Corruption & the Escalating Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria’s Northeast

Till date, defenceless Nigerians have continued to die under attack by Boko-Haram insurgents despite promises by the present Buhari’s regime to end insurgency in its first year in office. Are these terrorists more tactful than Nigerian Army that is renowned for being exceptional in peace keeping mission within the African continent?

The arms deal scandal involving the immediate past NSA Sambo Dasuki and other charges of corruption against Let-Gen. Ihejirika (Rtd.), Let-Gen. Minimah and Chief of Defence Staff Alex Bade speaks volumes of the height and depth of corruption in Nigeria especially within the Military that is charged with the task of ensuring that peace is restored to the most populous African nation after Boko-Haram’s invasion of its territory. There no doubt that these highly placed officers and other Nigerian elites used the fight against insurgency to enrich themselves’ at the expense of the country. For Vice President Osibanjo, $15 billion was lost in an arms deal that was marred by fraud. For Katherin Dixon of Transparency International - "corrupt elites have profited from the conflict in the northeast and driven Nigeria to a crisis point."

What is the place of corrupt practices in the failure to win the war against Boko-Haram? Corruption has a multiplier effect and has been the reason Boko-Haram insurgency has continued to escalate in a disappointing manner. This paper which is solution based, seeks to give an insight into some of the corrupt practices perpetrated by those charged to fight insurgency in Nigeria and how deliberate effort at ending institutionalized corruption, making the welfare of soldiers a priority and qualitative training programs will contribute in no small measure in ending the armed conflict ravaging N/E and by extension, other neighbouring Africa nations in the past 9 years.