About Article

The development of a people or a nation-state anchors on the security and peaceful co-existence prevalent in the socio-economic and political milieus. Insecurity has bedeviled Nigeria, leading to the organized violent killings brought about by the Boko Haram sect. This paper, therefore, interrogates and analyzes the socio-economic and political implications of the Boko Haram menace in making Nigeria a failed/fragile state. However, two prominent perspectives on the origin of Boko Haram were examined, thereby making it less vague. The paper further explores the theories of “group disequilibrium”- being the bedrock for the origin of Boko Haram and, on the other hand, “counter-insurgency”- being the operational step taken by the government to eradicate Boko Haram in Nigeria. Findings show that the activities of Boko Haram destroy human capital development and hamper collective social progress in Nigeria. The paper recommends fostering national security, providing good governance; creating wealth and employment opportunities, and developing a responsive political economy framework.