This book explores the varied ways in which Nigeria needs to undergird her national security and sustainable strategies with critical thinking perspectives and principles. With insecurity in one way or another present in most, if not all, of Nigeria, this volume brings together military professionals and civilian scholars to present their shared understanding in order to answer an age-old question: Whither Nigeria’s national security and strategy? The book is relevant to political leaders, policy makers and scholars with diverse interests around sustainable strategies within security services. Ultimately, it will foster debate and constructively addresses various issues ranging from social, political, cultural, historical, economic, military and intellectual strategies.
This book examines the growing phenomenon of armed banditry in Nigeria and its implication for national security. Nigeria’s banditry crisis and deepening security challenges are fuelled by the existence of vast un(der)governed hinterland and trans-border spaces where various non-state armed groups operate unhindered and outside of the law, engaging in various forms of transnational crime. This book explores the activities of these groups to assess the nature and significance of banditry as a complex threat to security. It does so against the backdrop of reports of increased bandit attacks on farms, markets, mining sites, villages and rural communities, and the rising tide of violent crimes in Nigeria, especially the northern region. This book analyses the factors that are responsible for the emergence of banditry as a recent national and transnational security threat and outlines the contemporary dynamics of Nigeria’s banditry crisis and how it can be mitigated. This book will be of interest to researchers and students in the field of African Studies, International Relations, Security and Strategic Studies, Political Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, as well as policymakers and practitioners interested in complex security threats and their implications in Nigeria and beyond.
The book explores the pressing problem of rural violence in contemporary Nigeria by assessing the changing patterns of conflict and response across the country. Rural violence in Nigeria is becoming an increasingly pressing concern, with cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts putting immense pressure on the state’s institutional preparedness and the response capacity of the government, military and other security agencies. Drawing from the expertise of a wide range of African development, governance and security researchers and practitioners, this book assesses the severity of the current problem of rural violence, and provides a critical analysis of the various national and state responses to rural violence in Nigeria. Ultimately, the book aims to provide suggestions for restoring peace, security and development in Nigeria. This book will be of interest to scholars, researchers and administrators across Political Science, Security Studies, Rural Studies, and Regional Studies in Africa.
The Journal of the International Relations and Affairs Group has been a platform to discuss and submit articles related to foreign affairs & global issues such as: Integration, Globalization, Geopolitics, Conflict Resolution, Commerce, Law, Diplomacy, Intelligence Community, Negotiation, Peace Building, Government, Defense, Research, Economics, Business, State Role, IGO, NGO, MNC, Public Policy, Terrorism, and other international issues and problems. Purpose: The Journal of the International Relations and Affairs Group (JIRAG) is a peer reviewed publication to promote research in International Affairs.
The scope of Security and International Affairs research has expanded tremendously since the end of the Cold War to include topics beyond the realm of war studies or military statecraft. The field—once devoted solely to the study of conventional military and nuclear security issues—has diversified to include foci often considered nontraditional, including peace and conflict, political, economic, environmental, and human security. In this exciting new volume, McGann has undertaken a quantitative and qualitative study of SIA think tanks, looking at global and regional trends in their research. He argues that the end of the Cold War marked a fundamental shift within the field of defense and security studies among think tanks and academics. Tracking the evolution of security as understood by researchers and policymakers is vital as the world follows the path of the Four Mores: more issues, more actors, more competition, and more conflict. As we move forward into a world of rapid change and ubiquitous uncertainty, think tanks will only become more prominent and influential. The volume concludes with an assessment of the future of Security and International Affairs studies and raises the possibility of a return to a traditional security focus driven by recent events in Europe and the Middle East. This will be an important resource for students and scholars of security studies, global governance, and think tanks.
