Anacletus Ogbunkwu PhD
Department of Philosophy,
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
franacletus@gmail.com


Abstract
The aim of this paper is to draw a logical inverse proportionality in the relationship between
Boko-Haram insurgency and economic development in Nigeria. Hence this paper claims
that the more the tales of Boko-Haram insurgency is on the increase, our economic status
must logically remain tepid. This paper applies the philosophical methods of hermeneutics
and Turabian documentation in the attempt to make a sharp interpretation of facts regarding
the inverse relationship between Boko-Haram insurgency and the economic status of
Nigeria. The paper studies Boko-Haram insurgency in Nigeria and by critical analysis,
states the degree of harm caused to the economic status of Nigeria. Our findings reveal that
Boko-Haram insurgency has claimed so many lives and destroyed properties worth billions
of naira in Nigeria leading to economic downturn, mutual mistrust, psychological trauma,
internal displacement, widened enthnocentricism, dehumanization, criminality such as
rape, abduction, robbery, e.t.c. The studies reveal the laisser-faire attitude of the
government in matters of Boko-Haram insurgency because some political stakeholders use
these insurgents as political tools to widen their political powers and influence hence
making Boko-Haram uncontrollable. The implication of this paper is a distress call on all
and sundry especially the government to sit up for necessary actions minding the impact
of Boko-Haram in Nigerian economy. The actions include; stopping the rampage of BokoHaram, punishing the culprits legally minding justice and equity, better equipment of the
internally displaced persons’ camps, adequate feeding, empowerment schemes, medical
and psychological assistance (trauma centers), e.t.c. Similarly, Non-Governmental
Organizations and Religious Bodies are called upon to join the crusade in order to redeem
the devastation of Boko-Haram in Nigeria. The logic is that when these conditions are well
employed and Boko-Haram insurgency is eschewed, Nigeria would have become so fertile
enough to boost economic development.
Key Words: Boko-Haram, Insurgency, Nigeria, Economy, development, e.t.c.
Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
61
Understanding Boko-Haram Insurgency in Nigeria.
Simply put, insurgency can be understood as an attack on an unprotected member(s) of the
public resulting into wounds or injuries, loss of lives and properties, internal displacement
of persons or groups of persons from their living environment, e.t.c. Also, insurgency is
the state of insurrection, rebellion or sedition to a constituted authority or government1
. In
the same vein, insurgency refers to violence organized by individual or group to fight or
oppose the implementation of law or government.2 Therefore, insurgency is characterized
by two main features of crime and inhuman treatment or violation of human rights.3
It is
therefore obvious that insurgency imposes a great threat to the general security of a nation
and frustrates economic developmental strides.
Today in Nigeria, no doubt, the most unbearable and notorious insurgency group is the
Boko-Haram sect or the Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’Awati WalJihad. Boko-Haram is a
terrorist group in Nigeria that opposes government, western education and civilization4
.
This is an extremist and Islamic fanatical group which began like a small Sunni Islamic
sect supporting a firm understanding and execution of Islamic law for Nigerians. Its
derivation as Boko-Haram in Hausa language means, “western language is sinful”5
. This
sect not only rejects western culture but government, modern sciences and civilization.
Boko-Haram began their activities 2002 though with little influence until 2009.
Boko-Haram can be said to have officially been founded by Mallam Mohammed Yusuf in
2002 in Maiduguri with the aim of establishing Sharia government in Borno and
neighboring states6
. It is on record that this sect was already in existence as at 1995 as
Shabaab Muslim Youth Organization and Mallam Lawal was their leader. At the takeover
of leadership by Mallam Mohammed Yusuf, Boko-Haram gained political influence and
popularity. It was not a violent group until the death of Yusuf, his father in-law and Ustaz
Buji Foi (major financial donor), and other members in police custody. In the same vein,
the death of its initial leadership and Abubakar Shekau a Kanuri native who once boasted
saying; “I enjoy killing any one that Allah commands me to kill-the
Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
62
way I enjoy killing chickens and rams”7
, increased the terrorism of the sect especially in
the Northern and gradually to the Southern and Western Nigeria. Yusuf was shot dead
while trying to escape from police custody8
. Hence they turned to the use of lethal weapons
such as: rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), anti-tank missiles, Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs), missiles, A-K 47 rifles, as well as machetes and daggers, and other very
dangerous weapons9
.
