Boko Haram Insurgency and Human Rights Violation in North Eastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT 

The insurgency caused by Boko Haram’s insurgency is among the primary challenges faced by Nigeria. The group’s activities in the North have resulted in thousands of casualties, the displacement of more than one million people, the destruction of hundreds of schools, mosques, churches and government establishments and have ravaged the economy of the region. This study analyzed Boko Haram insurgency and Human Rights violation in North Eastern Nigeria. Accordingly, the study was guided by the following objectives: to evaluate human rights abuses resulting from Boko Haram activities in North Eastern Nigeria; to assess the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on education in North Eastern Nigeria; and to examine Federal government’s efforts in combating Boko Haram insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria.The study adopted a case study research design. The sample size was 25 participants who included camp leaders, security agents, local leaders and human rights experts. The research instrument was key informant interviews. The study found out that human rights abuses by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, specifically, in the States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa included: deprivation of right to life, right to education and right to healthcare. Furthermore, the study revealed that Bokoharam brokethe education system of northeastern Nigeria by burning down schools, destroying school property and facilities, killing and abducting both the students and the teachers, and using schools and school property to store their ammunition and kill abductees. In addition, the study revealed that the federal government of Nigeria had made concerted efforts to combat Bokoharam insurgency in northeast Nigeria by: use of military offensives, negotiations, alliances with the neighboring countries and western countries such as United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK). The study concluded that Boko-haram insurgency has greatly impacted on the right to life, education, and healthcare. The study made the following recommendations: The government should ensure that right to life is protected first above every other thing. That is, the police and the military should ensure that civilians and their properties are protected from Boko-haram insurgency. In addition, the Federal and States Ministries of Education should ensure that students deprived of educational facilities as a result of the conflict are promptly given access to accessible temporary alternative schools; and the military must ensure that it conducts its operations more professionally in order to minimize collateral casualties and damage to livelihoods.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii

APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION............................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................ v

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................................ vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................. vii

ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Study .......................................................................................................... 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective ............................................................................................................ 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective.......................................................................................................... 3

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective.......................................................................................................... 3

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective........................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Problem Statement.................................................................................................................... 6

1.3 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................. 7

1.4 Objectives of the Study............................................................................................................. 7

1.5 Research Question .................................................................................................................... 7

1.6 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................................... 8

1.6.1 Geographical Scope ............................................................................................................... 8

1.6.2 Content................................................................................................................................... 8

1.6.3 Time Scope ............................................................................................................................ 8

1.7 Significance of the Study.......................................................................................................... 8

1.8 Operational Definitions of Key Terms ..................................................................................... 9

CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 11

LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................. 11

2.1 Conceptual Framework........................................................................................................... 11

2.2 Theoretical Perspective........................................................................................................... 12

2.3 Review of Related Literature .................................................................................................. 13

2.3.1 Boko Haram Insurgency ...................................................................................................... 13

2.3.1.1 Ethnic and Religious Hatred ............................................................................................. 18

2.3.1.2 Grievances......................................................................................................................... 19

2.3.1.3 Poverty and Unemployment ............................................................................................. 22

2.3.1.4 Illiteracy ............................................................................................................................ 23

2.3.2 Human Rights Violation ...................................................................................................... 24

2.3.3 Right to Life......................................................................................................................... 26

2.3.3.1 Killing of Civilians ........................................................................................................... 27

2.3.3.2 Abductions........................................................................................................................ 30

2.3.3.3 Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment................................................................. 31

2.3.3.4 Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.................................................................................. 32

2.4 Right to Education .................................................................................................................. 33

2.4.1 The Impact of Boko Haram Insurgency on Education in Northeastern Nigeria.................. 35

2.5 Right to Healthcare ................................................................................................................. 39

2.6 Federal Government’s Efforts in Combating Boko Haram Insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria........................................... 42

2.6.1 Joint Task Force (JTF) Approach to Addressing Boko Haram ........................................... 42

2.6.2 The Declaration of a State of Emergency............................................................................ 43

2.6.3 Political Dialogue and Amnesty .......................................................................................... 44

2.6.4 Promoting a Culture of Religious Tolerance ....................................................................... 45

2.6.5 Addressing Poverty and Unemployment in the North......................................................... 48

2.6.6 Strengthening Security Capacity.......................................................................................... 49

2.6.7 Weak Border Control and Regional Policing ...................................................................... 51

2.6.8 Underscoring the Secularity of the Nigerian State .............................................................. 51

2.6.9 Creating Alternative Schools for the Almajiris ................................................................... 52

2.6.10 Strengthening Governance................................................................................................. 53

2.7 Gaps in Literature ................................................................................................................... 54

CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 55

METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 55

3.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 55

3.1 Research Design...................................................................................................................... 55

3.2 Study Population..................................................................................................................... 55

3.3 Sample Size............................................................................................................................. 56

3.4 Sampling Procedure ................................................................................................................ 56

3.5 Data Sources ........................................................................................................................... 57

3.5.1 Primary Data ........................................................................................................................ 57

3.5.2 Secondary Data .................................................................................................................... 57

3.7 Data Collection Instruments ................................................................................................... 57

3.7.1 Interview Guide ................................................................................................................... 57

3.8 Data Collection Procedure ...................................................................................................... 58

3.9 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 58

3.10 Ethical Considerations.......................................................................................................... 58

3.12 Limitations of the Study ....................................................................................................... 59

CHAPTER FOUR......................................................................................................................... 61

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION .......................................... 61

4.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 61

4.1 Boko Haram Human Rights Abuses in North Eastern Nigeria .............................................. 61

4.2 The Impact of the Boko Haram Insurgency on Education in North Eastern Nigeria ............. 64

4.3 Federal Government’s Efforts in Combating Boko Haram Insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria .............................. 69

CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 74

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION .................................................. 74

5.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 74

5.1 Summary of Findings.............................................................................................................. 74

5.2 Discussions of Findings.......................................................................................................... 74

5.2.1 Human rights abuses resulting from Boko Haram activities in North Eastern Nigeria....... 74

5.2.2 The Impact of the Boko Haram Insurgency on Education in North Eastern Nigeria .......... 75

5.2.3 Federal Government’s Efforts in Combating Boko Haram Insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria ...................................... 77

5.3 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 80

5.4 Recommendations................................................................................................................... 82

5.5 Contribution to Knowledge..................................................................................................... 84

5.6 Areas of Further Research ...................................................................................................... 84

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 86

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................... A

APPENDIX I: INTERVIEW GUIDE............................................................................................ A