CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of Study
“Suicide Bombing and Terrorism” is a
twin –concept used to ex-ray the extent terrorist activities have gone. Though
this research focuses on suicide bombing and terrorism in Nigeria, it is not
limited to Nigeria. Nigeria being a multi-ethnic cum multi tribal state is
faced with security challenges propelled by inter-ethnic tensions, anarchy,
debauchery occasioned by egocentric and tribal aggrandizement of the ruling party.
However, we cannot just “dive” into
the current concept of terrorism which is the breeder of all other forms of
terror-related activities (including suicide bombing which is treated as a
twin-concept with it in this paper), without making it knowns to us that
terrorism is a primordial system in Africa, lot alone the world. Moreover, the
Sherifien dynasty of the Alawites and Filali in Morocco to the regencies of
Algeria, Tunisia and Libya under the effect suzerainty of the Sultan of Turkey,
the Berber-Arab population of North Africa experienced one form of terrorism
after another, even before colonial rule1. [1]
Nigeria
since her return to civil rule in 1999 faces some national security challenges
across the six geo-political zones in the country. The spate of bomb blasts,
kidnapping, pipeline vandalisation and other forms of criminalities in recent
times in various parts of the country are emerging trends of domestic
terrorism. This view was also shared
by Minister of Police Affairs, retired Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade, when he
acknowledged that the nation now faces new security threats that were quite
different from what we used to know2.
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This paper seeks to examine the
local and social implications of suicide bombing and tourism in National
Development.
Coming to the side of legal
implications, the paper X-rays certain laws, statutes, conventions, etc made
internationally, regionally and locally to checkmate terrorism in Nigeria.
These laws may include (but not constrained to), U. N. General Assembly
Resolution 34/45 (1978), the U.N General Assembly Resolution 40/61 (1985) and,
U.N General Assembly Resolution 13/73 (2001). Other conventions include, the
convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against internationally
protected person; Diplomatic Agents adopted by the General Assembly of the
U.N.C (1973) 1035 UNTS 167 ILM41 (1974), The international contention against
the taking of hostages, adopted by General Assembly of the U. N. (1979) 1316
UNTS; 18 ILM 1460 (1979)3, etc.
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Ely, Karomon states that “there is
also an optimistic trend in the international arena of the late 1990’s. During
the last decade, and more so during the last two to three years, we have
witnessed a growing readiness and interest on the part of more countries to
cooperate in the fight against terrorism, on the local, regional and global
arena”5. This statement by Karmon indicates the readiness of
countries to combat terrorism globally.
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This paper is made up of five
chapters. The chapter one deals with the general introduction, statement of
problem, research question objective of study, scopes of study, and research
methodology. The chapter two deals with the literature review, historical
development of suicide bombing and terrorism, the concepts of national
development, empirical cases on suicide bombing and terrorism, the cause of
suicide bombing and terrorism. Chapter three is on the theoretical frame work
of suicide bombing and terrorism, ie; suicide bombing and terrorism in Nigeria,
local (Nigerian) statutes on suicide bombing and terrorism and international
laws on suicide bombing and terrorism. Chapter four deals with the legal and
social implications of suicide bombing and terrorism: the success(s) and
failure(s) of both the national and international laws in checking terrorism.
Finally, chapter five deals however, conventionally and conservatively with
observation, recommendation(s), and conclusion.
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[5]
become the most dangerous modus operanadi of modern terrorism. This refers us to the manga’s case7 the suicide bomber who bombed the Nigeria police force headquarters Abuja on June 16, 2011.
become the most dangerous modus operanadi of modern terrorism. This refers us to the manga’s case7 the suicide bomber who bombed the Nigeria police force headquarters Abuja on June 16, 2011.
The essence of this paper is not
only to discuss suicide bombing and terrorism but to bring it down to the
Nigerian context; examine its legal and social implications in national
development. This paper (research) is “virgin” it is virgin because not quite a
good number of researchers have developed interest in the subject, hence,
scarcity of already made materials for the project.
1.2 Statement
of Problem
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[6]
In the light of the afore-stated
terrorist acts carried out by people who are indigenous to Nigeria, the country
is rated among the top terrorist countries of the world. These terrorist activities
by Nigerians within and outside the country have made Nigerians all over the
world to become “indirect suspects”. Terrorist activities have made Nigerians
not to be trusted. All these lead to retardation in growth and development. This
paper seeks to present the fortune terrorism, especially in the form of suicide
attack/bombing brought to the statues of national development (whether good or
bad).
However, it is ascertainable that
terrorism brings no good fortune but ill fortune. It is a threat to the Nigeria
State. It has brought economic retardation political insecurity and social
terror. All these give me concern; hence the topic, “Suicide Bombing and Terrorism
in Nigeria: An Examination of the Legal and Social Implications in National Development”.
1.3 Research
Question
This paper has one but multi-facet
question it seeks to answer. As we have known, the paper is on “Suicide Bombing
and Terrorism in Nigeria; An Examination of the Legal and Social Implications
in National Development”. But this however is not the only problem this paper
seeks to solve. It also seeks to answer questions like;
What is suicide bombing/terrorism?
How has it affected national growth
and development?
What are the causes of terrorism in
Nigeria?
These and many more are questions
this paper seeks to address.
