Problematizing the Fight against Boko Haram: The Applied Theatre Alternative

Abstract

This study explores the difficulties that the fight against Boko Haram presents; especially the failed attempts in the last two decades by the Nigerian government to bring the sect’s nefarious activities to an end. It has been observed that the conventional western-styled counterinsurgency method of using military force is not yielding the kind of result that is
expected. Having gauged this failed effort in the fight against terror in Nigeria, the paper
suggests that the Applied Theatre approach to solving crisis is potentially capable of helping in the fight against insurgency if properly deployed. This suggestion is supported by Seth and Martins’ argument that any type of negotiation that addresses the actual, ultimate goals of terrorist organisations and redresses grievances is a more effective way to end terrorism. It is
therefore the position of the paper that although military action cannot entirely be ignored in the war against terror, it should be executed alongside other counter insurgency models, especially those that target de-radicalisation and depopularisation of terror group members and
the ideologies upon which they are founded. To drive the discourse and arguments around this, I adopt the Emancipatory Counter-Insurgency Theory, which commits to a non-violent counter-insurgency alternative geared towards emancipating members of terror sects and their sympathisers/supporters from their cultic membership/followership of insurgent groups.