Reflecting on the Just War Tradition and the Discourse of Counterinsurgency in Nigeria

Abstract

The aftermath of September 11, 2001, terror attack on the US opened a global floodgate of discourse, not only for scholars and media but also political actors, statesmen and stateswomen alike. The event left in its wake issues and contestations ranging from, but not limited to, terrorism, human security/insecurity, counter-terrorism, human rights abuse and violation, values, state’s power, use of force, torture, violence and threats of violence, etc. At the core of these issues and contestations is the concern for whose security is at stake; the state or the individuals making up the state? Who is responsible for the safety and security of the state and its citizens? How or what is required to safeguard the state and or its citizens? Does state require more power to effectively protect itself and or the citizens? How can or should such power be justified? Addressing these questions require grounding in literature covering the broad intersection of these issues, with attention to the specific socio-historical context of the society concerned. In Nigeria, the reverberation of this global phenomenon is the burgeoning of literature on insurgency, terrorism and counter-terrorism, especially with the spread of radical activities of non-state actors across the country. This paper survey the terrain of insurgency/terrorism, particularly the activities of Boko Haram and how the Nigerian state is discursively responding to it drawing on the just war tradition.

Keywords: Counterinsurgency, Critical Discourse Analysis, Language, Just War, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-7-02

Publication date: December 31^st 2023