Addressing The Boko Haram Sect’s Nihilism: An Exploration of The Role of Writers

Terrorist attacks in Nigeria were formerly almost exclusively carried out by two separateand distinct militant groups: the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Anothermilitant group, Boko Haram, an Islamist sect, has now emerged and is at the momentcarrying out deadly attacks on Nigerians, on foreign nationals and on public agencies andinstitutions like the police, the army, and public and private schools. While the FederalGovernment has to a large extent successfully used force to curtail the violent activities ofMEND and MASSOB, its employment of that strategy in dealing with the Boko Haram secthas largely failed. This position paper briefly discusses the history of terrorism in Nigeria,the advent of Boko Haram, its meaning and origins, its terrorist attacks and their impacts,and the various ways and strategies being suggested to bring the Islamist sect’s insurgencyto an end. Finally, the paper contends that, in addition to the various suggested strategies,writers too have a role in ending this dreaded sect’s murderous activities.