Ethnic militancy and internal terrorism on Nigeria's national security

The Nigerian state has continued to experience different types of insecurity before and since after her independence in 1960, arising from socio-economic and political problems. The proliferation of ethnic militias like Movement for Actualization of Niger Delta (MEND), Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Odua People’s Congress (OPC), the Egbesu Boys, the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSSOB), and presently Boko Haram is an attempt by each ethnic group to better their own lots. Therefore, this study intends to investigate the causes and dimensions of the insecurity problem in Nigeria, the nature and its effects on Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development, and what has Nigerian government been doing to improve the security situation in the country. This study recommend that the country’s leaders at all levels, most especially the politicians should discontinue using religion and ethnicity in pursuing their parochial interests which they have taken to be above that of national interest. The study also recommend that further research be carried out to find out why people especially in the northern area of the country can afford to participate in suicide mission even knowing the consequences of death that goes with it, and introducing new dimension to the way Nigerians have lived their lives in the past.