Issues In Nigeria's Counter-Terrorism Mechanisms : Prospects for Regional Cooperation to Fight the Scourge - Research

For the past few decades, the notorious Boko Haram sect has caused havoc in Nigeria, resulting in heightened fears among many Nigerians due to its incessant horrific deadly attacks and kidnappings. Various attempts by successive Nigerian governments to address this internal crisis have been futile. Thus, it has become clear that the Nigerian government alone cannot win the war against this terrorist group. Against this backdrop, this article scrutinises the current state of Nigeria's counter-terrorism approach and establishes why the government has struggled to eliminate Boko Haram. The article assesses the actions of the political leadership and postulates on the possible impact of a joint regional attempt to contain the scourge, given its spill-over effects. The discussion is predicated upon the African Union's (AU) resolve to find 'African solutions to African problems'. The article argues for African agency as opposed to looking up to Western countries to provide a solution. We suggest what should be done to uproot Boko Haram.