1.4 Objective
of Study
This paper is directed towards achieving coherence and
lucidity on the questions cited above. This however neither means that this
paper is a perfect research on terrorism nor insinuate that the research has
been haphazardly done but that research has been done to tackle specific
questions on certain aspects of terrorism.
The paper seeks to bring clarity on
the questions of suicide bombing and terrorism in Nigeria. It concentrates more
on the Nigeria State and diversifies a little globally. Although there have not
been, enough researches done on the topic and no much secondary sources, dealing
on the subject, this paper seeks to give the reader a clear understanding of
the subject with the limited, materials available.
Again, this paper seeks to ‘weigh”
the statutes that guide against terrorism in Nigeria.
Finally, the paper is primarily
interested in the legal and social implications of terrorism; how it promotes
or hampers development in nation building.
1.5 Significance
of Study
This paper is necessary in certain respects and
aspects. In proffering measures to be taken for the development of a nation,
considerations must be made on the subject of terrorism; how it affects
development in a state.
This paper is also relevant to
people who want to know the causes of terrorism. In short, the relevance of
this paper is too enormous since it deals with certain aspects of terrorism
like historical development of suicide bombing and terrorism, empirical cases
of suicide bombing and terrorism, local and international laws on suicide
bombing and terrorism.
However, despite the significance of
this paper in many areas, the paper is also vital to voracious readers who are
versatile and read to acquire knowledge and may see reason to appreciate or
criticize the “healthiness” or “illness” of the research.
1.6 Scope
of Study
This paper is directed but not limited to suicide
bombing and terrorism in Nigeria. It covers terrorist activities in other parts
of the world.
It deals with international laws on
terrorism, it also seek to check the success and failure of both local and
international laws in combating terrorism globally. However, this paper concentrates
more on terrorism in Nigeria. It seeks to face the locally indigenous insurgent
group, BOKO HARAM that stands menacingly against the security of the country.
1.7 Limitation
of Study
It will be fallacious to state that
this paper is without problem.
In the course of this research, a
lot of problems were encountered. This include the problem of limited materials
like text books, journals (academic) and even cases dealing on the subject.
These limitations made the research
to base so much on online materials like academic journals, individual thesis and
few textbooks like Boko Haram and terrorism (edited by Simon O. Anyanwu and
Isidore U. Nwanaju) and some journals like the International Law and the
Growing Trend of Terrorism. The paper is subject to the information of the
media.
This is not to say that these
limitations made the research half-baked but made it rather tough with time
consuming factors and resource- demanding processes.
Another problem I encountered in the
course of the research is the problem of money for the ‘run-arounds” there was
little or no money for the visitation of other schools in “scramble” for
materials (though it was still done painstakingly).
1.8 Research
Methodology
This study is purely a qualitative research and
therefore uses qualitative research method. This is because the data for the
study were sourced from primary source i.e. interviews of the research
participants. However, the literatures reviewed in this study are from
secondary sources: books, journal articles, newspaper publications and
internet.
In the course of gathering materials
for this, I relied heavily on primary sources of data such as textbooks,
article, newspaper publications and the internet.
In qualitative approach, it is
recognized that data collected through qualitative interview rely more on
criteria other than validity, reliability, and generalizability4.
Instead of dependence on the criteria of reliability and validity which leads
to generalization, the qualitative part of this study depended on the criteria
of trustworthiness and authenticity5. stated that two sets of
criteria have been proposed: the trustworthiness criteria and the authenticity
criteria for doing a qualitative aspect of any research. The trustworthiness criteria
are judged by the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and
conformability.
The research depended on the
trustworthiness and credibility of the information or data gathered from the
research participants through face-to-face oral and recorded interviews. The
participants interviewed by the researcher are community leaders and elderly
persons believe to have a wealth of knowledge of land inheritance law under
Ikwo custom and tradition.
The parallels of the criteria of
trustworthiness in qualitative research are made up of four criteria, each of
which has an equivalent criterion in quantitative research6:
· Creditability, which parallels internal validity;
· Transferability, which parallels external validity;
· Dependability, which parallels reliability;
· Conformability, which parallels objectively;
Credibility refers to the confidence that can be
placed in both the data collected and the analysis. The term is synonymous with
validity in quantitative research.
[1] Adeyemi,
B. O. “Terrorism in Nigeria, Groups, Activities and Politics”, Int’l Journal of
Politics and Good Governance, Vol.1 Quarter, 2010
2. Abimbola,
J. O., “Domestic Terrorism and Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria Issues and
Trends: A Historical Discourse”, Journal of Arts and Contemporary Society,
Vol.4, September 2012
[3] Ebonyi
State University Journal of Int’l juridical review (Vol: 198)
[4] The
chapter four of the 1999 constitution deals with fundamental human rights and
by implication is against terrorism since it does not preserve the rights
individuals to maltreat others.
5 Ely, K. “Trends is contemporary international
terrorism” Countering Terrorism, Institute of Counter-terrorism
6 Silke A.
“The Role of suicide,” terrorism and political violence, Routledge, Vol. 18,
spring 2006, num1, P.44
7 Mohammed
Manga. He was the first Nigerian to commit suicide bombing. He was responsible
for the bombing of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja on June 16, 2011