blogs.longwood.edublogs.longwood.edu/adamsonmb/files/201… · web view · 2016-06-01eventually,...
TRANSCRIPT
MEMORANDUM
To: United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle1
From: MacKenzie Adamson
Subject: An Overview of Nigeria and a Plan to Eliminate Boko Haram in Northern Africa
Date: April 20, 2016
SUMMARY
Nigeria has been in a constant state of unrest due to the effects of Britain’s colonization,
religion, ethnic groups, and poverty. All of these factors have contributed to the development of
Boko Haram, a terrorist group and armed insurgency that forbids western education and instead
preaches the importance of an Islamic State. Some argue that its goal is to overthrow the
Nigerian government and instill Sharia law.2 Boko Haram is simply an effect of the strife and
tension within the country, and it cannot be eradicated until the causes have been resolved. This
will entail severe reform by the Nigerian government to rid itself of corruption, collect the funds
gained illegally by corrupted officials and citizens and apply it towards social programs, bolster
the Nigerian military with the help of the international community to better protect its people
from Boko Haram, and finally encourage international companies to leverage Nigeria’s natural
resources in order to create more jobs and better the economy. The protection of the Nigerian
people is of the upmost importance.
1 "Nigeria." Central Intelligence Agency. March 1, 2016; available from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 20162 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.
Adamson
THE PROBLEM
Nigerian Historical Overview
Nigeria celebrated its independence from Britain in 1960; however, the country remained
weak and fractioned. Nigeria is divided between the Muslim North and the Christian South, with
over 300 different ethnic and cultural groups. There are four main ethnic groups in Nigeria: the
Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the southwest, and the Igbo in the southeast.
Britain’s colonization of Nigeria brought together people of different backgrounds that were
forced to work together in one state after Britain’s departure. The country was unstable with
little to no understanding of how to govern itself, which made it vulnerable to the military coup
that took place in 1966 by General Aguiyl Ironsi, an Igbo from southern Nigeria. General Ironsi
was not in power for long before he was assassinated. This led to increasing hatred and violence
between the north and the south of Nigeria.3 Eventually, the Christian South decided to secede
from Nigeria and form the Republic of Biafra, under Colonel Odumegwu Ojukqu. In retaliation,
the Supreme Commander Yakubu Gowon of northern Nigeria declared war against the seceding
southeast. The Biafran War, otherwise known as the Nigerian Civil War, lasted from 1967 to
1970. During this time, the Muslim North prevented supplies and food from entering the
Christian South, causing starvation and creating a major humanitarian crisis.4
The United Kingdom supported their former colony and backed the Nigerian Federal
Military Government along with the Soviet Union. Biafra gained the sympathy of much of the
West and several non-governmental organizations like the International Committee of the Red
3 "Nigerian Civil War." New World Encyclopedia, January 12, 2015; available from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nigerian_Civil_War; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.4 "The Famine in Biafra - USAID's Response to the Nigerian Civil War." Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training; available from http://adst.org/2014/05/the-famine-in-biafra-usaids-response-to-the-nigerian-civil-war/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016
2
Adamson
Cross (ICRC) and the Joint Church Aid (JCA), when the humanitarian crisis became apparent to
the rest of the world. Over one million civilians died either from fighting or starvation during the
Biafran War, and many of those were in southern Nigeria. They died from starvation and lack of
medical care. The ICRC and the JCA delivered food, medicine, and supplies to the South in
hopes of preventing more unnecessary deaths.5 The Nigerian government eventually won the
war in 1970; however, there are still strong tensions between the ethnic groups, and the war is
deeply rooted in the memories of Nigeria’s citizens.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently classified as a federal republic that has a mixture of English common
law, Islamic law, and traditional law. Islamic law is found in twelve of the 36 states in Nigeria,
and all are located in the Muslim North. The most recent Constitution was adopted 5 May 1999
and last amended in 2012. Citizenship can only be obtained through direct descent on either the
side of the mother or the father.6 The government is supposedly divided equally between the 36
individual states and the national government located in the capital city of Abuja; however, in
practice it appears that the government does not operate on a federal level, but rather a unitary
level.7 Part of this is due to the clear ethnic divides within Nigeria due to over 300 ethnic groups
speaking more than 250 languages. Nonetheless, corruption runs rampant in Nigeria. A 2009
Amnesty International report said that the Nigerian police were guilty of hundreds of illegal
killings and disappearances that are “uninvestigated and unpunished.” In 2011, the Human
Rights Watch said that “corruption is so pervasive in Nigeria it has turned public service for
5 Simpson, Brad. "The Biafran secession and the limits of self-determination." Journal Of Genocide Research 16, no. 2/3 (July 2014); (accessed April 22, 2016).6 "Nigeria." Central Intelligence Agency. March 1, 2016; available from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 20167 Emmanuel, Idugboe Jesuorobo. "Restructuring The Nigerian Federation." Franklin Business & Law Journal 2013, no. 4 (December 2013); (accessed April 22, 2016).
