of members. Kidnapping as a tactics is to fulfil a socio-cultural lacuna prevalent in a community challenged by poverty, illiteracy and lack of opportunities. Girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have suffered forced marriage, rape, death and other forms of gender based violence. They are captured and distributed as ‘brides’ to commanders and members of the terror organization as trophies for bravery. This has impacted on the nature, trend and complexities of the war on terror in Nigeria. A content analysis described the rising rate of kidnap in the dynamics of terrorism in northeast Nigeria as a strategy to diffuse religion and culture of the people in justifying the agenda and activities of the group. Secondary data and unstructured interviews was conducted to arrive at the need for a holistic approach to counter-terrorism and reforms in northeast Nigeria.