Country Profile
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world, is a relatively large country with a population of over 211 million people. The West African country is known for its diverse cultural heritage, abundant natural resources, and outstanding literature from award-winning authors like Chimamanda N Adichie, Chinua Achebe and Ola Rotimi. Nigeria’s economy is primarily driven by its oil and gas sector, which accounts for over 90% of the country’s export earnings and about 70% of government revenue. Shortly after independence from British colonial rule in 1960, Nigeria suffered a bloody civil war popularly known as the Biafra war. It killed over a million people and lasted 3 years, 1967 to 1970.
Security
Security is a matter of grave concern for every Nigerian. The most prominent of these challenges is the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast region of the country. Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’ awati Wal-Jihad (JNIM), founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, is a terrorist group that seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria. JNIM is more widely known as Boko Haram, which translates to “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language.
It first gained national attention in 2009 when it carried out a series of attacks on police stations and government buildings in Borno State.
The Nigerian government responded by launching a military offensive against the group, resulting in the death of Mohammed Yusuf and several other Boko Haram members. Boko Haram’s attacks were initially concentrated in northeastern Nigeria but, the group has reached out to attack neighboring countries including Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
Though the Nigerian government has implemented several measures to combat Boko Haram; military operations, negotiations, and de-radicalization programs, the group is the deadliest terrorist group in West Africa.
Apart from Boko Haram, there are other jihadist and violent groups in Nigeria including but not limited to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fulani Herdsmen, Ansaru and Niger Delta Avengers.
