The Political Economy of Countering Terrorism in Nigeria’s Northeaster Region

Abstract

This article explains the convergence of the political economy approach and counterterrorism measures’ effectiveness in Nigeria’s Northeast region. Though the federal government declared that it had technically defeated the Boko Haram group as a result of the soft and hard power approaches employed to combat terrorism in the region, outcomes of attacks in recent times, reveal otherwise. This article argues that while efforts, which are situated within increasing defence expenditures and rehabilitation of repentant terrorists, are geared towards ending the menace, they have been thwarted by political elites who benefit from funding devoted to counter-terrorism strategies. This article analyses methods used to circumvent state’s efforts and the impact on the counter terrorism measures.