Trend and Patterns of Insurgency in the Nigerian State: Issues and Possible Solutions

Adebimpe Saheed FAGBEMI, PhD

Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, Republic of South Africa

Email: adebimpefagbemi@yahoo.com

&

Bimbo OGUNBANJO, PhD

Department of Government, Lagos State University, School of Basic and Advanced Studies, Lagos, Nigeria

Email: mbimboogunbanjo@yahoo.com

Abstract

This paper explores the trend and patterns of insurgency in the Nigerian state. It identifies the various issues and proffers solutions to submerge the insurgency threats. No doubt, insurgencies usually occur in different forms and there is an urgent need to curtail the menace with timely, adequate and accurate intelligence. This paper critically examines the modus operandi adopted by the insurgent groups in perpetrating their nefarious activities on innocent Nigerians, property and government installations. As it explores the basic and contemporary threats, it brings into the fore how the insurgents took advantage to attack the populace consequent upon the weak nature and character of the Nigerian state. This paper is anchored on desktop study; secondary data collection method, and its theoretical thrust is anchored on State fragility theory. This theory is utilised to explain the present situation regarding insecurity, socio-economic issues inter alia. This paper reveals howthe government of the Nigerian state has lost her grip in terms of security, socio-economic, and stability of the nation. It shows that these pitfalls have given the insurgents the impetus to perpetrate their nefarious acts on both Nigeria and Nigerians without being apprehended and prosecuted. Findings have shown that both the government and security agencies lack synergy, rather they are working in silos as the root cause(s) of threats were not tackled, and intelligence sharing were not well documented, coordinated and utilised. The paper concludes with recommendations that the Intelligence Community (IC) should be strengthened and harmonised, joint database and intelligence sharing should be adopted amongst the security agencies and IC, provision of technical gadgets and training of personnel to counteract insurgency should be intensified, and that enactment of laws against insurgency and its sponsors must be strictly enforced.

Keywords: Nigerian State, Basic Threats, Boko Haram Group, Contemporary Threats, Insurgency, Intelligence.

Introduction

Insurgency has been a great impediment to peaceful coexistence in the Nigerian state over a decade. Terrorism cum insurgency are two sides of a coin that go together, the insurgents use terror attacks to perpetrate their nefarious acts such as bombing, killing, kidnapping, robbery, and so on (Adegoke, 2018). The Nigerian government has been battling with terrorism and threats of insurgency over a decade. Yet, it has not won the long time war against the insurgents. Although there are many factors that caused the