Boko Haram: Security Considerations and the Rise of an Insurgency

Boko Haram analyzes the activities and atrocities of Nigeria’s Jihadi terrorist group, Boko Haram, in the context of global religious fundamentalism and extremism. The book traces the early beginnings of the religious sect, the conversion of its leader to radical Islam in 2002, and the group’s campaign of violence beginning in 2009 and continuing to the present.

The group’s attacks against a variety of targets are examined in detail as are their general tactics and strategies. The Nigerian government response is also examined in order to provide critical lessons to counterterrorism planners, policy and government officials, and scholars. The initial military response was hampered by capability and legislative constraints including a lack of arms and ammunition, a lack of modern counterterrorism equipment, training gaps, leadership issues, intelligence gaps, politicization of the conflict, and limited support to the Nigerian military by the international community.

Boko Haram looks at the work that has been done thus far, and what work needs to continue, to make gains to combat, marginalize, and ultimately defeat Boko Haram and resolve the conflict facing Nigeria.

Key features:

• Outlines the history of Boko Haram and its emergence in Nigeria
• Provides the latest developments on fundamentalism in Nigeria, the growth of Boko Haram and the government response
• Focuses on the attacks, attack methodology and targeting of Boko Haram, addressing best-practice countermeasures
• Examines Boko Haram’s ties to other Islamist groups including ISIL/ISIS and others
• Details the importance for international cooperation in responding to Boko Haram’s activities and threats.

About the Author:

Dr. Ona Ekhomu, CFE, CPP, CSP, PCI, CPOI was born in Irrua, Nigeria. He holds the PhD from University of Pittsburgh. A policy analyst and security expert, Ekhomu is Chairman Trans-World Security Systems Ltd. and Chairman School of Management and Security (Lagos, Nigeria). President of Trans-World Security Systems Inc. of Chicago, Illinois, USA, Ekhomu is also a lecturer in the Sociology Department of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria; Africa Representative of the International Foundation for Protection Officers; and former Regional Vice-President (West and Central Africa) of ASIS International. Ekhomu is author of Kidnap: Face to Face with Death (2014) and Effective Personal & Corporate Security (2009).

Dr. Ona Ekhomu, CFE, CPP, CSP, PCI was born in Nigeria. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Dr. Ekhomu obtained the BA (History) Summa Cum Laude (First Class Honors) from Voorhees College, Denmark, South Carolina USA 1977. M.A (Political Science) from the Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 1979; and PhD (Public and International Affairs - Policy Management) from the University of Pittsburgh, USA 1985. He attended the Security Officer Training Academy of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania USA (1986). He obtained the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act 235 Lethal Weapons Licence in 1986. A management consultant, policy analyst and corporate security consultant, Dr. Ekhomu is the Chairman of Trans-World Security Systems Ltd. (Lagos, Nigeria), Chairman of the School of Management and Security Ltd. (Lagos, Nigeria). He is also President of Trans-World Security Systems Inc. of Chicago, Illinois USA. He is a lecturer in the Sociology Department of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a part-time lecturer in the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence School, Enugu. Dr. Ekhomu has written two highly acclaimed books on security awareness: Effective Personal & Corporate Security (2009), and Kidnap: Face to Face With Death (2014), he is President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) and the Africa Representative of the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). Ekhomu is the co-author of the following books: National Security: Intelligence and Community Partnership (2013), The Professional Protection Officer: Practical Security Strategies and Emerging Trends (2010), Crime and Policing in Nigeria: Challenges & Options (2004), among others.