3
Adamson
many into a kind of criminal enterprise.” Ethnic fighting and illegal killings have led to the
deaths of over 34,000 people since 2011.8
Nigeria is the largest and most populous country in Africa with roughly 174 million
people and an abundance of natural resources at its disposal, and yet 61 percent of the population
lives on less than one dollar a day.9 These natural resources include: petroleum, natural gas, tin,
iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, and land.10 There is a substantial difference between the
Muslim North and the Christian South in terms of poverty. Most of Nigeria’s natural resources
are in the South, which contributes to a division in wealth between the North and South. 72
percent of the North is in poverty in contrast to the 27 percent poverty level in the South.11 This
is because most industry is located in the South, along with most of the natural resources.
The current leader of Nigeria is President Muhammadu Buhari from the Katsina State in
northern Nigeria.12 Buhari is the first candidate to beat the incumbent in a presidential election.
He was the former military leader of Nigeria from January 1984 until August 1985 after a
military coup. The people remember him for his strict campaign against corruption. There is a
concern over past human rights abuses due to his strict policy of adherence to social order,
including having soldiers stationed at bus stops with whips to ensure that civilians stood in lines
as they waited for the bus to arrive.13 Buhari has made several changes already to the Nigerian
government to diminish corruption. One of these changes is his decision to run the oil ministry
8 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.9 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.10 "Nigeria Facts and Figures." OPEC; available from http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/167.htm; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.11 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.12 "Muhammadu Buhari." Encyclopedia Britannica, January 1, 2016; available from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammadu-Buhari; Internet; accessed 20 April 201613 "Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari in Profile." BBC, March 31, 2015; available from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12890807; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.
4
Adamson
himself. While this sounds like the beginning strategy of a dictator, he has fired those in charge
of skimming off money from the oil industry. The oil industry is also divided into two different
parts to create a system of checks and balances on the corporation so it does not become too
powerful, and in the process he fired the majority of its board. Buhari has also adjusted the bank
system to ensure that all government financial transactions go through one bank so he is able to
monitor it and make sure no money is missing. Lastly, Buhari has promised to hold previous
government and cabinet officials accountable for their corruption and is looking into restoring
the 150 billion dollars that was illegally taken throughout a ten-year period.14
Boko Haram
Boko Haram was founded in 2002 as an Islamist group against Western education;
however, in 2009 it morphed into an armed insurgency.15 Mohammad Yusuf believed in a strict
interpretation of the Quran and thought Nigeria was corrupt due to its colonization by the
British.16 Boko Haram is a nickname given to the group due to their anti-western attitudes.
Boko is derived from book and haram meaning forbidden.17 The insurgency’s true name is “جما
والجهاد للدعوة السنة أهل عة ” or “Association of the People of the Sunnah for Preaching and
Jihad.”18 Mohammad Yusuf was a Salafist influenced by the 14th century teachings of Ibn
Taymiyyah. Yusuf preached to young men in Maiduguri, and eventually the group began acting
14 Okeowo, Alexis. "Can Nigeria's New Government Overcome Its Old Corruption?" The New Yorker, October 14, 2015; http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-nigerias-new-government-overcome-its-old-corruption; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.15 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.16 Smith, Mike. "FACTSHEET: Explaining Nigeria's Boko Haram and Its Violent Insurgency." Africa Check. 2014; available from https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.17 "Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center; available from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.18 "Boko Haram." Encyclopedia Britannica, March 11, 2016; available from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Boko-Haram; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.
