DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND NIGERIA'S FOREIGN POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM 2009-2021

DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND NIGERIA'S FOREIGN POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM 2009-2021

Background Of The Study

Since Nigeria's independence on October 1, 1960, Africa has unquestionably played a prominent role in her foreign policy. In other words, Nigeria's foreign policy is based on the fundamental ideals of promoting the peace, integration, and cooperation of the African continent (Afolayan, 2022). And these guiding principles have essentially stayed consistent, since they can be used to describe Nigeria's behavior at the continental and global levels at any given period. According to Afolayan, (2022), the active participation of Nigeria in resolving the majority of crises on the African continent through the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may be explained using one of the fundamental ideas of peaceful neighbourhood. Nigeria feels that her neighborhood is really significant. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will be discouraged if the nations surrounding the country are all engaged in conflict. This is commonly known as the "neighborhood effect." In acknowledgment of this, practically all Nigerian presidents focus their efforts on settling violent disputes on the continent, since we need a peaceful neighborhood to prosper economically and otherwise (Ogunleye, 2022). Therefore, Nigeria's foreign policy is best evaluated in light of its regional and global interactions, as well as its goals. In addition, both internal and external variables have a significant influence in determining Nigeria's foreign policy. Among these elements are the essentially mono-cultural (oil-driven) nature and structure of the Nigerian economy, its geographical location in West Africa, the nature of its political leadership, military capabilities, population, and domestic political situation (Kayode, 2022). Importantly, internal policies and acts of sovereign states, as well as the ordinary exercise of authority in matters of day-to-day administration, can snowball into foreign policy controversies that are likely to get global attention. In other words, issues or concerns upon which countries have acted within their own authority frequently become international issues or concerns. In a similar vein, the actions of Boko-Haram terrorists, which were previously viewed as a Nigerian concern, have now morphed from a domestic to an international one, impacting countries such as Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, as well as the investments of nations outside the borders of Africa (Ogunleye, 2022).

Therefore, the recent operations of Boko-Haram have contributed in no small degree to the tarnished image of Nigeria within the international community and in the field of economic growth by retarding the country's development by halting initiatives targeted at wealth creation. This has made residents poorer, particularly in North-East Nigeria, by preventing the production of wealth or commercial activity and the influx of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (Olanrewaju, 2022). Given this context, the primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the connection between foreign policy and insurgency. In other terms, it investigates internal terrorism and the foreign policy of Nigeria. A study of boko haram from 2009 to 2021.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Nigeria's foreign policy, like the foreign policy of any other nation, is to create and maintain cordial ties with other nations, as well as to generate a positive image for the country and advance its national interests (Olanrewaju, 2022). This usually implies that foreign policy is essential for establishing, preserving, and keeping a nation's positive reputation. As a result of Boko-Haram's terrorist acts, Nigeria's reputation has suffered throughout the years. According to Kayode, (2022), managing the nation's internal interests appropriately is the solution to the problem of Boko-Haram's domestic terrorism hurting the country's reputation. In response, the purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between domestic terrorism and Nigeria's foreign policy: a case study of boko haram 2009-2021.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The overall aim of this study is to critically examine domestic terrorism and Nigeria's foreign policy: a case study of Boko Haram. Hence, the study will be channeled to the following specific objectives;

1. Determine the major causes of domestic terrorism in Nigeria.
2. Ascertain the ideology of,  and cost of Boko Haram activities in Nigeria from the last decade.
3. Unveil the nexus between Boko Haram terrorism and Nigeria’s foreign policy.
4. Ascertain the constraints on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in Relation to her Immediate Neighbours

1.4 Research Questions

In the course of this study, the following questions will be addressed.

1. What are the major causes of domestic terrorism in Nigeria?
2. What is the ideology of,  and cost of Boko Haram activities in Nigeria from the last decade?
3. What is the nexus between Boko Haram terrorism and Nigeria’s foreign policy?
4. What are the constraints on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in Relation to her Immediate Neighbours?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study when successfully completed will be significant in both theoretical and empirical dimensions in theoretical regard, it will obviously add to the already existing knowledge in the field of conflict management severity and specifically in management of insurgency and terrorism related crises it will examine and analyze issues relating to cause, fighting and prevention of insurgency and terrorism. It will expose impediments and

hindrances in managing terrorism especially international aspects. It will show the relevance of international terrorism to external relations and global politics.

In empirical dimension the study will benefit; the general public, experts in conflict management students, Administrators, political scientists and international relations perceptional. Sovereign states and policy makers will immensely benefit from the outcome of this study.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is structured to generally examine  domestic terrorism and Nigeria's foreign policy: a case study of Boko Haram. However, the study will cover the year 2009 and 2021.

1.7 Methodology Of The Study

This study is based on a qualitative approach, in which information is obtained from secondary sources, and it will be analysed using a narrative method that will lean more towards the interpretivist approach. This study, being descriptive as well as historical, relied essentially on secondary information sources gathered by the researcher via many books, articles, group discussions, and casual face-to-face interviews.

1.8 Limitation Of The Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.9 Definition Of Terms

Terrorism: Refers to any form of premeditated act of violence carried out by clandestine organization or group with the aim of embarrassing the government of the day. Terrorism is perpetuated by people/group that have feeling of unjust treatment and terrorists do not discriminate their targets.

Domestic terrorism is a form of terrorism in which victims "within a country are targeted by a perpetrator with the same citizenship" as the victims.

Foreign Policy: This is an aspect of public policy that is carefully articulated to score as a guide to government in her relations with the external world (sovereign state and non- state actor in international relations, of a country’s policy of a sort.

Neighbours: This refers to people community countries or similar enclaves with human beings that shave immediate environment. In this work, Nigeria’s neighbours are sister state that share borders with her.

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