An Assessment of the Implications of Boko Haram Insurgency on Socio-Economic Development in North-Eastern Nigeria

Umar Mustapha

College of Education and Legal Studies, Nguru, Yobe State, Department of Public Administration

ABSTRACT: The crises of Boko Haram insurgency going on since 2009 in the Lake Chad Basin affects the livelihood system and relationships of people and communities in the region. Almost every sector is affected by the atrocities of the Boko Haram group, and governmental efforts to end it is still not enough as the miscreants are still launching attacks of different sorts in some communities. This paper examined the implications of Boko Haram insurgency on socio-economic development in North-Eastern region and utilised secondary data to come up with findings. The paper reveals that the crises have crumbled the economy of the region to the extent that farmlands are deserted due to fear of attack or improvised explosive devices. Food and non-food productions in the region have drastically reduced. Market places loses huge opportunities of exchange for goods especially with international marketers and southern businesspersons. It has also reduced effectiveness and efficiency of financial institutions like banks. Thus, it was concluded and recommended that no meaningful development will take place in the region without meaningful and sustainable peace, and that if the security and peace is not restored in the region, the whole country’s economy will continue collapsing. More so, the crisis is continue placing North-East as the most economic backward area, in addition to other underdevelopment challenges associated with the crises. In places where security has improved such as state capitals, banks should be asked to increase their hours of operation, open additional branches and ensure the availability of adequate staff to promote economic activities in the region. The aid organisations working in the region should improve their supports around agricultural and entrepreneurship based projects and programmes, as this will continue to boost the economy of the area.

INTRODUCTION

The insurgency of Boko Haram is a 21^st Century monster that ravages the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) region with direct impact on the population, infrastructure and livelihood of the countries in the environs consisting of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This violent extremist activity began in North-Eastern Nigeria, and later extended to the boarder countries. The group’s preferred name is ‘Jama’atu Ahlus Sunna Lidda’a’wa al Jihad’ in Arabic, which is translated in English as ‘People Committed to the Propagation of Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad’. The common and popular name ‘Boko Haram’, however is a Hausa phrase that means ‘Western Education is Forbidden or Sin’. This represents the group’s major teachings. The group’s aim is to bring an end to secular education and establish an Islamic State in Nigeria.

The group’s atrocities led to the destruction of properties worth billions of money, displaced millions of people and killed thousands through suicide bombings, use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), shootings and targeted assassinations. The group still holds control over large areas in the Lake Chad region. Alozieuwa (2012) as cited in Awojobi (2014) observed that the challenges posed by the insurgent group is not only about the viciousness of the terror campaigns or the sect’s avowed mission of imposing an Islamic State, but also the confusion regarding the exact causes of the violence (Awojobi, 2014). There is still no exact cause of this insurgency. However, it can be attributed to any or all of – high level of poverty, unemployment, low-literacy, youth idleness, out-of-school children (including Almajiri phenomena), and bad governance, religious and political views in the region.

PROBLEM STATEMENT/JUSTIFICATION

It is no longer news that the activities of Boko Haram and other similar political and religious sects have often led to loss of lives and properties, undermine economic activities and even the breakdown of laws and order, peace and security in the Nigerian society and Northeast in particular in deteriorated. It has been observed that a lot of attacks have been made in many states, which include even the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. What puzzles most observers is the fact that most of these attacks are carried out by suicide bombers yet the culprits often get away unharmed. This leaves a big question mark in our security agencies as regards to their duty in the protection of lives and properties, and the procurement of weapons of mass destruction to combat this menace which is eating deep into the Nigerian society today. Without being said, Boko Haram crisis do not have any advantage instead it is a vicious and nefarious act carried out by individuals for their selfish desires, the motivating factor being to control the religious and political power of the country.

However, it is the above stated problems that instigated the researcher to be investigated on the topic: An assessment of the Implications of Boko Haram Insurgency on Socio-Economic Development in North-eastern Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE (S) OF THE STUDY

The strategic objective of the paper is;

1. To find out ways in which incessant government failure, economic marginalisation, corruption, poverty, unemployment, hunger lead to blatant kidnapping which is deteriorated in North East Nigeria has come to an end. This left many people unemployed and become available for recruitment by conflict entrepreneurs. Therefore, the killings and devastation involved have serious negative effects on businesses, education, healthcare, politics, agriculture, economy and socio-cultural activities across the North Eastern Region.
2. To addresses the security challenges faced by travellers, farmers, marketers, fishermen and other business establishment across the region and come up with the conflict resolution strategies that could be applied by the government forces and local securities like Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to improve the security situation and ensure peace in the region.

iii. To restore past and ongoing devastations on the business and economic activities in the region must be frontally addressed through sustainable security and peace that can allow for the successful oil exploration and other businesses in the Region.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Insurgency is an armed upheaval against a constituted authority (Robert & Timothy, 2009). It Implies that insurgents cause is unlawful, unconstitutional and illegal, and that any attempt to rise up against a constituted authority will be considered as wrong (Osanka, 1962). The United States (US) Department of Defence (2017) defines it as an organised movement with the objective of overthrowing a constituted governmental authority. Their aim is to get the control of power and resources (Siegel, 2007). Kiliculen (2006) observed however that insurgents may take the form of armed struggle or nationalism. He draws a line between classical and contemporary insurgencies indicating that the latter seek to replace an existing order, while the former sometimes strives for the expulsion of foreign invaders from their territory or seek to fill power vacuum. As a concept, insurgency is used inexactly and interchangeably with terrorism, irregular warfare and unconventional warfare. This according to Moore (2007) as cited in Amalu (2015) is understandable, given the diverse nature and overlapping traits of the type conflict.

Socio-Economic development implies a qualitative change in what or how goods and services are produced through shifts in resource use, technology, production methods, information, workforce, skills, or financial arrangements (Kane, 2004), which depends upon deploying labour, land, financial capital and know-how. Economic development is the creation and implementation of strategies for the economic well-being of communities (Shaffer et al., 2004). Ensuring this requires the ability to facilitate interaction, mobilize stakeholders and reconcile different goals and values among key development actors (Blakely & Bradshaw, 2002). It is also about asset building, which involves skills and capacities of individuals, associations and institutions within a community or nation that lays the foundation upon which economic development is built (Deller, 2014) The process of socio-economic development involves expanding the supply of food, housing, educational facilities and medical services (Sen, 1988). As a whole, economic development covers any capacity building, investments and efficiencies, business and labour, transportation, infrastructure, education, water and waste system, safety, regulation and overall tax structure. It is affiliated to planned investments and intentional development efforts (Kane, 2004).

The implication of insurgency cannot be quantified due to its magnanimity, dimensions and complications. The killings and devastations involved have serious negative effects on businesses, education, healthcare, politics, agriculture, economy and sociocultural activities across the North-Eastern region, comprising of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States. However, the worst hit states are Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY States).

Commercial activities in the region is affected by the recurring attacks through bomb blasts and targeted assassinations. Shops and markets do not regularly operate due to fear of attacks. There were numerous attacks across the region such as the bomb blast in Maiduguri Monday Market by a girl suicide bomber that saw the death of 19 people (BBC, 2015a), three suicide bombers killed 18 people in Konduga Fish Market (BBC, 2018) andsuicide bombing in Biu market that killed at least 17 people and left 22 others injured (Premium Times, 2017). In Yobe State, there was an attack on Potiskum Cattle Market that killed at least 34 people and left another 29 injured as a result of 20 explosives and assault rifle attacks (BBC, 2012), gunmen attack on Babbangida International Cattle Market that saw the death of at least 60 people and many injured (Aljazeera, 2012) and attack on Wagir in Gujba that saw the death of 10 people by a young girl suicide bomber on 24^th June, 2015 (Aljazeera, 2015a). Adamawa State also recorded a number of attacks such as Yola market explosion that killed more than 30 as a result of suicide attack on 18^th November, 2015 (BBC, 2015b), the attack on fruit and vegetable market in Jimeta town on 17^th November, 2015 that ended the lives of at least 32 people and dozens wounded (Aljazeera, 2015b), and two female suicide bombers killed 45 people and wounded 33 others in Madagali market on 10^th December, 2016 (The Telegraph, 2016).

These are places that are very crowded and where people exchange goods and services, make living and contribute to the economic development of the society. Closure of some of these markets was disastrous to the economy. Some of these markets are of international nature such as the Babbangida cattle market that contribute to wealth creation and revenue generation for the governments of the region. The incessant attacks have further discouraged marketers from bringing goods to the markets, and customers also feel discouraged in doing business in the region. The region loses its business potentials till date, and requires concerted efforts to restore this glory.

Many southern people who own large businesses in the region had to close down and relocate back to other regions. Some foreign nationals, especially of the boarder countries also left the country either willingly or due to fear of being killed, or repatriated by Nigerian government for fear of them constituting part of members of Boko Haram group. These affected many businesses on goods like cattle, grains, fishes, hide and skin, vehicle spare parts, shoes and numerous other food and non-food items. Obaremi (2014) as cited in Awojobi (2014) warned that the economy of the region is already depleting due to massive departure of people and financial institutions in the region. If government delays implementing comprehensive measures of tackling insurgency from its root, not only will the northern Nigeria be in economic desolation, but the entire country will lose billions of external investments.

The insurgency created a condition where banks, despite being one of the major financial institutions forced to shut down operations in some locations and limited operations in others. At the peak of the crises in the years 2013-2015, banks operate mostly between 9:00am to 12:00pm. This was recently reviewed and extended to 2:00pm. Traders and other customers thus find it very difficult to deposit their proceeds in the banks due to unfavourable operational hours. Businesspersons resort to hiding monies in shops and homes, which is insecure. This saw cases of burglaries by armed robbers and their likes. In Hong LGA of Adamawa State, for instance, Audu and Bristone (2020) compiled that all their banks (First Bank, Biyama Microfinance Bank, Unity Bank & UBA Bank) stopped operating till 2015 due to the menace of insurgency. It was after the liberation of the area by the military in 2015 that two banks (UBA Bank and First Bank) begin operation with skeletal services.

Farming activities are severely affected with huge percentage of people unable to farm. In fact, majority of the 3.4 million people that have been displaced (Nextier SPD, 2020) by the crises were primarily farmers. These displaced persons spent years in the camps or host communities they reside, and learnt new lifestyles different from farming as a means of sustenance. Even in the communities that are relatively safe, farmers are afraid of going to farm as Boko Haram soldiers embark on patrol on farmlands to kill farmers, seize their product, destroy crops or plant Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) (Abdullahi, 2019). These saw astronomical rise in prices of goods that were hitherto cheap. Goods become expensive due to the high level of risk involved in transporting them, bribes given to security operatives along the road and highways, and people’s inability to farm in their areas.

The continuous attacks create huge unemployment among youths, adults and women. As businesses close, people lose their jobs. This largely affected those working in the private sector. Banks retrench staff, shops and malls stop operation, boarder businesses are on halt, fishermen were prohibited from assessing the waters in Baga area and cattle sellers are restricted from importing animals in neighboring countries like Chad. The occasional curfews and state-of-emergency further added to the existing difficulties. Amalu (2015) observed that food supplies that were mostly derived from North-East are drastically reduced and sometimes, not found at all. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) warned that the continuous disruptions on food distribution as a result of the crises can be the largest inflationary risk faced by the economy (Amalu, 2015).Telecommunication facilities were further bombed in almost every Local Government that witnessed a major attack, usually the destruction of masts belonging to private telecom providers such as MTN and Airtel. These affected the income generation of many small and medium enterprises, and discouraged investors from repairing or reinstalling new ones. Even at present, there are many communities without mobile network, especially in Local Government Areas of Northern Senatorial Zone of Borno State.

