The relationship between terrorism and poverty: a case study of boko haram in Nigeria, 2020-2024.

Abstract

Boko Haram's violent activities in Nigeria have plunged the country into poverty, evident even in 2024. This study examines how Boko Haram's actions impacted Nigeria's economic stability, notably the food shortages in 2024. It also explores government measures to address the consequences of Boko Haram attacks. Religious fundamentalism theory will be used as the theoretical framework of analysis. The main focus of religious fundamentalism is that adherents strictly adhere to the foundational tenets of their faith, often rejecting modern interpretations and seeking to establish a society based on their religious doctrine. Boko Haram terrorist organization is closely aligned with religious fundamentalist doctrine in its fight against Western education, attacks on government institutions, and implementation of Sharia Law. Boko Haram's actions show that this theoretical framework is relevant to understanding and dealing with the threat posed by the group, as they are motivated to construct a society regulated by their interpretation of Islam. Perhaps, this hypothesis of Boko Haram’s actions can be explained by the religious fundamentalism theory which emphasizes the group’s dedication to enforcing its extreme ideologies, strict adherence to religious teachings, and rejection of both secular government and Western education. Moreover, the aim is to demonstrate how religion shaped Boko Haram's actions, contributing to ongoing hardship and poverty in Nigeria, evident even in 2024. However, Boko Haram's activities, including attacks on infrastructure and displacement of communities, and farmlands, have undoubtedly worsened existing economic challenges in the northern region, and Nigeria at large leading to a cause in the poverty rate in 2024. In this thesis, data will be sourced through secondary or documentary data collection methods, which will include journals, articles, the Internet, and local Newspapers, among others. The findings of this thesis will identify the related impact of Boko-Haram terrorist organizations on the citizens of Nigeria specifically the northern part of the country. The study will make recommendations that can contribute to the existing knowledge and help reduce this deadly organization's violent activities. The purpose of this thesis, however, is to critically analyze the effects of Boko Haram, a terrorist group that has destroyed farmlands, and government buildings, kidnapped people, and forced people to flee their homes in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country. As a result, as of 2024, the country is still deeply impoverished.

As a Nigerian, I feel that Boko Haram's actions have financially drained the nation because more emphasis has been focused on combating the group, allowing other sectors to suffer. In 2024, the amount of poverty and hunger in the nation will be extremely concerning.