Terrorism and Counter - Terrorism in Contemporary Nigeria : Understanding the Emerging Trends

Abstract

In recent years, terrorism has become one of the most dangerous threats to world order. It is so pervasive that no country on earth can claim immunity from its violent acts of bombing, shooting, armed robbery, kidnapping, hostage-taking and bank-robbery. The contemporary Nigeria society is engulfed by terrible acts of terrorism. The discourse of the argument put forward in this paper is that contemporary terrorism in Nigeria is a latent function of prolonged failure of the Nigerian State to deliver purposeful good governance, as a result, terrorists of various groups and camps unleash havoc on the Nigerian populace. This paper therefore provides an overview of the historical and cultural environment that has allowed the terrorist group(s) to flourish in Nigeria. It examines the strategy that the government has adopted and the challenges it faces to restore peace. While the paper recognizes that there are both religious and ethnic variables that influence these terrorist acts, official corruption and state neglect of the masses stands out as the most persuasive, compelling primary explanation for terrorism in Nigeria. The paper recommends that since modern terrorism has increasingly become sophisticated due to improved information and communication technology in terms of internet services and electronic banking techniques, there is urgent need to train and retrain our security personnel in these areas of socio-economic endeavours. It also proffers recommendations for enhancing the existing instruments and frameworks in the security services that would foster interagency cooperation in combating terrorism in Nigeria.