With regard to Islamic Jihadist Movements in Nigeria, is it equally unhelpful to argue either that they have everything to do with Islam or nothing to do with Islam?
Nigeria has been identified as a global hotspot for jihadist activities. Islamic jihadi groups, such as Boko Haram, are often considered as an expression of religious fundamentalism, which in itself is not a clearly defined category. Boko Haram is listed as “the second-deadliest terrorist group globally, and the deadliest in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. The global rhetoric of the 'war on terrorism', designed from a secularist perspective, pretends to compartmentalise, and separate 'religion' from 'rational' discourse. This hesitancy to identity religious discourse as a critical factor in analysing and responding to such terrorist groups as seen today in Nigeria, where Islamic radicalism has been a central component in the nation's history, requires much deeper analysis. In a bid to counter terrorism from the root and build sustainable peace and co-existence in Nigeria, dialogue is required in which the ideological objectives of Boko Haram and the other jihadi groups in Nigeria must be understood.
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