5
Adamson
out against the Nigerian people. Under Mohammad Yusuf, the group relied mostly on guns and
trucks to wreak havoc, but attacks in 2009 caused a shift in the organization. The attacks began
when Nigerian security officials reprimanded Boko Haram insurgents for not obeying the law of
wearing helmets on motorbikes. The insurgents attacked the security officers, which sparked an
armed uprising.19 The uprising ended with the Nigerian government as victors and hundreds of
Boko Haram members killed. Mohammad Yusuf was captured and publicly executed in
Maiduguri.20
Upon Yusuf’s death, Boko Haram shifted from a radical Islamist movement to an armed
insurgency that escalated from guns to suicide bombers. Abubakar Shekau is the current leader
of Boko Haram and was Yusuf’s second in command. Nigerian officials claimed to have killed
him on several occasions, but he is still alive. Under his leadership, Boko Haram has
increasingly used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on civilian and government targets. 21
Boko Haram has also splintered from one organization into several different factions. Abubakar
Shekau leads the main organization; however, other factions have spread into Cameroon, Chad,
and Niger.22 Boko Haram acts like a ladder with the true organization led by Shekau at the top
and fractioned cells going downward. Shekau’s goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government
to create an Islamic State. It is strictly forbidden for Muslims to take part in any western activity
or politics including elections, receiving a secular education, and wearing shirts or pants.23 Boko
19Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.20 "Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center; available from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.21 "Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center; available from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.22 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.23 Chothia, Farouk. "Who Are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists?" BBC, May 4, 2015; available from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.
6
Adamson
Haram has even gone so far as to pledge its allegiance to ISIS, although it appears it is more
symbolic in nature.24
Boko Haram Attacks
Since the formation of Boko Haram, more than 10,000 people have been killed and at
least 1.5 million have been displaced due to the violence.25 77 percent of these deaths are
Nigerian civilians. To put Boko Haram’s violence into perspective, they killed 6,644 people in
2014, whereas in the same time frame, ISIS killed 6,073.26 Boko Haram is just as violent as
ISIS, but they have less of a social media presence, which has allowed them to commit atrocious
acts under the radar of many Western citizens. In 2011, Boko Haram conducted a suicide
bombing on the UN headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria killing 23 people.27 In 2013, insurgents
attacked a local college in Yobe killing 65 students. In 2014 they bombed a bus station that
killed almost 100.28 2014 is also the year that marks the kidnappings of 276 schoolgirls from
Chibok. Some girls managed to escape, but 219 are still missing. Just recently in April 2016,
newly released footage reveals a proof of life video of fifteen of the Chibok girls.29 The video
was apparently given to the government officials soon after it was filmed on 25 December 2015,
and yet neither the parents of the girls nor the public were informed about this until now. While
24 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.25 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.26 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.27 Smith, Mike. "FACTSHEET: Explaining Nigeria's Boko Haram and Its Violent Insurgency." Africa Check. 2014; available from https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.28 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.29 Winsor, Morgan. "Were Chibok Schoolgirls Found? 219 Still Missing 2 Years After Boko Haram Nigeria Kidnapping." IB Times, April 14, 2016; available from http://www.ibtimes.com/were-chibok-schoolgirls-found-219-still-missing-2-years-after-boko-haram-nigeria-2353274; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.
7
Adamson
the girls appear to be reading from a script, one stressed the word “all” when she stated that all of
the girls were doing well. Boko Haram is suspected to have forced the girls to convert from
Christianity to Islam. Their kidnappings in 2014 sparked protests by the Nigerian people, and
people across the world, urging the government to act.30 The Nigerian families and communities
are hoping that this proof of life video will cause the government and military to re-focus on
finding the girls; however, it has also brought suspicion since the Nigerian government withheld
the video from the public for several months.
Boko Haram has abducted approximately 2,000 women and children since 2012. The
women and girls are taken as brides and raped by the insurgents, some are purposefully
impregnated in the hopes of raising a new generation of radicals. Increasingly, women are being
used in suicide bombings. They are deprived of food and water until they choose to convert
from Christianity to Islam. They are then forced to take classes on how to detonate bombs.
While the majority of women and girls act out of sheer fear, some are enthusiastic for the cause.
A woman who escaped enslavement by Boko Haram with her two children and grandchild
depicted her life in the camp. She claimed she was only allotted one meal a day, and all of them
were told that they would be sent to paradise if they blew themselves up in the name of Islam.
