THE IMPLICATIONS OF BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN IDPS CAMPS: A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY,NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

                                                                         Introduction

1.1       Background of the Study

Boko Haram a terrorist sect which started in north-eastern city of Maiduguri in Nigeria, around 2002 had its official group name as Jama’atuAhlissunnaLidda’awatiWal-jihad which in Arabic means people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teaching an d Jihad, but residents in the north eastern city of Maiduguri, where the sect had its headquarters dubbed at Boko Haram. Loosely translated from the region’s hausa language which means western education is forbidden. Any write up about this sect will never be complete without mentioning its founding leader Mohammed Yusuf who was killed in Police custody in 2009.(Walker,2012)

Since the Sokoto caliphate, which ruled parts of what is now northern Nigeria, Niger and Southern Cameroon, fell under British control in 1903, there has been resistance among some of the areas muslin to western education.

Against this background, charismatic muslin cleric Mohammed Yusuf formed Boko Haram in Maiduguri in 2002. He set up a religions complex which included a mosque and an Islamic school.

Many poor muslin families from across Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries enrolled their children at the school. But Boko Haram was not only interested in education, its political goals was create an Islamic state, and the school became a recruiting ground for Jihads.(Adesoji,2011:99-119).

In 2009, Boko Haram carried out a spate of attacks on police stations and other government buildings in Maiduguri Capital of Borno state, which led to a shoot-out on Maiduguri’s street. Hundred of Boko Haram supporters were killed and thousands of resident fled the city.

Nigeria security forces eventually seized the group’s headquarters, capturing its fighters and killing Mr. Yusuf. His body was shown on state television and the security forces declared Boko Haram finished, but it fights regrouped under a new leader, AbubakarShekau, and stepped up insurgency.(walker 2012).

In 2013, the US designated it a terrorist organization and fears that it had developed linkis with other militant groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghred to wage a global Jihad.

The deployment of troops and the formation of vigilante groups drove many of them out of Maiduguri, their main urban base are retreated for the vast sambisa forest for the south are the Mandaramountains, close to the border of Cameroon. From there, the group fighters launched mass attacks on villages and towns, looting killing, abducting women and children and conscripting men and boys into their army.

In April 2014, Boko Haram drew international condemnations by abducting more than 200 school girls from Chibok town of Borno state, saying it would treat them as slaves and marry them off – a reference to the ancient Islamic belief that women captured in conflict are considered war boot.

And it switched tactics, often holding opn to territory rather than retreating after an attack. In August 2014 Mr. Shekau declared a caliphate on areas under Boko Haram control with the town of Gwoza its seat of power. “We are an Islamic caliphate” said AbubakarShekau, flocked by masked fighters and carrying machine guns. “We have nothing to do with Nigeria, we don’t believe in this name”.

But as of recent reports, Boko Haram from March 2015 till date      Boko Haram has lost all the towns under its control due to a regional coalition – made up of troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, not withstanding it has left many homeless which majority of them comprise of women and children logged in Internal Displaced persons Camp (IDP) across the country.(walker,2012).

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Boko Haram insurgency has construed to threaten the peace and prosperity of Nigerian citizens and the neighbouring countries. To address this, Nigeria and neighbouring countries have put on measures to combat and bring it under control to allow citizens enjoy their daily life. In Nigeria, the legislation has proscribe all manners of terrorist activity in the Terrorism Prevention (Act of 2011).

Boko Haram activities have to be seriously tackled since terrorism is a global problem faced by all part of the world and has left many countries in devastated state. Coming up with more measures of tackling this insurgency will reduce the menace faced by women and children as a result of being displaced from their towns, cities and villages. For that this study examined the implication of Boko Haram insurgency on women and children in Nigeria.

1.3              Research Question

(i)                 What is the percentage of women and children in FCT IDPs camps?

(ii)               What is the level of support and care rendering to women and children in FCT IDP camps?

(iii)             What are the implications of Boko Haram insurgency on the women and children in FCT IDP camps?

(iv)             What are the challenges facing women and children in the camps?

(v)               What are the strategies that could be adopted to address the implication and challenges of Boko Haram insurgency facing women and children in FCT IDP camps.

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