An Empirical Analysis of Socio-Economic and Political Instruments of Boko Haram in Nigeria

The debate on the emergence of Boko Haram and the need to address the crux of the problem has been the prime concern of past regimes and President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. Despite the counter-terrorism measures of the state, the regional integration efforts and the international community's support, relative peace seems to be a mirage. The dilemma of combating the group has aroused a debate on the root causes of the menace for holistic counter-terrorism. Scholars have argued and counter-argued about whether socio-economic and political factors could be responsible for the emergence of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria. Against this background, this article empirically examines the socio-economic and political factors instrumental in the upsurge of Boko Haram in Nigeria. The paper argues, based on the capacity of empirical sources, that socio-economic and political situations in Nigeria are not direct cause but contributory factors.