MULTI-NATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE AND THE FIGHT AGAINST BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

Boko Haram has perpetrated its terrorist acts within Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin since 2009 with devastating consequences. This arguably was due to inadequate mechanisms to investigate into the causes of their actions and make informed alternative decisions to effectively roll back Boko Haram activism. Paradoxically, the affected countries, either due to the pride of sovereignty or mutual suspicion, initially preferred to solve the Boko Haram equation in isolation within their national boundaries, but the persistent excesses of this group continued to threaten the security situation of the entire region. This necessitated concerted action and consequently led to the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force to roll back Boko Haram extremisms. The modus operandi of the sect has taken the forms of shootings, kidnappings and use of Improvised Explosive Devices. However, the Nigerian government has responded to the Boko Haram quagmire. Despite government response, the sect has continued to unleashed its terror. The study examines the role of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. The study utilized the state fragility theory. The state fragility theory was used to explained how the weakness of Nigerian state aided the emergence of Boko Haram and has also affected Nigeria‘s counter terrorism policies in mitigating the excesses of Boko Harm. The weakness of Nigeria state is hinged on weak state institutions which has manifested through economic inequality, poverty, porosity of boarder, brutality of security apparatus and political instability. The study adopt the content analysis method. This was actualized through the review and assessment of journals, books, official documents, newspapers and media reports. This was supplemented with interviews responses from the target audience. The study observes that weak counter-terrorism policies implemented by the Nigerian government explain the persistence of the Boko Haram menace. The study also find that multinational joint task force has been relatively effective in the against Boko Haram in Nigeria. It further observes that the emergence of Boko Haram is rooted in Islamism and poverty. The need to strengthen state institution was given as a suggestion on how to make the policies work effectively. The study also suggest that countries engaged in the fight against Boko Haram should stay mobilized given the persistence of the threat and the group‘s capacity to adapt, as well as its resilience.