Zumve Samuel Iornienge

Keywords: Terrorism, Hunger, Bad Governance, Ruling Class and Job Creation.

Abstract

Nigeria as an entity has experienced acts of terrorism in varying degrees starting from the pre-independence days to the contemporary times. This paper investigates the evolution and historical development of terrorism in Nigeria. The paper discusses the ugly and heinous phenomenon of terrorism as an invention of members of the ruling class in Nigeria. Adopting principles of the Political Economy Theoretical Perspective, the paper established that terrorism in Nigeria is a creation of members of the ruling class entrenched through the agency of colonialism, bad governance and deliberate creation of political thugs/gangs who metamorphosed into terrorist groups. Data for the paper emerged through a systematic review of secondary data sources obtained from the internet, library and other documentary materials relevant to the subject of this analysis. Findings established that, as Nigeria transited from colonial rule to civil rule at political independence on 1st October, 1960, the British ruling class also handed over the legacy of terrorism to their Nigerian counterparts. Since then, Nigerian politicians and military juntas have adopted terrorism as a tool of acquiring political power. The paper concludes that the British’s style of military conquest (which was an act of terrorism) remains a model and major “working tool” used by the Nigerian political ruling class. The paper recommends that governments at all levels in Nigeria should be committed to deepening democratic values that promote civil methods of acquiring political power within the Nigerian society.

Author Biography

Zumve, Samuel Iornienge

Department of Criminology and Security Studies Faculty of Social Sciences Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Email: [email protected] 

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