The Impact of Poverty on Terrorism in North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The impact of terrorism in Nigeria is felt mostly in the north eastern geo-political region as a result of the activities of Boko Haram insurgency. While poverty remains a critical issue considered as a precipitating factor in the contentious discourse of violence and insecurity, the impact played by it in the north eastern region of Nigeria in relation to acts of terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram insurgents remains a critical issue of discourse that this paper examines. The paper adopted qualitative research design approach with the use of secondary sources of data. As theoretical framework, the paper adopted poverty breeds conflict hypothesis and the Ted Gurr deprivation theory. The data gathered were analyzed through content analysis. The findings reveal that poverty negatively impacted on terrorism in the north eastern region as sustained conflict in the zone is known to be “both caused by and contribute to poverty”. Poverty therefore remains a major socio-economic factor that causes terrorism. The study recommended that the federal government should declare a state of emergency on poverty in the north east region of Nigeria through the implementation of a systematic poverty elevation programme aimed at improving the wellbeing of the citizenry. Government should also work towards implementing a de-radicalization of the insurgent. This will greatly help to re-integrate them into the society.