Unfortunately, as many as 105 girls were used in terrorist attacks since June of 2014, which
means that aid workers and non governmental organizations are fearful of providing food, water,
and medicine to escaped girls due to the possibility that they might be hiding a bomb under their
clothes.31 Depriving the girls of food and water and the constant abuse of rape makes them more
30 Busari, Stephanie, Nima Elbagir, and Sebastiaan Knoops. "Nigeria's Missing Girls: A Glimpse of the Stolen." CNN, April 14, 2016; available from http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/13/africa/chibok-girls-new-proof-of-life-video/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.31 Searcey, Dionne. "Boko Haram Turns Female Captives into Terrorists." The New York Times, April 7, 2016; available from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/world/africa/boko-haram-suicide-bombers.html?hpw&rref=world&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.
8
Adamson
vulnerable to radicalization because they will reach a breaking point where they will do anything
to escape their pain and suffering, including killing themselves in a suicide bombing.
IMPLEMENTATION AND JUSTIFICATION
The Proposal
Boko Haram evolved from the corruption and divisions within the Nigerian government
and country as a whole. In order to diminish the influence of Boko Haram and reduce the
number of recruits, the Nigerian government must make impactful changes in its structure in
order to create stability and instill trust within its people. The following steps are essential to
eliminate the terrorist threat of Boko Haram and to strength Nigeria: create a transparent
government with zero corruption, use funds illegally obtained by corrupt officials to create and
enhance social programs that benefit the people, hold the military responsible for its actions by
having civilian officials oversee their conduct, invite the international community to help the
Nigerian government and military to create a secure state for the Nigerian people, and lastly to
encourage international businesses and incorporations to leverage Nigeria’s abundance of natural
resources in order to create more job opportunities for the Nigerian people.
Step One: Corruption in the Government
First the Nigerian government must take a stance against corruption. President
Muhammadu Buhari won the election with his anti-corruption campaign. He is a strong leader
with good disciplinary skills that will play a vital role in rebuilding the structure of the Nigerian
government. All government officials must be evaluated on their past performances in their
respective positions to ensure that those that have abused the system and become corrupt are not
only fired, but prosecuted. The military must be reviewed as well. Cleaning house is an
essential first step. Those that have committed crimes will be investigated and interviewed for
9
Adamson
the purpose of finding any stolen money. Once the Nigerian government is free of corrupt
officials, the Constitution must be reviewed. It is critical that the Constitution is the focal point
of the new Nigerian government so that the people come first. Currently, the Nigerian people
see themselves first as a member of their ethnic, religious, or cultural group. In order for Nigeria
to become strong, it must develop a national identity. Part of this will be done through the
elimination of the rotating presidential system. It marginalizes hundreds of ethnic groups and
reinforces the idea of a divided country. Nigeria can no longer govern based on ethnicity. The
people must first and foremost see themselves as Nigerian. This will be a long process as ethnic
groups and divisions run deep in their history; however, it can be done if the Nigerian
government elects the president based on a purely democratic system where each candidate has
an equal chance of being elected. The government must re-enforce the idea of unity through
slogans, propaganda, speeches, and actions.
The funds collected by the Nigerian government from prior corrupt officials will be
distributed amongst social and welfare programs designed to decrease the poverty divide
between the North and the South, as well as to improve the lives of the impoverished. These
programs will provide food and water to those who have none. The money will go towards
rebuilding villages destroyed by Boko Haram. With 61 percent of Nigerians living on less than a
dollar a day, these programs will help distribute money so people are able to thrive. These
programs can also include medical aid and even job opportunities. The Nigerian government
should invite NGOs and other aid based organizations to help uplift the Nigerian people in this
process.
10
Adamson
Step Two: Nigerian Military and International Assistance
Once the Nigerian military has been reformed, corrupt officials have been fired, and
soldiers have been investigated for their conduct, the military needs to be deployed throughout
the country to act as security personnel to villages, cities, and communities. The Nigerian people
need to feel safe and secure. By better protecting the people, less Nigerians will join Boko
Haram because they will no longer feel the need to protect their families by becoming members.
Often times, people join terrorist organization because their governments are unable to protect
them. The Nigerian government must use the military actively in search of finding and rescuing
abducted women, boys, and girls from Boko Haram; however, it is important that the victims are
brought to safe locations for psychological testing to ensure that they are able to be successfully
reintegrated into society. This protects communities from radicalized victims that may choose to
act violently on behalf of Boko Haram.
The Nigerian government and military will not be able to do all of this on their own.
They need help from the international community. Ambassadors in Nigeria from their respective
countries must work together to provide support and guidance whenever necessary. This may
include encouraging native countries to send military support and personnel to train the Nigerian
military and help protect the Nigerian people. The United Nations would also be a valuable
resource and ally.
