Effects of Terrorism on Nigeria’s National Security
- January 31, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue I, January 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Effects of Terrorism on Nigeria’s National Security
Dr. Orkar, Oryina Michael-David1, Shaminja, Tersoo Solomon2, Nev, Timothy Terwase3
1Strategy and Governance, Programme, Institute of Food Security, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
2Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, Nigeria
3Market and Institutions Programme, Institute of Food Security, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
Abstract: – For any nation to achieve development and national security all sectors must be at optimum levels of operations. Terrorism in the recent past has been a menace to society. This has been in operation in foreign lands but today is on the increase in Nigeria. The major thrust of this paper is to find out whether and how terrorism has affected Nigeria’s national security. The method adopted for this study is survey design. Questionnaires were administered and relevant data generated from responses. On the premise of the findings of this research, this study concludes that terrorism has negative effects on Nigeria’s national security. The study therefore, recommends modernization and harmonization of intelligence gathering mechanisms in Nigeria, placement of structures of good governance as well as a reorientation of Nigeria towards participating in voting activities and intelligence gathering.
Key Words: Terrorism, National Security, Boko Haram, Nigeria
I. INTRODUCTION
The nature and composition of a state is key to understanding the origin of crisis within it. When the state in this case Nigeria is unstable, there remains the likelihood for a sustained crisis leading to instability. The return of Nigeria to shaky democracy handed over by the military in 1999 after a long stance in government has had unexpected consequences of heightening ethnic, religious and other forms of socio-political tension. This has led to springing up of terrorist groups that propagate values, demand basic rights through force instead of dialogue, with the emergence of these groups and deep divide, their intolerance has become more violent with more devastating results (Bashiru, 2016). Terrorism remains a dreaded form of aggression against humanity at different times from time in memorial to the era of civilization. Human race has suffered several types of violence and terrorism which is one of the most unlawful and remains the oldest type of violent behaviour used by individuals or the state and society in general (Langvevr,2007). In Nigeria today, terrorism is considered a very dangerous phenomenon which is at variant with the valves and norms of the Nigerian society. As it remains clearly a violation of criminal laws thereby demeaning moral values of society.
