Zealotry and Challenges of Security and Nation Building: The Boko Haram Terrorism in Nigeria
Kabir G. Inuwa Dukawa
Department of History and International Studies
Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, kumbotso kano Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Nigeria has been challenged by zealotry and ethno – religious conflicts with annihilating human and material losses since the return of democracy in 1999. However, the Boko Haram uprising of July 2009, was more significant in that it not only set a precedent, but also rein forced the attempts by zealotry Islamic elements at imposing a variant of Islamic religious ideology on a secular Nigerian state. The action of this zealotry elements, poses serious challenges to Nigerian security and its nation building. Whereas, the religious sensitivity of Nigerians provided productive ground for the breeding of the Boko Haram sect, the sect’s el efflorescence could also be said to have been aided by the prevailing economic dislocation in the country vis-à-vis the introduction of party politics and politics of anxiety, the associated desperation of politicians for political power, and the ambivalence of some vocal Islamic leaders who, though they did not actively embark on mutiny, but either did little or nothing to occlude it from agitating, or only feebly condemned it. These internal factors coupled with growing Islamic fundamentalism around the globe made a highly volatile Nigerian society prone to violence, as evidenced by the Boko Haram uprising which in turn further poses challenges to national security and the nation – building. Given the approach of the country’s religious conflict, this violence may remain a recurring problem which is why this paper analyses the Boko Haram terror, as well as its links with the promotion of islamic revivalism and the challenges it poses to the peaceful co – existence of the Nigeria entity and nation – building.
Keywords: zealotry, national insecurity, nation building and Boko Haram sect.
