Boko Haram Terrorism and Development Challenges in the Northeastern Nigeria

The study examines the challenges that hinder development in the Northeast, of Nigeria as a result of the activities of the Boko Haram insurgency. Mixed methods techniques of data collection were adopted to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data using (structured questionnaires) and qualitative (in-depth interviews. A total of 470 respondents were sampled using the Morgan and Krejcie (1970) sample size table. The quantitative data obtained were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics while Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed for the analysis of the qualitative data. The study found that the Boko Haram violence had adversely affected the development and commercial activities of the areas studied. The destruction of markets, and government buildings, killings and abductions of business owners led to dire developmental challenges. Also, the study found that there was mismanagement of relief materials/assistance for the affected persons, lack of access to food, healthcare services and hygienic facilities in the affected communities and recurrent attacks by the Boko Haram members have hampered any development to take place in the study areas. This study suggests that the reopening of markets, provision of security, pro-poor social investment programs, introduction of surveillance technology, protection of farmers and exploration of natural resources endowed in the areas will rejuvenate the economic and social fortunes of the areas surveyed in this study.