ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COMBATING TERRIORJSM IN NIGERIA

Terrorism is a security concern that has plagued the entire world at an alarming rate in recent years. The increased activities of terrorists in Nigeria has crippled various sectors in Nigeria, and therefore warrants an exhaustive discourse on the scourge of terrorism and how the law can play a pivotal role in combating same. That was the motivation behind this study. This study critically examined the history of terrorism globally, and how the menace first struck the shores of Nigeria, h further looked into the Terrorism Prevention Act, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, the Money Laundering Act. To achieve this, a doctrinal method was adopted for this research. Being a library oriented method of research, materials from both primary and secondary sources were analyzed. The primary sources included information from national and international legal instrument.. It was found during the course of this research that the legal and institutional framework for combating terrorism in Nigeria was in desperate need of strengthening. This was why the objective of this research work was to introduce internationally recognized best practices in combating terrorism. This research also found that, in a desperate attempt to combat terrorism, violation of human rights has become rife, and as such, Laws must ! be put in place to check some highhanded Law Enforcement Agencies. In an attempt to i contribute to knowledge, this research has offered a discussion on an improved way of tackling terrorism. It has offered is to identify some weaknesses in Nigerian Laws and its institutions. and has submitted that without a viable law encouraging law enforcement agencies to work in : unison, they would continue to struggle against various tactical terror groups. This research I recommended that there is an urgent need to address illiteracy in the country, if not, terror groups would find it easy to recruit very susceptible individuals who don 7 know any better. This | research has also recommended that the institutions created to tackle terrorism financing in must collaborate with international institutions who are more experienced in this terrain. By a way of conclusion, this research admits that the promulgation of a new Money Laundering Act, alongside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act and Terrorism Prevention Act | would introduce a more effective and radical change in the fight against terrorism, terrorism financing and money laundering activities in Nigeria.