Boko Haram Uprising In Nigeria.pdf

The emergence of Boko Haram uprising in 2002 in Nigeria's northern region poses a significant threat to the country's national security. The group's growth is fueled by religious sensitivity and economic marginalization of the north. The government's weak approach has contributed to the recurrent violence. This paper provides an insight into the historical background of Boko Haram, examining the causes and factors that enable the group to flourish in the northern part of the country.

The northern segment of Nigeria has experienced a history of communal conflicts and ethno-religious violence, often arising from religious differences and tensions between Muslim and Christian communities. In Plateau state, for example, there have been numerous outbreaks of violence between different communities for decades. The crisis in Plateau has been attributed to land and political rights disputes, as well as poverty, rather than religious differences.

The history of Boko Haram began with the Maitatsine uprisings in the 1980s, which marked the beginning of ferocious conflict and crises in Nigeria. The group's ideology is rooted in the belief that northern politics has been seized by corrupt, false Muslims, and that they want to create a "pure" Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. However, the forceful attempt by Islamic fundamentalists to impose a religious ideology on a constitutionally recognized secular society would be a difficult task to achieve.

The long existence of Boko Haram is attributed to the weakness in the institutions of politics and the security services of the Nigerian government, which has created a political situation where such threats to stability are not dealt with until the violence finally erupts. The group has claimed thousands of lives in the past three years and has been driven by a desire for vengeance against politicians, police, and Islamic authorities for their role in a brutal suppression of the group.

In August 2011, the group attempted to attract world attention by claiming to bomb the United Nations compound in Abuja, killing 23 people. There are speculations that Boko Haram has reached out to find allies in other foreign Islamic fighters, but there is no enough evidence to conclude the group's intentions are to attack Western interests inside or outside Nigeria.

The Boko Haram uprising represents a phenomenon that requires careful consideration and documentation. The spate of attacks on northern Christians by the group could escalate religious crisis, which may have serious implications on the unity of the country if extreme caution is not taken to avoid growing rift between north and south.