Insurgency And Counter-insurgency: The Need For Non Conventional Security Apparatus In Combating Terrorism In Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has been battling insurgencies such as Boko Haram and Kidnappings, which have become a financial leak pipe and life-threatening to the nation. Many attempts at curbing the activities of the insurgents had proved difficult. This is evidenced in the statement of the former Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, that "terrorism and terrorist groups could not be eliminated alone by the Military unless religious bodies and organisations in the country come to the forefront of the spiritual battle". This statement con be related to the nature of the crisis against conventional war for which the military was trained. Moreover, there are tendencies for the traditional, religious, and economic factors responsible for the problem. These and many other factors have led some affected regions like Borno State to resort to local vigilante. Holding to the argument of Parsons that people do cooperate based on social order, which comes from their valves and social actors that is based on voluntarism, this paper examines the effectiveness of local vigilante in combating insurgencies in Nigeria. However, throughout the country, the activities of the local vigilante towards community policing and social order may not be the technically most efficient. Still, their approach is necessary and appropriate in maintaining peace via the indigenous mechanisms of social control that may include African spiritualism. Therefore, the paper recommends a strong synergy between the conventional and non-conventional security organisations for comprehensive crime control and prevention in Nigeria.