Factor of Radicalism Boko Haram

Running head: FACTOR OF RADICALISM: BOKO HARAM
FACTOR OF RADICALISM: BOKO HARAM
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FACTOR OF RADICALISM: BOKO HARAM
Introduction
Nigeria earned its democracy in 1999 but the internal security of the country was
always in stake after the armed groups entered the country to undermine its security
environment. There were a number of such nonstate armed radical group in Nigeria, but the
Boko Haram has gradually became the serious national, regional and international concern
(Varin 2018). This groups mainly targets the youth of the country to enrol in their radicalism.
The group activities in the country has become the reason of death casualties of about twelve
thousand. This group of internal terrorist along with some other groups are becoming an
increasing threat to the country security. The number of local youth, joining the Boko Haram
is a big concern for the government. There are factors that influences the youths to join such
radicalism. This report aims to identify the factors that are influencing the radicalisation and
why the youths of Nigeria are attaining the path of radicalism.
Concept of Radicalization
The idea of radicalisation has come in to the scene specifically after the terror attack
of 9/11. The definition of radicalization is not same for all experts, but it can be summarized
in one loose terms. Radicalization involves rejecting of democratic ideas and the status quo
and adopting a violent medium to practice extreme political, religious and social ideology.
Radicalization can persists on individual or groups levels. According to Adibe (2016),
radicalization is the result of complex overlap of the mutually reinforcing and concurring
factors. In the process of radicalization changes in self-identification due to grievance is a
must. The individual or group are driven by the international or local events. The radical
ideology gives a different outlook to the person and explains the reason of their grievance in a
newer perspective (Cannon and Iyekekpolo 2018). The continuous repetition of these
conditions can push a person to adopt an extreme ideology along with the same-minded

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FACTOR OF RADICALISM: BOKO HARAM
people in a group. The radicalization becomes the way out for these individual and gives
them the medium to express their ideas through violence and extremism. It is crucial to
understand why the Boko Haram in Nigeria has been able to continue its radicalization in the
country.
Understanding Boko Haram
Boko Haram is an Islamic jihadist terrorist organisation in the West Africa. The group
was formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād and was established by
2002. The group was first started under the leadership of Mohammad Yousuf (Boakye-
Boaten 2016). The original origin of the group is traced back in 1995, when Abubakar Lawan
founded “Ahlulsunna wal’jama’ah hijra” (Botha and Abdile 2019). This was a non-violent
movement which converted in to violent Boko Haram under the leadership of Mohammad
Yusuf. The basic ideology of the Boko Haram is to reject everything that is inspired by the
western beliefs. The name Boko Haram Itself means “Western education is forbidden”
(Bassiouni 2016). The group is active in the Nigerian provinces to replace the secularism of
the country and make it a strict Islamic nation. The members of Boko Haram are mainly
drawn from the unemployed youths, destitute children and disaffected youths of the Northern
Nigeria.
The first attack of this radical group was started in the 2003 when it attacked the police
station in Kanamma and Geiam. In the villages of the northern Yobe state, the group had
already established a base by then. The influence of the group became more prominent when
the student of the Yobe areas left their schools and colleges and joined Boko Haram (de
Bruijn 2019). The members of the group attacked the police station of Borno state, killed
many policeman and stole arms on 21st September 2004. Initially the security posts of the
country were their regular attack spots. The impact of the July 2009 revolt was huge on this
group. The leader Muhammad Yusuf was caught and killed by the police. Many of the sect