Step Three: International Corporations and Businesses
In order for Nigeria to truly prosper, it must open itself up to international trade,
businesses, and organizations. By welcoming international businesses into Nigeria, more jobs
will become available to the Nigerian people, essentially increasing the amount of wealth being
distributed across the country. Ideally, this would lead to a decrease in poverty. It would also
11
Adamson
improve Nigeria’s relations with the international community and could possibly lead to a
decrease in tariffs and trade barriers. This step can only happen when the Nigerian government
is no longer corrupt and the country is well protected by the military and law enforcement.
International businesses and organizations will not operate out of Nigeria if the country is not
stable or secure.
OBJECTIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS
An objection to this plan is that it relies first and foremost on the creation of a corrupt-
free government. If the first step is not taken, then the rest cannot follow. Another limitation is
that the Nigerian government may not have enough resources to follow these steps. This means
that they may need to rely on outside help from NGOs and other nations. If the international
community is not willing to help, then the Nigerian government may not be able to protect its
people on its own. It is also important to note that NGOs may not come without security. Boko
Haram could deter nations and organizations from becoming involved. There is also the
possibility that the hatred between ethnic groups might not be able to be extinguished within a
reasonable time frame. Lastly, international businesses and organization could take advantage of
a fragile Nigeria and become corrupt themselves, taking money away from the Nigerian people
or destroying their environment by not following standard procedures.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, these steps will strengthen and cleanse the Nigerian government, provide
social programs, reform the military, ensure protection of the Nigerian people, improve
international relations, and increase job opportunities as well as income. This plan does have
limitations. The Nigerian government must first choose to dedicate itself to the betterment of the
country and its people. This will not happen immediately, but gradually. Reform takes time and
12
Adamson
changes may be costly. Despite these drawbacks, this plan will slowly strengthen Nigeria’s
government and weaken Boko Haram. Over time, the people will turn to the government for aid
and Boko Haram will lose power and influence.
13
Adamson
Works Cited
"Boko Haram." Encyclopedia Britannica, March 11, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/topic/Boko-Haram."Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center. Accessed April 20, 2016. https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html.Busari, Stephanie, Nima Elbagir, and Sebastiaan Knoops. "Nigeria's Missing Girls: A
Glimpse of the Stolen." CNN, April 14, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/13/africa/chibok-girls-new-proof-of-life-video/.
Chothia, Farouk. "Who Are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists?" BBC, May 4, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501.
Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram- terrorism/416673/ .
Emmanuel, Idugboe Jesuorobo. "Restructuring The Nigerian Federation." Franklin Business & Law Journal 2013, no. 4 (December 2013): 1-18. Business Source Complete EBSCOhost (accessed April 22, 2016)."The Famine in Biafra - USAID's Response to the Nigerian Civil War." Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://adst.org/2014/05/the-famine-in-biafra-usaids-response-to-the-nigerian-civil-war/."Muhammadu Buhari." Encyclopedia Britannica, January 1, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammadu-Buhari."Nigeria." Central Intelligence Agency. March 1, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html."Nigeria Facts and Figures." OPEC. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/167.htm."Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari in Profile." BBC, March 31, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12890807.
"Nigerian Civil War." New World Encyclopedia, January 12, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nigerian_Civil_War.Okeowo, Alexis. "Can Nigeria's New Government Overcome Its Old Corruption?" The New Yorker, October 14, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-nigerias-new-government-overcome-its-old-corruption.
Searcey, Dionne. "Boko Haram Turns Female Captives into Terrorists." The New York Times, April 7, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/world/africa/boko-haram-suicide- bombers.html?hpw&rref=world&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-r egion®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well.
Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739.
14
Adamson
Simpson, Brad. "The Biafran secession and the limits of self-determination." Journal Of Genocide Research 16, no. 2/3 (July 2014): 337. Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File, EBSCOhost (accessed April 22, 2016).
Smith, Mike. "FACTSHEET: Explaining Nigeria's Boko Haram and Its Violent Insurgency." Africa Check. 2014. Accessed April 20, 2016. https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/.
Winsor, Morgan. "Were Chibok Schoolgirls Found? 219 Still Missing 2 Years After Boko Haram Nigeria Kidnapping." IB Times, April 14, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.ibtimes.com/were-chibok-schoolgirls-found-219-still-missing-2-years-after-boko-haram-nigeria-2353274.
15