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.
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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
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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
- 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.
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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
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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
.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.