Boko Haram Insurgency and the Imperative of Promoting a Culture of Peace in Nigeria

Abstract

The state exists fundamentally for the protection of lives and properties and to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens. However, events in recent times have revealed that the Nigerian state has failed to protect her citizens. The Nigerian state currently struggles to maintain its sovereignty and unity in the face of growing, and commonplace, insecurity. This precarious situation, a seemingly helpless condition has called into question all past efforts to entrench peace and security. Although Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nation resolution on the ‘Culture of Peace' (in 1999), the perverse state of insecurity and violence in the country, especially the mindless killings by the Boko Haram  sect, has continued to undermine the efforts to promote the tenets of the resolution. The intensity of violent activities and cheapness of human lives and properties caused by the activities of the sect has further underscore the obvious fact that a ‘culture of peace' is yet to be cultivated in the country. Hence, our preoccupation in this work is with exploring the relationship between the absence of a ‘culture of peace' building plan, the emergence of the Boko Haram sect and the implication of the activities of the sect on national security. The essence of our preoccupation is to contribute to the widening discourse on Nigerian security and peace roadmap as well as to underscore the role of peace education in our quest for a united and secured Nigeria.