According to Gilbert, in 2010, Boko-Haram became a full-blown terrorist group with
attacks on police stations and military barracks, jailbreaks to free members, release of
detained colleagues, restoration of its destroyed mosque and compensation for members
killed by troops10. All these were in their attempt to avenge the supposed murder of their
comrades11 and the brutal attack on them which led to the death of over 800 members in

  1. Unfortunately, Gilbert explained further that Boko-Haram in the early stage was a
    mobilization of women and children, school dropouts and unemployed university and
    polytechnic graduates and most of whom were encouraged to tear their certificates12. This
    attempt led to severe mental decolonization of members, strict interpretation and adherence
    to the Quran. They claimed that unemployment, western education and
    poverty/underdevelopment are results of bad government.
    Boko-Haram can be said to be the most injurious insurgent group in Nigeria. They have
    killed thousands of people especially in the North Eastern states of Nigeria13 and these days
    they are spreading down other parts of Nigeria like wide fire under different guise such as
    Fulani Herdsmen, e.t.c. They target central areas with greater concentration of persons to
    unleash mayhem to such places as Churches14, Mosque, Motor Parks, Schools, Police
    Stations15, Big offices, Very Important Persons in the society especially those in authority,
    e.t.c16. Similarly, Boko-Haram insurgency has led to the destruction of properties worth
    billions of naira17.
    Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
    http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
    63
    Boko-Haram Insurgency and Economic Development in Nigeria.
    No doubt, security of state is the priority of government. It is the greatest concern of every
    nation to mind the security of her integrity, lives and properties. Hence the state of security
    has a logical effect on the provision of food, health, environmental needs, economy,
    politics, social or physiological life of the state, e.t.c. As earlier stated, the aim of this paper
    is to draw a logical inverse proportionality in the relationship between Boko-Haram
    insurgency and economic development in Nigeria. This logic shows that the more the tales
    of Boko-Haram insurgency is on the increase, Nigerian economic status must logically
    remain tepid. Therefore, a sincere attempt to quell Boko-Haram is a conscious effort to
    boost Nigerian economy and meaningful existence.
    Unfortunately, the findings of this research reveal that Boko-Haram insurgency has
    claimed so many lives and destroyed properties worth billions of naira in Nigeria leading
    to economic downturn, psychological trauma, internal displacement, widened
    enthnocentricism, dehumanization, criminality such as rape, abduction, robbery, torture,
    e.t.c. Little wonder Adamu, bemoaned the security state of Nigeria when he alarmed that
    Nigeria has witnessed unimaginable loss of lives and properties that has attracted the
    attention of the international community such that besides the Nigerian civil war of 1967-
    1970, Nigeria has never had it so bloody than the time of Boko-Haram minding the number
    of Nigerians killed18
    .
    It is appalling that the socio-economic and political resources that ought to be pulled
    together for the development of the entire country are being wasted on various efforts
    towards controlling insurgency in Nigeria. It is no news that that much of Nigerian budget
    goes into security, control of insurgency and care of the internally displaced. It is saddening
    enough that in 2012, the budget of N921.91 billion was set to combat terrorism in Nigeria
    whereas such amount would have been of immense support to developmental programmes.
    Also, Boko-Haram insurgency has crippled individual business of some well known
    businessmen leading to closure or abandonment of peoples’ business
    Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
    http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
    64
    activities for safety and forced migration to other parts of Nigeria considered safer. The
    report of 2011 World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade
    Development stated that Nigeria lost about N1.3 trillion because of Boko Haram
    insurgency especially in Kano and Kaduna regions19
    .
    Hence forced migration of Nigerians from the North to other parts led to population
    overflow in cities like Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri Aba, e.t.c. Such
    migration has its attending challenges such as increase in house rent, scarcity of food and
    increase in prices of goods and services. Logically this situation led to mutual mistrust and
    low patronage to goods20 and services from the Northern Nigeria such as agricultural
    produce and domestic security for which they have been employed in the southern region
    of Nigerian. No doubt the activities of Boko-Haram insurgents have constituted a major
    reason for economic underdevelopment in Nigeria21
    .
    The activities of insurgents have led to the closure or significant reduction in the business
    activities of very many companies such as industries, Hotels, banks, e.t.c. One of the most
    disheartening is the Kano Kanti-Kwari textile Market which is the oldest and biggest textile
    markets in the Sub-Sahara Africa22. Also, disheartening is to note that Kano alone has a
    record of about 126 industries that are already closed down following insurgency and
    instability. This situation has biased the mind of the whole world that Nigeria is unsafe for
    business activities or habitation23
    .
