Factors of Radicalization: A Case Study of Boko Haram (SS 312)

This case study examines the factors contributing to the radicalization of Boko Haram, a non-state armed group operating in Nigeria. The assignment explores how ignorance of religious teachings, socio-economic challenges like unemployment and corruption, difficult upbringings, faulty social structures, and the role of security forces influence radicalization. The study highlights that poverty, illiteracy, and governmental negligence play significant roles in the group's recruitment and activities. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical context, including key events and the group's evolution, offering insights into the complex interplay of factors driving extremism in the region. The study also references relevant academic sources to support its findings.

Factors of Radicalism
A case study of Boko
Haram

Introduction
• Nigeria has suffered from undermined
security issues for long
• Boko Haram: a radical Group
• A nonstate armed radical group
• The concern for national and
international security
• Influences the youth of the country
• Discussion of factors of radicalization

Radicalization
• Concept emerged after 9/11 attack
• Definition: Radicalization involves rejecting of democratic ideas and the
status quo and adopting a violent medium to practice extreme political,
religious and social ideology (Marchal and Salem 2018).
• Outcome of changes in self-identification
• Radical ideology: extreme and violent
• Uses religion for exploitation

Boko Haram
• Established on 2002
• Formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-
Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād
• Founder: Muhammad Yusuf
• Boko Haram means “Western education
is forbidden”.
• Draws members from : unemployed
youths, destitute children and
disaffected youths of the Northern
Nigeria.
• States: Northern Borno and Yobe

Boko Haram (continued)
• In 2003 : attacked the police station in Kanamma and Geiam.
• 21st September 2004: second attack on police station, killed many
police officers (Pettinger 2017)
• Revolt of 2009: most important one
• Muhammad Yusuf was caught and killed by police
• Many sect member were killed as well
• After this the Boko Haram was responsible for many terrorist activities

Factors influencing Radicalism:
Boko Haram
Ignorance
• Ignorance of the religious aspects and
teaching
• leaders targets the youths with limited
knowledge of religion
• Ignorance make people vulnerable to
radicalization
• about 90% of the Boko haram group
members are ignorant of religious
teachings (Kaya 2020)

Unemployability and Corruption
• socio-economic challenges of the country are th mani reason of
radicalization
• the unemployment rate : 14.60% in the year 2006, 23.9% by the year
2011
• poverty rate : 54.7% in 2004, 60.9 % in 2010
• High corruption rate
• The growth of the country is limited in certain groups
• Youths joining Boko Haram for money and support

Difficult upbringing
• High number of children with lack of parental care
• Borno and Yobe are the most affected part
• Growing poverty is reason for radicaluzation
• Faulty social structure
• Increasing number of destitute children: more vulnerable to the
violent radicalization(Botha and Abdile 2019)

High level of Illiteracy
• Poverty and illiteracy are related to
each other
• Increased illiteracy because of
poverty
• Youths joining the group for financial
stability
• Illiterate mind are easy to manipulate
• Illiterate youth work as suicide
bombers

Role of the Security Forces
• Extremist attitude of the military and police forces
• People are raged
• Wrong approach for the 2009 revolution
• Radicalization becomes the medium to channelize the rage (Afolabi
and Yusuf)

Conclusion
• factors contribution in the radicalization of Boko Haram: literacy,
poverty, corruption and negligence of security agencies
• Lack of governmental actions
• Lack of awareness in the areas
• Policies and programs for destitute children are required

References
• Botha, Anneli, and Mahdi Abdile. "Reality versus perception: toward understanding
Boko Haram in Nigeria." Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 42, no. 5 (2019): 493-519.
• Pettinger, Tom. "De-radicalization and Counter-radicalization: Valuable Tools
Combating Violent Extremism, or Harmful Methods of Subjugation?." Journal for
Deradicalization 12 (2017): 1-59.
• Kaya, Ayhan. "Extremism and Radicalization: What makes the difference?." (2020).
• Afolabi, Oluwaseun, and Olanrewaju Yusuf. "PHASES OF BOKO HARAM:
MANIPULATION OF THE NAME OF GOD AND RELIGION." Peace Research 51, no. 1
(2019): 67-91.
• Marchal, Roland, and Zekeria Ould Ahmed Salem. "What is the concept of
“radicalization” good for?." Politique africaine 1 (2018): 5-20.