The Impact of Boko Haram Insurgency on the Political...

IMPACT OF BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY ON THE POLITICAL-ECONOMY OF NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA, 2009 TO 2013 Introduction Nigeria is politically divided into six geo-political zones; and is religiously divided between the Christian south and the Muslim north. The northeast geo-political zone belongs to the Muslim north. This economically backward zone comprises of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states. The zone is home to Boko Haram terrorist group officially called JamÄ ÃŠ »at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-daÊ »wa wal-JihÄ d meaning, People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophets Teachings and Jihad (Ekereke 2013, p.5). Founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram (which imply â€Å"western education is a sin†) first clashed with the Nigerian police in a 5-day battle in July, 2009 (Andrew 2012, p.1). This led to the death of the founder and emergence of Abubakar Shekau, as the leader of the group. Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram has attacked churches, mosques, markets, schools, banks, barracks, homes and motor parks killing over 4000 thousand people and displacing clo se to half a million in the northeast (CrisisGroup 2014, p. 2). This has had serious political and economic implications for the poverty stricken northeast zone. Terrorist activities have strategic implications for national economic development. It is believed that terrorist operations can disintegrate the country as well as halt economic growth (ICG 2010, p.4). Continuous terrorist attacks are capable to undermining