Social and economic impact of terrorism in Nigeria: Boko Haram as a case study

This study investigated Boko Haram terrorist group's socio-economic implication in Nigeria by synthesizing evidence available in the literature. This study showed that terrorist activities have significant negative impacts on the socioeconomic activities of the country. Although the terrorist attacks are majorly domiciled in the Northeastern part of the country and spreading to the North central and neighboring countries, the effects and impacts are felt across the country due to internal migration of people and livestock down to the south, thereby increasing migrant and host communities' frictions and conflicts. Some of the critical negative socioeconomic impacts of terrorism in Nigeria identified includes displacement of people from their natural settlement, thereby turning them into refugees and IDPs in another community in their own country of birth, disruption of economic activities, loss of means of livelihood, business and properties and turning people to paupers, breakdown in-laws and orders. Thus, this thereby increases crime rates and social vices, loss of local educational system; healthcare system; social; political and economic structures, loss of direct foreign and local investments, loss of government revenues, and increase of incurrence of huge budgetary allocation for counter-terrorism operations as well as the strain on natural resources. Findings from this study showed that Boko Haram terrorist activities have negatively impacted the socioeconomic aspect of the country, thereby placing a significant burden on the national economy and peaceful coexistence of its people; it is therefore vital for the government to intensify further efforts on improving the effectiveness of the counter-terrorism measures that are in place. Keywords: Boko Haram, Terrorism in Nigeria, Socioeconomic Impacts, Educational Sector, Political Structure