Correlation between the key factors surrounding a complex
humanitarian emergency and the Boko Haram insurgency in
northeast Nigeria
Daniel Dongo
January 16, 2025
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Introduction
The BOKO HARAM crisis that has ravaged the northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria for more than was
founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, which he lead up until his death in 2009 after a controversial raid by the
Nigerian police in maiduguri, Borno state. The group’s leadership subsequently was taken up by Abubakar
Shekau. The group which from its foundation was conceived as a religious organization interested with
instituting the tenets of Sunni Islam, eradicating Shia Islam and a subsequent overthrow of the democratically
elected government of Nigeria was fully devolved into a terrorist organization which has wrecked havoc on
the Nigerian state, been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths, over three hundred thousand children
(300,000) haave died in the wake of the Boko haram insurgency, displacement of over 2.3 million persons,
caused regional food crises and destruction of properties worth millions of dollars since its destructive wake
in 2009.
Complex humanitarian emergencies (CHE) are major man made disasters that might be complicated
by natural disaster(s), and loss of life. This are situations whereby there is considerable breakdown of
constituted authority, law and order as a result of internal and external conflict(s). CHE are an aggregation
of adverse enviromental, political, religious, social, cultural and economic circumstances that warrant the
intervention of international agencies to help restore normalcy, or provide a level of it for those affected.
CHE are often characterised by resource wars and conflicts with political undertones, ethnocentric aggression
targeted at minority groups, human rights abuse and civil unrest as an aftermath of breakdown of law and
order, disrutption of supplies of essential goods and services, poverty, economic collapse, erasure of territorial
boundaries and buffers, catastrophic enviromental and public health events, loss of human dignity, human
rights and respect for lives, and forced migration.
In the light of the aboved background, this an analysis of the correlation between the key factors of a
complex humanitarian emergency and the boko haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria.
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Boko Haram and CHE: What are the correlations?
An analysis of the Boko Haram insurgency reveals a correlation of some of the key factors that characterize
a complex humanitarian emergency. These factors range from political to social. An analysis is undertaken
below:
ˆ Political Factors: Although the Nigerian state did not experience any noticeable weakening in its
political structure before 2002, infact this was the first term of the 3rd republic which began in 1999,
there were noticeable cracks in the political formation driven by religious and ethno-centric sentiments
especially in the later half of the 2010’s. In Borno state, the base of Boko Haram, several political
activities took place between 2002 and 2009 that conveyed a sign of weakness and loss of trust in the
political order. Subsequently, the political environment of Borno state and other states in the northeast
experienced considerable interference by the Boko haram group. Local governments, council areas as
well as numerous communities and towns were occupied by the group at the height of its terror in
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the years 2011-2015. The emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency warranted miliary intervention in
the northeast. The government declared state of emergency at various times between the years 2011 2015. The northeast became a theater of active warfare between the Nigerian government, bordering
African states such as Chad, Niger, Cameron, as well as governments in Europe (Britain) and North
America(USA) Also, corruption, financial misappropriation and malfeasance has charactiserized the
relief efforts in the wake of the Boko Haram crises in the military, bureaucracy as well as among
international aid agencies.
ˆ Social Factors: CHE are characterised by disruption of the social fabrics of the society. Person are
displaced from their ancestral homes, communities, farmlands and sources of livelihood. Vulnerable
groups such as women, children, disabled and old are exploited and treated inhumanely. Social ties
such as family relationships, communal ties, religious and cultural ties undergo tremendous strain even
broken. This is also the case with the Boko Haram insurgency. Women, girls, children have been
kidnapped, raped, killed, displaced, subjected inhumane treatment such as slavery, forced marriages,
taken off school against their will, forced prostitution and sex slavery. Families have been displaced and
scattered in the attemtp for survival and safety. Social norms and traditions that ensure communal
cohensiveness have been jettisions in the toxic environment of complex humanitarian emergencies.
ˆ Cultural Factors: The cultural nomeclature of an area experiencing CHE is often under threat of
severe erosion or total extinction. as persons who domain in such vicinity of emergencies grapple
with their survival, they often do not care about the preservation of their cultural identities such
as language, music, art, agricultural practices and even religious sentiments, survival is the base for
actions in such environment. The Boko Haram insurgency also embodies this scenario. Persons have
been displaced, killed, maimed, kidnapped, communities have been forced to leave thier ancestral lands
to far away places, disconnecting them from the foundation of their cultural identity. New generations
of a community will be born in places that are alien to them, the will most likely grow without carrying
the cultural identity of their home nation or community because of the circumstances surrounding their
birth.
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Conclusion
It is obvious that a critical analysis of the Boko Haram situation reveals that it has correlations with a
Complex Humanitarian Emergency (CHE). Therefore, it is imperative that aid solutions and interventions
should be drafted to account for the perculiarities of the situation as well as the commonality it shares with
other CHEs. Taking such measures will produce a robust template for offering solutions to those in need as
the critical issues are well undersood and accounted for.
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