THE CHALLENGES OF DEALING WITH TERRORISM
dejection, low status/esteem and increases the dependency rate. There is no doubt that the incidences of militancy, violent crimes, political thuggery and kidnappings amongst others places an enlarging scar on the face of the country. The problem of unemployment is a big challenge to Nigeria and the Boko Haram insurgence has continued to exemplify it. Economically, the incessant attacks of the sect on the State have weighed down commercial and business activities in Borno and Kano states especially. The Maiduguri Monday Market, the biggest market in the city is reported to have been seriously hit by the crisis. Hundreds of shop owners, especially those from the southern parts of the country have closed down their businesses and left the embattled city. Approximately half of the 10,000 business stalls in the market were said to have been abandoned by traders
who fled the city. Financial institutions in affected areas are also not left out. They now operate under difficult situations and some have reduced their business hours to guard against being attacked by members of the sect.
The attacks on Kano have been very devastating because the city had been regarded as the commercial centre of western Africa for the past 500 years. As a result of the attacks, investors have relocated from the state and continue to search for fresh grounds for their investments. The commercial city had been regarded as the economic base of the North before the evolution of countries like Niger Republic, Chad and northern Cameroon as well as the Nigerian nation itself. The crisis alongside poor power conditions is reported to have contributed in reducing the business prospects of the entire northern region of Nigeria.
According to Ike Okorie, Nigeria would not be able to tap into about US$1.4tr investment capital which circulates around the world for as long as the insecurity situation persists. There is therefore the need to examine what the rising insecurity portends for the country particularly in the areas of foreign investment and employment generation. Insecurity is a risk factor, which investors the world over dread and encourages them to move elsewhere.
Accordingly, Okorie indicates that the severe security threat to life and property all over the country sends the wrong signals to the international community.4 In recent times, with the liberation of towns and villages occupied by the Boko Haram terrorist and the rescue of abducted persons by Nigerian troops, there has arisen the challenge of rehabilitating a community of traumatized
citizens and putting them on the path of self-actualization once more. This is a task that is really daunting given the huge rate of recaptured pregnant abductees as well as girls and women.
What the Government has done
In tackling the menace, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan stated the resolve of his administration to overhaul the entire national security architecture, improve intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical support to the armed forces and security collaboration with friendly countries to achieve visible and positive results. The federal government of Nigeria also declared a state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. However, the policy of a state of emergency in a democratic Nigerian state means that the federal government has always been an onlooker in the fight
202 | The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue Three
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