Rupturing The Financing of Terrorism: Examination of The Adequacy of Nigerian Law (Published)
Global concern over terrorism and financing of terrorism became greatly heightened after September 11, 2001 bombing of the World Trade Centre with the concerted efforts put to bear across countries towards reassessment of policies, strategies and the readiness to forge international cooperation to ‘‘choke” the financing of terrorist groups and Organisations in support of terrorism. The employment of intelligence against terror and the confirmation of reports and findings of the States’ intelligence apparatuses also shed new knowledge which often dictates constant redefinition of terms and approaches in the fight against terrorism. Despite the elaborate legal framework in Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in Nigeria, little can be said to have been achieved. It is suggested that all parties involved in the administration of criminal justice shall collaborate to ensure that criminal cases particularly Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism are properly investigated, prosecuted and tried with minimum delay. Also, more serious efforts should be made to remove socio-economic injustices, imbalances and inequities in the society, alleviate the suffering of the people, provide increased job opportunities and the right atmosphere for genuine business and investment to thrive
Keywords: Examination, Financing, Terrorism, adequacy of Nigerian law
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
Role of Vigilante Groups in War against Terrorism in North Eastern Nigeria (Published)
In efforts to provide safe and conducive environment for citizens as well as foreign nationals conducting businesses on her shores, the Nigerian state have over the years constituted several regular law enforcement and security agencies mandated to maintain law and order as well as prevent and fight insurgencies including the terrorism they characterize. The Yan Tatsine uprising during the second republic and Boko Haram extremism cum attacks of the fourth republic have however raised doubts in certain quarters on the intelligence gathering ability of these state security outfits. While some scholars and policy makers have in this light called for a total overhaul of some if not all of these governmental agencies, this paper opts to take a critical look into the role of local vigilante organizations in assisting the state in her war against terror and other violent crimes such as rape and kidnapping. Focusing on the activities of some vigilante cells in Borno State which aligned in 2013 as ‘Civilian JTF’ to rout-out Boko Haram from their communities, and adopting the group theory approach to political inquiry, this study which assesses and confirms the positive activities of the vigilantes, also calls on the government at various levels to work out a synergy of these vigilantes’ activities and those of the conventional state security forces/services for the enhancement of the entire Nigerian security system.
Keywords: Boko Haram, Civilian JTF, Role, Terrorism, Vigilante Groups
Boko Haram: A Religious Sect or Terrorist Organization (Published)
Terrorism is a globalized phenomenon confronting the international community. It has grown both in strength and trend and its impact felt in different parts of the world including Africa. This impact has lately been felt in northern Nigeria due to the activities of Boko Haram creating growing concern with the level of loss of lives recorded. In Nigeria, the group is usually referred to as a religious sect partly due to uncertainty as to its classification or designation or fear the group has created. When for example, President Obama referred to the group as a terrorist organization, President Jonathan countered his statement by saying its members are not terrorists. The media too refer to the group as a sect probably due to fear especially with the killing of a Television reporter and bombing of media houses. Boko Haram at inception was an Islamic group. With time, it became a sect due to its own beliefs or practices which has separated it from pure Islam. This paper believes that the group at birth in 2001 was a religious sect but has over time, graduated into a terrorist organization especially with its adoption and use of terror tactics. This paper examines the term terrorism and the various tactics employed by terrorist’s organizations worldwide. It will consequently, do a comparative analysis between Boko Haram and well known terrorist organizations in terms of motivation, ideology, existence, grievances, tactics employed to address grievances etc. for proper classification as a terrorist organization, an international one or local terrorist organization. The paper will then attempt to suggest ways by which their activities can be curtailed and eliminated.
Keywords: Boko Haram, Karijee Jihadists, Rogue Actors, Spherical Earth, Terrorism