Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: Between Islamic Fundamentalism, Politics, and Poverty

Abstract

Boko Haram currently poses existential threats to the Nigerian state and its citizens. But defeating the group has proved very challenging for the Nigerian government. This is partly due to lack of understanding about the contributing factors relating to the emergence and continued existence of Boko Haram. Thus, this article examines how the interaction of Islamic fundamentalism, politics, and poverty explain the emergence and continued existence of Boko Haram in Nigeria. As a reflection of the hollowness within Nigeria?s overall security architecture, the inability of Nigeria?s security agencies to combat the current threats posed by Boko Haram is also analyzed.