Terrorist networks in Nigeria: Media perspectives

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue IX, September 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Terrorist networks in Nigeria: Media perspectives

Egielewa, Peter Eshioke, PhD¹, Adejumo, Ifeoluwa Mary^2
1Department of Mass Communication, Edo State University Uzairue, Nigeria
²Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract: Since the 2000s Nigeria has increasingly been confronted by a multi-faceted deadly terrorist onslaught on the country leading to the death of over 30, 000 Nigerians with Boko Haram continuing to dominate the terrorist landscape in Nigeria and the last five years expanding to neighbouring African countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, thus prompting the formation of an African region-wide anti-terrorism military operation in 2015. This article examines the notion of terrorism, the history of terrorism in Nigeria, the different types of terrorist networks operating in Nigeria, the causes of terrorism, the role of the media in terrorism and recommendations for ending terrorism in Nigeria.

Keywords: terrorism, insurgency, media, Boko Haram, Nigeria

I. INTRODUCTION

Terrorism has been in existence since the very beginning of humanity. However, some authors (Burgess, 2015; Eastern Kentucky University, 2020; Statista.com, 2020) easily name the Maximilien Robespierre-led French revolution of 1794 as the beginning of terrorism in modern times. However, terrorism began more dominantly from the First World War in 1914 through the Second World War around 1942. However, the most dramatic form of terrorism can be traced to the US terroristic attacks on September 11, 2001 (Burgess, 2015; Eastern Kentucky University, 2020). Globally, between 1970 and 2019, there have been over 170,000 terrorist incidents globally leading to the deaths of over 300, 000 people as of 2019 (Statista.com, 2020).
According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), the number of deaths from terrorism-related acts has decreased to 13,826 in 2019, a 15 per cent decrease from 2018 and the economic impact of global terrorism has also decreased by 25 per cent to the US $16.4 billion in 2019 (Institute for Economics & Peace, 2020a).
Terrorists’ acts in North America, Western Europe and Oceania have increased by as much as 250 per cent since 2014, the highest in 50 years (Institute for Economics & Peace, 2020b). Globally, over 300, 000 people were killed between 2006 and 2019 alone (Statista.com, 2020) mainly by five terrorist organisations, namely Al-Qaida, Boko haram, the Taliban, Al-Shabaab and ISIL (Dudley, 2018). As of 2017, there were over 300 terrorist groups in the world.
ISIL global terrorist activities have moved since 2014 to sub-Saharan Africa with total deaths in the region rising by as much as 67%. Countries engaged in active conflicts make up 96% of all terrorism globally making conflict the most potent cause of terrorism. Nigeria is ranked the third terrorist country in the Global Terrorism Index only after Afghanistan and Iraq. In Nigeria, more than 37, 500 have been killed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups since 2001 (CFR, 2021).

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