    Regrettably, the activities of Boko-Haram did not only encourage internal migration in
    Nigeria but discouraged foreign investors. Boko Haram insurgency has really discouraged
    Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria. The situation is so bad that other countries feel
    so unsafe investing in Nigeria minding the threat of Boko-Haram and the corresponding
    security threat to their investment. Others relocated their business activities to other parts
    of Nigeria such as the Lebanese and Indian expatriates who established businesses in Kano
    very many decades ago have relocated to Abuja, Lagos and the south and other left the
    country completely24
    .
    Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
    http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
    65
    Conclusion
    This paper has chronologically presented a listicle of the treacherous and perilous impact
    of Boko-Haram insurgency in Nigeria economy. This paper understands insurgency as
    attack on an unprotected member of the public resulting into wounds or injuries, loss of
    lives and properties, internal displacement of persons or groups of persons from their living
    environment, e.t.c. Insurgency has been identified as the state of insurrection, rebellion or
    sedition to a constituted authority or government25. Thus this paper understands BokoHaram as the injurious insurgent group in Nigeria. Boko-Haram group began in the
    Northern Nigerian states such as Borno, Adamawa, Gomber, Kano, Yobe and Abuja.
    Unfortunately, they are gradually spreading beyond these states of their origin. They target
    places where people gather to unleash mayhem such places as Churches, Mosque, Motor
    Parks, Schools, Police Stations, Big offices, Very Important Persons in the society
    especially those in authority, e.t.c.
    Unquestionably, this paper has doggedly, established that Boko-Haram insurgency
    constitutes a threat to live and properties, hinders business activities, server ethnic
    relationships in Nigeria, discourages local and foreign investments, makes socio-economic
    development tepid and nonviable. Boko-Haram insurgency has caused a lot of tension in
    the country since 2009 especially in most states of Northern Nigeria having the worst hit
    in Adamawa, Bauchi, Bornu, FCT (Abuja), Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Yobe26 and this
    situation has really tortured Nigeria economy27. It is very obvious that Boko-Haram
    insurgency is negatively co-relational to economic development. It uproots every
    developmental requirement and stifles every tendency of economic growth. It is obvious
    that Nigerian economy has experienced a great nosedive since the inception of BokoHaram insurgency in Nigeria.
    Therefore, the logic of book-Haram insurgency and economy is that of inverse relationship.
    Hence for any meaningful and sustainable economic development in Nigeria, the activities
    of Boko-Haram insurgents must be quelled least we labour in vain. It is most timely for the
    government to undertake the elimination of these threats as their
    Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
    http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
    66
    number one goal since the nation cannot achieve any significant economic development
    amidst insurgency. Most importantly, the government should be much more sincere in the
    fight against Boko-Haram insurgency in Nigeria minding that our finding shows that some
    political leaders are highly insincere in the fight against Boko-Haram. Unfortunately, some
    politicians trade the security of lives and properties of Nigerians for their selfish political
    interests. Hence the Government must be proactive, just and sincere in dealing with
    insurgency matters in Nigeria. It is a clarion call on the federal government to formulate
    and effectively implement policies and programmes capable of discouraging insurgency in
    Nigeria by fighting factors such as; poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation,
    poor infrastructure, uneven development of natural resources, political marginalization,
    religious and cultural bigotry, e.t.c.
    In the same vein, the Government is admonished to address matters of human
    empowerment not just by giving micro-credit loans but by encouraging education
    especially courses on Peace Studies, interreligious dialogue, intercultural studies and
    Security Management are very essential even in colleges and tertiary institutions. They
    should ensure adequate training and proper equipment of security agencies that fight the
    insurgents and legally prosecute political office holders who sponsor this hazardous group
    in Nigeria. This will go a long way towards character formation of the youth and
    encouraging them to shun vices like insurgency. Similarly, Non-Governmental
    Organizations and Religious Bodies are called upon to redeem the devastation of BokoHaram by providing support to the displaced, medical care, psychological rehabilitation,
    and orientation by humanitarian works and education in values.
    It is when these proactive measures are taken and well implemented with sincerity of
    purpose that the land becomes highly fertile enough for economic bounce back in Nigeria,
    security of lives and properties assured. No doubt that Nigerian economy will be on the
    rise when these factors are sincerely considered.
    Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
    http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
    67
    End Notes
    1.Florian Weigand, “Afghanistan’s Taliban- Legitimate Jihadists or Coercive Extremists” In
    Journal of Intervention and State building, 11:3: 359-381. doi:10.1080/17502977.2017.1353755.
    accessed on 21/01/2019.
    2 S. Inchi, “Insurgency” in The Nigerian Law Dictionary, 1
    st ed., (Zaria: Tamaza Publishing
    Co. ltd, 19966), 67.
    3 A. I. Badiora, “Civil Unrest, Insurgences and the Challenges of Community Displacement
    in Sub-Sahara Africa: A Silhouette of selected states in Nigeria” in International Journal of criminal
    Justices Sciences, 2017, 12(2), 302-318. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1034678 accessed on
    23/01/2019.
    4 A. Walker, “What is Boko-Haram”? in Journal of United Institute of Peace, 2012, 16,
    retrieved from http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR308.pdf , accessed on 25/01/2019.
    5 P. Musa, (2011), “Boko-Haram History in Nigeria”, Journal of Arts and Social Science,
    4(2) 18-21,
    6 L. D. Gilbert, “Prolongation of Boko-Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: The International
    Dimensions” in Journal of Research on Humanities and Social Science, 2014, 4(11) 150-156.
    7 BBC online, June 22, 2012,
    8 CNN news, May 21, 2019 https://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/09/world/boko-haram-fastfacts/index.html
    9 Gilbert, L. D., “Prolongation of Boko-Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: The International
    Dimensions” in Journal of Research on Humanities and Social Science, 2014, 4(11) 152.
    10 Ibid.,
    11 Daily trust, 3 March, 2014.
    12 Gilbert, L. D., “Prolongation of Boko-Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: The International
    Dimensions” 151.
    13 N. O. Anyadike, “Boko Haram and National Security Challenges in Nigeria; Causes and
    Solutions”. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 2013, 4 (5) 12-23.
    14 Lindy Lowry, “Urgent Prayer: 25 Christians in Nigeria Killed by Boko Haram in Door-toDoor Attacks” , https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/urgent-prayer-25-
    christians-in-nigeria-killed-by-boko-haram-in-door-to-door-attacks/ accessed on 12/06/19
    15 Walker, A., “What is Boko Haram” in US Institute of Peace Journal (VSIP) 2012, p.3.
    16 O. I. Eme & A. Onyishi, “The Challenges of Insecurity in Nigeria: A Thematic
    Exposition”. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 2011, 3(8), 172-184.
    Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 4, 2021
    http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com
    68
    17 CNN news, May 21, 2019 https://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/09/world/boko-haram-fastfacts/index.html.
    18 A. Adamu, “True Federalism in the 21st Century Nigeria”. A Lecture Delivered at
    University of Jos Alumni Association, Lagos, 24th March, 2005.
    19 O. I. Aro, “Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: Its implication and way forward toward
    avoidance of future insurgency”. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2013,
    3 (11), 2.
    20 Aro, O. I. “Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: Its implication and way forward toward
    avoidance of future insurgency”. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2013,
    3 (11) p.2.
    21 CLEEN Foundation. “Summary of Findings of 2012 National Crime and Safety Survey”,
    Retrieved From: E:/summary-of-findings-of-2012-national.html. accessed on 14/05/19
    22 Sunday Trust, 2012.
    23 O. O. Ewetan, “Insecurity and Socio-Economic Development: Perspectives on the
    Nigerian Experience”. A lecture Delivered St. Timothy Anglican Church, Sango-Ota, Ogun State,
    2013.
    24 F. Stan, The Security-Development Nexus: Conflict, Peace and Development in
    the 21st Century. (New York: IPA Report, 2012), 23
    25Florian Weigand, “Afghanistan’s Taliban- Legitimate Jihadists or Coercive Extremists” In
    Journal of Intervention and State building, 11:3: 359-381. doi:10.1080/17502977.2017.1353755.
    accessed on 21/01/2019.
    26 M. Nwakaudu, Boko Haram and National Development. (Lagos: Joja, 2012), 5.
    27 L. D. Gilbert, “Prolongation of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: The International
    Dimensions” in Journal of Research on Humanities and Social Science, 2014, 4(11), 155-156.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *