Tackling Terrorism in Nigeria: Role of UK Government

This study highlights the role of UK government in tackling terrorism in Nigeria and how it will lead to the development of Nigeria as a prosperous nation. It also discusses the current scenario of terrorism in Nigeria and the national security strategy of Nigeria.

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Introduction- UK face significant amount of threat from the terrorism and extremism.
The present levels of threat for United Kingdom is severe and it means that the terrorism attack
is highly likely in United Kingdom. Due to this the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015
has focussed highly on the Terrorism. Thus, it is important to note that UK is a leading architect
in to the current system of relations and institutions. UK has considerably helped the foreign
governments to govern the usage of the force so that conflicts can be prevented. This will also
promote and support freedom of navigation, fair and international trade, good governance, and
advance human rights, prevent conflict. The multilateral institutions enforce and sets and
standard and rules of behaviour (Baylis, Wirtz and Gray, 2015). This will be helping capacity
building programs and deliver assistance across the wide range of areas that are vital and
essential for the interests of United Kingdom. In this study The Strategic Defence and Security
Review for the year 2015 will be used to see how United Kingdom plays a major role in tackling
with terrorism in Nigeria and how it will lead to the development of Nigeria as a prosperous
nation.
Current scenario of terrorism in Nigeria- A little known Islamic group called the Boko
haram was founded in the year 2002. The group was founded by Mohammed Yusuf and the
name of the group translate that western education is forbidden. In the year 2009, the
government forces killed the Mohammed Yusuf, who instilled the group with the extremist
ideology and wanted to instil the idea into the society and minds of the people that Boko Haram
is the new way of thinking. Moreover, after a decade of violence the Nigerian Government is still
not able to breakdown the entire group and the Nigerian Government lacked an effective
strategy. The terrorist organization preyed on to the disillusioned Muslims located in the north
and they were fed up of the lows economic opportunities and corruption (Oviasogie, 2013).

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Thus, it is important to highlight that increasing the number of the security forces only
militarizes the problem. Moreover, it is also an important fact that the international support will
increase the local support against the anti- west terrorist group. Therefore, guns alone are
incapable of handling the root cause of the problems and the growth of extremism in the country
like the corruption and unemployment. The geographical area of Nigeria is divided and northern
portion of the country is entirely resided by Muslim population. Abuja is the centre of the attack
and has always bene the centre point of attack. The Boko Haram group originated in the north-
eastern region of the country and it has rejected everything that has western roots (Amusan &
Oyewole, 2014). Boko Haram increased in ranks and it increased the wealth gap. While it is also
important to mention that the Northern region’s 72 percent of the population lives under the
poverty line in comparison to just 27 percent of the people in South. The political objective of
Boko Haram is to create a nation consisting of 12 Northern States of Nigeria and subsequently it
will spread to the other parts of the country. Boko Haram has the inception that is Nigeria is
governed by non-believers and it has persistently targeted the government even when it is being
governed by a Muslim President. Boko Haram was able to capitalize on to the wide spread
poverty in Nigeria. However, it is important to note that the lack of economic opportunities is not
the only social ill in Nigeria. The international community can provide its assistance to the
Nigeria by providing the aid that will be increasing the economic opportunities in Nigeria by
providing economic opportunities in Nigeria. It is important to highlight that the Nigeria is
currently facing serious threats and challenges and the solutions are scarce (Adegbulu, 2013).
The local domestic terrorist group has the potential to transform into a something big in scale and
more dangerous. It can be speculated that Boko Haram can make bonds with the extremist
movements like the al- Qaida. This, group can merge together to form a new terror network in

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the form of al-Qaida in Nigeria. The probable expansion of al-Qaida in Nigeria from the
Maghreb region in to the entire South Africa is not just an alarming situation for Nigeria but for
other countries as well. Moreover, the solution will not just arise from the national security
forces but other agencies needs to be brought up together. While the situation is serious because
if the Boko Haram is eliminated, then also other groups might take in the place of Boko Haram
(Adebayo, 2014).
National Security Strategy of Nigeria- According to the National Strategy of Nigeria,
2014 it has been highlighted that Nigeria is one of the countries where terrorism has taken the
roots. The terrorism has taken the form of insurgency. Even through different types of groups
have emerged in different points of the political history of Nigeria. The terrorism group that has
emerged is the Boko Haram and the group is hostile and had made their base impenetrable in the
North Eastern region. In the Northern parts of the country, Boko Haram has carried out a series
of high profile attacks as well as attacks of soft targets. The terrorism activities of Boko Haram
are underscored by the activities like indoctrination, mass abductions, pillage, captured
territories. Thus, the Boko Haram is considered as a most potent terror group that needs a
coordinated, collaborative and holistic approach (Shuaibu, Salleh & Shehu, 2015).). In the year
2011, a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) was established in the national Security adviser to
work on the issues of insurgency posed by the militants of Boko Haram and the other terrorist
groups in Nigeria. The department has the responsibility of coordinating with the national
Counter Terrorism Programme. The basic responsibility of CTD is to include the
implementation, direction and development of the national Counter Terrorism Strategy
(NACTEST). More, it also has the responsibility to deliver some of the aspects of the strategy.
For instance, the analysis of the intelligence by the other organizations like the Joint Terrorism

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Analysis bureau (JTAB). Moreover, the strategic is established with the foreign partners like
United Kingdom and other inter- organization organizations to facilitate the oversight of the
intelligence and security agencies (Anyadike & Nkechi, 2013). The main objective of the
strategy is to make sure that the public safety remains the priority along with the inclusion of the
five main streams like the Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare and Implement (FSIPI).
Identifying- it involves that the all the terrorist will be brought to justice and all the sponsors will
be identified as well. Preparing- this involves the creation of a populace that will be tackling
with the consequences of the terrorist incidents so that they can be mitigated (Eji, 2016).
Forestalling- this strategy involves the prevention of terrorism in Nigeria and it will include the
engaging public into the de-radicalization programmes, sensitization/enlightenment. Security- the
activity includes the ensuring protection and security of the Nigerian interest around the world,
national services and infrastructure, public properties and lives. Implementing- this strategy
includes a diversified framework that will sustain and mobilize the coordinated governmental
and other non-governmental efforts towards meeting the national Counter Terrorism Strategy
(NACTEST) (ctc.gov.ng, 2019).
Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015- The review has highlighted that the British
will work with the other countries wherever there are British Nationals and majority of the risks
will arise from the terrorism. The British Government will be setting up capabilities and
protective security capacity so as to reduce the risk those countries themselves and the countries
that are housing the British Nationals. Wherever possible, the British Government will form the
collaboration with the allies in this particular field. The British government will create a big and
more capable global intelligence and security network for the British citizens at the abroad and
home and also with the partners (Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2019). The UK government

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will play a decisive role in the leading and helping so that the threat of terrorism can be tackled
in the region. The UK government seeks to strengthen the military support to the authorities in
Nigeria that lacks the terrorism. The UK government is participating and expanding the support
to the Nigerian authorities so that terrorism can be tackled. The UK government is expanding the
short term training teams, British Military advisory and training teams so that the capacity
building and training can be provided to the Nigerian Armed Forces
(Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2019).
Active role played by the UK government in controlling terrorism in Nigeria- UK has
planned to increase the military support to Nigeria so that the Nigerian citizens and the British
workers in the country can be protected from the terror attacks. It has bene highlighted that the
Nigerian armed forces will be facilitated with the specialist equipment for the purpose of training
and countering the usage of the improvised explosive devices by the Islamic insurgents. This is
the first ever defence partnership between the UK and Nigeria and it will transform the way
through which both the government will work together and it will also help in tackling with the
shared threats, and in turn will also keep the British citizens safe (worldpolicy.org, 2019). The
new partnership will lay down the foundation for stepping up the efforts and it will also promote
growth, prosperity, and stability through a series of initiatives that will help in defeating the
Islamic State West Africa and Boko Haram. These two terror groups have been responsible for
the over 20,000 deaths and it has also forced the 2 million people to stay away from their homes
in the North eastern part of the country. The agreement between the UK and Nigeria will stop the
menace from spreading and also from posing as a direct threat to United Kingdom. The
partnership between the UK and Nigeria will help the Nigerian government with the necessary
equipment and training so that the Nigerian military can protect themselves from the threats of

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improvised explosive devices that are used by the terrorists (Unodc.org, 2019). It will save the
life of the soldiers and also equip them with the necessary equipment so that they can combat
with the Boko Haram’s tactics of insurgencies. UK also has offered that they will help Nigeria so
that they can expand the provision of the training and equipment for proper training of the
Nigerian military before they are being deployed in the North East. Moreover, it is important to
note that soldiers are trained individually and not in their fighting teams. Trainings in the team
will help them to have shared experience and understanding so that they will better be able to
defeat the enemy. Since the year 2015, UK has trained more than an 30,000 Nigerian troops
(bbc.com, 2019). It is important to note that through the new partnership, the UK and Nigeria
will work together to deliver a new programme of 13 million pounds so that 100,000 children
can be educated that are residing in the combat zones, lack teachers, schools have been
destroyed. The reimbursement is done by building safe places to learn, training the teachers, and
providing equipment. Implementation of new Nigerian crisis problem through the Nigerian
Crisis Response Situation mechanisms. This will be similar to the United Kingdom's COBR
systems so that the government can actively respond to the terror attacks, as well as protect the
businesses, British Nationals, and its citizens in the country (GOV.UK, 2019).
Conclusion- From the above discussion it can be concluded that Nigeria is currently
facing serious threats and challenges and the solutions are scarce. The local domestic terrorist
group has the potential to transform into a something big in scale and more dangerous. . Even
through different types of groups have emerged in different points of the political history of
Nigeria. The terrorism group that has emerged is the Boko Haram and the group is hostile and
had made their base impenetrable in the North Eastern region. In the Northern parts of the

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country, Boko Haram has carried out a series of high profile attacks as well as attacks of soft
targets.

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Reference
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