Fighting the Enemy Within: An Evaluation of the Role of the Nigerian Criminal Justice Administration on Terrorism (Published)
The act of Terrorism dates as far back as the 1st century. It is a global concern that keeps evolving. In Nigeria, the threat of terrorism has been on the rise and is more prevalent in the North East, despite the many laws against it. This leads to a feeling of insecurity and fear, for many Nigerians. This study assesses the role of the Nigerian Criminal Justice Administration in ensuring safety for all, which includes fighting terrorism. The article critically explores Nigerian government’s reliance on mainly military actions, as opposed to empowering the Criminal Justice Administration. The work underlines the consequences of not appropriately fighting terrorism, and it’s effects on a nation like Nigeria. The study uses secondary data analysis, and the doctrinal approach is adopted to examine the role of the Nigerian Criminal Justice Administration in fighting terrorism. This article finds that the weak nature of the Nigerian criminal justice administration has affected the ability to make effective counter-terrorism policies. The study recommends that the Nigerian Government needs to enhance the operational and legal frameworks at all levels, and strengthen the criminal justice structure, to appropriately fight terrorism.
Keywords: Administration, Terrorism, counter-terrorism, insurgency criminal justice