As at 2017, the North-Eastern region’s economic loss as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency is estimated as $9 Billion (₦274.5 Billion). The worst hit state is Borno with highest loss of $5.9 Billion (₦180 Billion). Agricultural production’s loss in the region was valued at $3.5 Billion (N107 Billion) (Sawalha, 2017; Quick & Demetriov, 2017 as cited in Granville, 2020).The annual grain flow in Borno drops from 294940 tons to 94500 tons by second quarter of 2014 (Mohammed & Ahmed, 2015). Game, forests and grazing reserves, parks, orchards, river basins and lakes have been poisoned in 16 of the 27 LGAs in Borno and over 470,000 livestock have been killed or stolen. There is a substantial decline in the average production of major crops like millet, cowpea, rice and maize, and the amount of fish harvested has drastically dropped by 80%. Inability to access markets led to high cost of livestock. Agriculture related value chain experienced a negative impact as investors’ confidence dropped and less investment in agricultural project is observed for areas most affected by insurgency in the North-East (Africa Growth Initiative, 2014; World Bank, 2016; as cited in Jelilov, et al., 2018).

“…Boko Haram has wiped out all business activities, created food scarcity, kidnapping for ransom, massive unemployment, rise in poverty level, nose-diving of economy, destructions of farmlands, nutritional deficiencies, outbreak of diseases, use of drugs out of frustration, prostitution among girls, burglary on banks, stealing in provisions, halting of productions and small scale businesses…” (Granville 2020, p. 90-108).

Attacks recorded in the North-Eastern region were numerous. The first was the shootings on a Police Station in Bauchi that saw the death of 42 people on 26^th July, 2009. This was followed by another shooting on Potiskum Divisional Police Station that killed 4 security operatives on 27^th July, 2009, and another confrontation between the insurgents and security operatives in Mamudo town of Yobe State on 29^th July, 2009. The biggest and most notable confrontation was the one recorded in Maiduguri Metropolis that lasted all night with huge casualties on the part of civilians, the insurgents and security operatives that recorded uncountable deaths and immeasurable destructions. It was a serious battle that saw the destruction of operational base of the sect and death of the group’s leader in July 2009. Since then, the group went low, re-group, re-mobilize, re-strategize and continue to launch attacks across the Northern region, though with much casualties in the North-East.

METHODOLOGY

The study is based on the assessment of the Implications of Boko Haram Insurgency on Socio-Economic Development in North-eastern Nigeria. Therefore, the method used for the collection of data in this study was content analysis, using textbooks, magazines, journals etc.

RESULTS (EXPECTED OUTPUTS/RESULTS)

The researcher, based on his research found out that, there are Boko Haram crisis which occur in the North-East Nigeria as a result of impositions of Sharia law in some Northern States in Nigeria, especially Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe State. It opposes western education, western culture and modern science.

The researcher found out that the remote causes of Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria was as a result of the disbelieve to imposed Sharia law in some areas of Northern Nigeria. It was found out that the aggressive nature of the Boko Haram sect is consequences of discontent.

Furthermore, the socio-political and religious implications of Boko Haram crisis in Northeastern Nigeria have affected President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformational agenda because the money to be used for other developmental programmes are now being used to settle and reconstruct projects damaged by Boko Haram crisis. Therefore, the research is expected to bring an end to the lingering crisis which will not affect the incoming government.

The research is expected to detest Boko Haram sects which exists and have camps in some neighboring countries of Nigeria where they train their men.

The research is expected to tackle the Boko Haram in Nigeria more especially the most affected states by giving information to the Soldiers, Police or any other government security agencies.

