BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY AND IT’S IMPLICATION ON NIGERIA’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria has posed a multifaceted threat to the nation since 2009. Successive governments have tried all possible measures to curtail it with no significant success recorded. The academia has also not been passive; hence the phenomenon has been approached from religious and political viewpoints. However, adequate attention has not been paid to its socioeconomic implications. Therefore, the paper examined the Boko Haram insurgency and the challenges it poses to social and economic and national development of Nigeria and the implications of such for communities free from its activities. The work adopted historical method, which involved archival search, use of other academic materials such as journal articles, books and newspapers. Oral interviews were conducted with victims of Boko Haram who have relocated from affected places to southern part of the country. It was established that Boko Haram insurgency has wreaked much havoc on social and economic activities, culminating in retardation of growth and development in the country. The paper is anchor on cognitive dissonance Festinger (1951) and asset liability theoriesCunningham, Jr. (2003). The paper recommended the need for serious commitment on the part of the government in providing loans as settlement handouts, equipping the security agents and fighting corruption in the security system. More importantly, prosecution of identified Boko Haram sponsors must be done without fear or favour.