Understanding the emergence, the impact, and the countering of Boko Haram

Terrorism has become a daunting issue of worry in the modern world, both at the local and global levels. Africa is among the regions of the globe that are most severely affected by terrorism, which is a global issue that has spread throughout all regions of the continent, in part because of the difficulties associated with growth. One such terrorist organization is Boko Haram, which began as a pacifist local Salafist Islamic movement, with the initial aim of preaching to and helping the destitute, before evolving into what it is now. Since 2009, Boko Haram has vowed revenge on members of law enforcement, politicians, and Islamic officials for the oppression that the group has experienced, including the extra-judicial killing of their leader Mohammed Yus and the mass detention of their members by the state security sect. When Boko Haram’s operations escalated into violence in 2009, the Nigerian army engaged the group in a five-day battle that claimed the lives of the group’s commander and several of his supporters. This paper examines the impact of the Boko Haram crisis on internally displaced persons and refugees, as well as the effectiveness of and challenges in countering the group’s activities. It also provides critical understandings of the group’s emergence, using three theoretical perspectives: Social Identity Theory, State Failure Theory, and Relative Deprivation Theory.