Conflict, National Integration and the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: An Overview

Abstract

National integration and nation building is a complex process in a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria. The problem of insecurity facing Nigeria, most especially the North-eastern region at this point in time, orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgency draws the attention of well-meaning individual who cares to the need to find rapid solution to this menace. History has demonstrated the difficulty and complexity it entails to unite a people under a government and to create among them a stable cultural, economic, political, and social community. The process has been especially cumbersome where the people to be united have large groups distinguished by their own customs, language, religion and separate identity. The unfortunate security challenges currently faced by the country, with its new ethnic and religious dimension, have once again brought to the fore, the internal contradictions of the Nigerian system. The emergence of the militant sect Boko Haram insurgency and all it represents started like any other protest, but it seems to have come to stay. The battle has been taken to the door step of the government to command attention that breaks across borders. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine the effects of Boko Haram insurgency on national integration in Nigeria. The paper discusses Conflict, National Integration and Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria. The researchers employ secondary sources of data collection to generate the required data mainly from books, journals, articles, dissertations, and internet materials. The study adopts a qualitative approach to data analysis to assess the effects of Boko Haram Insurgency and findings indicate that the activities of the Boko Haram Insurgents have extreme effects on national integration and nation building in Nigeria. The paper recommended that Poverty should be address across the country through employment generation by governments at all levels, collaboration between government and the private sector, revamping ailing firms and empowering youths and women through skills acquisition programmes and agricultural practices.