Portrait of the Root Causes of Boko Haram Insurgency in Borno State, Nigeria

This study looks into the main reasons behind the Boko Haram violence in Borno State, Nigeria, aiming to offer evidence-based suggestions for prevention, recovery, and policy changes. A descriptive survey design was employed to gather information from 112 participants, comprising internally displaced individuals, community leaders, youth, women, and local security volunteers. The data were collected through structured questionnaires written in Hausa and Kanuri. The analysis, presented in frequency tables and percentages, reveals that unemployment (73.2%) and poverty (67.9%) are the primary reasons cited. Other factors include political marginalisation (62.5%), religious extremism (58.0%), poor governance/corruption (53.6%), ethnic grievances (42.9%), and the spread of illegal weapons (33.0%). The findings suggest that economic struggles, political exclusion, and governance failures create an environment where extremist ideas can thrive by exploiting these issues to garner support. The study explains the results using the Relative Deprivation Theory, which posits that feelings of disparity between what people expect and what they experience can lead to frustration and violence within a group. It concludes that relying solely on military solutions is insufficient and calls for a combined strategy that includes job creation, political inclusion, governance reforms, counter-radicalisation efforts, fostering social unity, and arms control. By emphasising how economic, political, and ideological issues are connected, this research highlights the need for comprehensive local actions to tackle the underlying causes of the insurgency and promote lasting peace in Borno State, Nigeria.