REFERENCES

1. Abdullahi, M. (2019). The effects of Boko Haram insurgency on indigenous governance and practices among internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, Nigeria [M.Sc. Thesis]. University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2. Aljazeera (2012, May 4th). Dozens killed in attack on Nigeria market. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/05/20125434850147517.html
3. Aljazeera (2015a, June 24^th). Girl aged 12 in Nigeria market bombing. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/girl-aged-12-nigeria-market-suicide-bombing-150624044055589.html
4. Aljazeera (2015b, November 17^th). Dozens killed in Nigeria market bombing. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/17/dozens-killed-in-nigeria-market-bombing/?gb=true
5. Amalu, N.S. (2015). Impact of Boko Haram insurgency on human security in Nigeria. Global Journal of Social Sciences, 14, 35-42.
6. Audu, I.M. and Bristone, W. T. (2020). The socio-economic effects of Boko Haram insurgency in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Business, Arts and Science, 2(1), 40-63.
7. Awojobi, O. N. (2014). The socio-economic implications of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria. International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, 11(1), 144-150.
8. BBC (2012, May 3^rd). Nigeria’s Potiskum cattle market raid kills dozens. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-17936549#:~:text=The%20market%20in%20Potiskum%2C%20Yobe,earlier%20tried%20to%20steal%20cattle
9. BBC (2015a, January 10^th). Girl bomber kills 19 people in Maiduguri market. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30761963
10. BBC (2015b, November 18^th). Nigeria blast: Yola market explosion kills 30. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34852971
11. BBC (2018, February 17^th). Nigeria bomb blasts cause deaths at fish market. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43097221
12. Blakely, E. J. & Bradshaw, T. K. (2002). Planning local economic development [3^rd Edition]. Sage Publications.
13. Deller, S. (2014). Community development, economic development, or community economic development?: An Introduction. UW Madison/Extension.
14. Ewi, M. & Salifu, U. (2017). Money talks: A key reason youths join Boko Haram. Policy Brief, 98. Institute for Security Studies.
15. Granville, C.K. (2020). The impact of Boko Haram insurgency on the people of Borno State [PhD Dissertation]. Walden University.
16. Jelilov, G., Ayinde, R., Tetik, S., Celik, B. & Olali, N. (2018). Impact of terrorism on agricultural business in Borno State, Nigeria. Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, 5(12), 117-124.
17. Kane, M. (2004). Public-sector economic development: Concepts and approaches. Northeast Midwest Institute.
18. Kilcullen, D. (2006). Counter-insurgency redux in survival. Journal of Strategic Studies, 48(4), 111-130.
19. Marx, K. (1967). Capital: A critique of political economy. Lawrence and Wishart. (Original work published in 1885)
20. Mohammed D. T. & Ahmed F. F. (2015). The effect of insurgency on Borno state economy. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 6(16) 94–102.
21. Nextier SPD (2020). Solving displacement dilemma. Policy Weekly, 3 (29).
22. Osanka, F. M. (1962). Modern guerrilla warfare. Free Press.
23. Premium Times (2017, December 2^nd). 17 dead as suicide bombers attack Borno market. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/251250-17-dead-suicide-bombers-attack-borno-market.html
24. Roberts, A. & Timothy, G. A. (2009). Civil Resistance and power politics: The experience of non-violent action from Gandhi to the present. Oxford University Press.
25. Seepersad, R. (2008). Economic deprivation. In R. McMurtry & A. Curling (Eds.). Review of the Roots of Youth Violence: Literature Reviews. Queens Printer for Ontario.
26. Sen, A. (1988). The concept of development, In H. Chenery & T. N. Srinivasan, Handbook of Development Economics (Eds.). Elsevier Science Publishers.
27. Shaffer, R., Deller, S. & Marcouiller, D. (2004). Community economics: Linking theory and practice. Blackwell Publishing.
28. Siegel, L. J. (2007). Criminology: Theories, pattern and typologies [11^th Edition]. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
29. The Telegraph (2016, December 10^th). Nigeria suicide attack in crowded market kills dozens in Madagali. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/10/nigeria-suicide-attack-crowded-market-kills-dozens-madagali/
30. US Department of Defense (2007). Insurgency. Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, 1-02.