Participation of civilian joint task force in combating boko haram in Yobe State, Nigeria
Since 2009, counterinsurgency approaches of the Nigerian government for combating Boko Haram insurgent group are ineffective. Therefore, the insurgent group continued to cause severe security challenge to the country. The insurgent has killed nearly 30,000 people and over two millio...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/84513/1/FEM%202019%2029%20-%20ir.pdf |
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| Summary: | Since 2009, counterinsurgency approaches of the Nigerian government for combating
Boko Haram insurgent group are ineffective. Therefore, the insurgent group continued to cause
severe security challenge to the country. The insurgent has killed nearly 30,000 people
and over two million people displaced as internally displaced persons and refugees. Even though the
government measures are ineffective, the participation of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)
substantially reduced the violence both in terms of attack frequencies and fatalities rate in
communities. This study therefore analysed the participation of the CJTF in combating Boko
Haram in Yobe State Nigeria. The study was carried out based on four objectives. The
first objective determined the strategy used by the CJTF in combating the Boko Haram. The second
objective examined the motivations that triggered the participation of people in the CJTF. The
third objective identified the challenges of the CJTF, whereas the fourth objective determined
the factors that interested the Yobe state government to incorporate the CJTF as a
local security agent. The study was conducted on a qualitative method, and the design was a
case study. The empirical data were collected through the techniques of interview and
non-participant observation. The interviews were conducted with thirteen informants from three
groups comprising members of the CJTF, community/traditional leaders, and government officials in
the study area. The finding showed that the CJTF uses three strategies in combating Boko Haram
comprising informational, target-hardening, and conventional strategies. The study also
found that the interest of defending the community, inadequate protection by the state, and
repressive state actions are the motivations triggering the participation of people in the CJTF.
The finding also showed that operational, motivational and organizational issues are the
challenges hindering the combating activities of the group. Concerning the incorporation
of the CJTF, the finding showed that the willingness of regulating the CJTF, fostering
post-insurgency stability, and tackling the challenges of regular securities are the main interests
of the government. The study recommends an urgent need for the Nigerian government
to re-strategize its counterinsurgency operation to focus on the population-centric approach. Moreover,
to ensure long-time stability, the government should adopt adequate measures of
addressing socioeconomic issues of poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy that are
providing the fertile ground for the escalation of the insurgency in the country. |
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