Boko Haram and Turmoil in Northern Nigeria

Nigeria, especially the northern region, seems to be threatened by multifarious internal and possibly external forces. The levels and dimensions of insecurity range from ethno-religious crisis to abduction of persons, clashes between herdsmen and farmers, electoral violence, and the most conspicuous one, the Boko Haram activities. The latter has caused serious socioeconomic and political turmoil in the region, in the nation, and in the neighboring states at large. Cross-border terrorism is also a serious factor of destabilization as after every attack, insurgents succeed to take shelter in the neighboring countries. The other financial and logistic support by the neighboring countries with the help of external powers seems to be a planned design of instability. The capture of many parts by the Boko Haram in Yobe and Borno is the pointer to the fact that Nigeria’s north is passing through a danger of falling into the hands of the dreaded Boko Haram. Establishing control over the oil and natural resources of Lake Chad Basin constituted the crux of the problem. The economic turmoil due to insurgency is also a major factor of violence and the turbulent situation. There is a need of economic overhaul by promoting the traditional sources of economy, such as, development of agriculture products and checkmating of the activities of aliens along the border region. The article will discuss the said discourse critically and suggest the measures to overcome these challenges.