In an ever changing complex world, law enforcement must readily adapt to fight criminals/terrorists. In this work, Eterno and Das bring experts from all over the globe to explain policing in a way that only they can do. These experts are well-versed in law enforcement methods and operations in their respective countries. Nearly every part of the globe is represented in a cornucopia of nations: Australia, Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States. Many of the contributors are world renowned scholars with practical policing experience. Each chapter brings a unique viewpoint explaining the country's police from the perspective of that country's culture. The focus of the book is on transnational crime and terrorism; however, each chapter provides a basic understanding of policing in that nation. Additionally, a chapter on current legal practices throughout the world develops a global understanding of the difficulties faced by law enforcement. To combat crime and terrorism on a global scale requires an understanding of other nations: their cultures, their laws, their viewpoints. This book, written by indigenous authors, provides unique insights into the countries being examined. The wide range of countries combined with native experts make this book a necessary first step toward properly handling international crime and terrorism.
While it could be arguably stated that West Africa has achieved remarkable and sustainable progress in the areas of democratic governance and economic growth, the sub-region, over the past few years, has been challenged by terrorism and other transnational security threats. Innocent civilians are continuously killed; security operatives and providers of humanitarian assistance targeted; properties and infrastructure wantonly destroyed; thus culminating in significant displacement of people and acute poverty. If these developments are not carefully and timeously addressed, they are capable of eroding progress so far recorded. It is against this background, that this Thesis undertakes a study of the different manifestations of terrorism and related transnational security challenges in West Africa, to explore the internal and external sources and drivers of instability; establish the linkages between terrorism and transnational threats; examine the various steps taken in recent time to strengthen the sub-regions capacity to prevent and address the menace of terrorism and other security challenges, and make necessary policy recommendations based on comprehensive best practices.
Nigeria is rife with divisions, particularly between Christians and Muslims. Both groups aim at converting others, and so they are in direct conflict with each other. The bitterness came to a head when Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, succeeded his former boss, Musa Yar’Adua, upon his death. Jonathan would serve as president from 2010 to 2015. The northern oligarchy was infuriated because they depended on rent and patronage, which they knew would not be feasible under a Christian president. They employed every tactic they could to destabilize his regime, and in 2015, he lost the presidential election to the former military head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. In this book, the author lays out how politics in Nigeria is no longer based on what politicians can do for the community. Rather, the focus is on what they can do for themselves. There is no more catching fish for God. The religion they follow is based on stealing from the people. Buhari was presented as an agent of change, but his seven years in charge have only brought pain, bloodshed, anarchy, and more turmoil. Something must be done to move Nigeria away from the precipice. Praise for Conspiracy of Silence “Azukaoma Uche Osakwe’s book is another in a growing list of sad narratives on the failure of leadership in Nigeria under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari's Administration. The book painstakingly combs through the many ills of Nigerian society under Buhari and the collapse of such institutions as the police, army, electoral body, government officials and the various ethnic nationalities. He accuses these people of conspiring to stay mum amid terrible governance. The author charges the citizenry, as well as the Igbo Nation, which, he says, are marginalized, to buckle up and take what remains of their destiny in their own hands.” —Jude Atupulazi, editor-in-chief, Fides Newspaper, Awka, Nigeria “Conspiracy of Silence ... this book must necessarily take a long title. It would indeed, be difficult to capture the Muhammadu Buhari era as president of Nigeria with an elegantly titled book. The simple reason is that the Buhari tenure was devoid of neither elegance nor finesse. Conspiracy of Silence encapsulates this rather dark epoch in fine detail – warts and all. It’s a racy report of Africa’s giant caught in the vice grips of mediocrity and mendacity in equal measures. It's stranger than fiction!” —Steven Osuji, columnist and former member of the editorial board, The Nation, Nigeria
This edited volume explores Nigeria’s domestic and international politics and its implications for the country’s national development and international status. Coinciding with the twenty year anniversary of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, this volume considers the state of democracy in Nigeria and examines its successes and challenges with a view towards offering possible solutions for the country’s future development. The first half of the volume addresses domestic politics, focusing on current issues such as the 2019 elections, Nigerian federalism, media, state-civil society relations, and Boko Haram terrorism. The second half looks at Nigeria’s relations with its African neighbors, discussing the relationships between Nigeria and South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, and Cameroon, among others. Engaging the full spectrum of the politics of a rising African power, this volume will be of interest to students and researchers of comparative politics, international relations, foreign policy, African studies, regional politics, peace, security, conflict, and development studies, as well as African policymakers.
