Abstract
This article analyzed the KESBAN counterinsurgency model of Malaysia in combating the Communist Movement in 1989. It compare with the ongoing Nigerian government counterinsurgency against the Islamist Boko Haram group in the country. The empirical data gathered from secondary materials including both published and unpublished materials. The article revealed that the successes of the Malaysian combating the communist rebellion was influences by its KESBAN model premised on the heart and mind strategy in its campaign. It hence revealed that the protraction of the Boko Haram rebellion is promoted partly by the enemy-centered campaign of the government. The uses of excessive military force on fighters and implementing draconian laws targeting the host population bolstered the insurgent group. It enabled them accesses to logistics and intelligence thus influence the extension of its violence. As a panacea, the article suggest that Nigeria should borrow from Malaysia’s KESBAN model in its operation. On against the prevailing security only campaign, the government should adopt the Malaysia strategies of establishing new villages and raising of home guards to control the population. The Government should also focus on implementing economic empowerment programs for the resettled population.
Highlights
Nigeria and Malaysia despite the differences of geographical location, the two countries shared many commonalities in respect to climate, economic, and political situations
We proposed that Nigeria should adopt the Malaysian KESBAN model to terminate the Boko Haram rebellion
The aggression tactics preoccupy the bulk of the counterinsurgency strategy
Summary
Nigeria and Malaysia despite the differences of geographical location, the two countries shared many commonalities in respect to climate, economic, and political situations. Much like the political system, the Malaysia CPM insurgency and the Nigeria Boko Haram insurgency share many commonalities both in respect to their motivations and the modus operandi of the group. Whereas the former mainly an ideological struggle aimed at establishing a communist state in Malaysia, the latter is a quasi-ideological struggle aimed at establishing an Islamic State in northern Nigeria that should be adjudicate with spiritual injunctions of Islamic holy books. Since Malaysia political independence, there is a growing accusation by the minority ethnic group that the Malay population dominated the political space of the country.
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