A Bipartite Network Analysis of Terrorism in Nigeria

Nigeria is home to a variety of terror groups, some of which receive little scholarly or media attention, but whose violent attacks cause significant casualties and instability. This analysis uses a bipartite network approach to examine terror groups in Nigeria between 2009 and 2019. We capture substantial variation among terrorist groups by state, target type and attack mode, and consider “unknown” terrorist offenders. Although Boko Haram is the dominant terrorist group, the Fulani extremists, IPOB, and others, are also prominent, with MEND especially active against oil infrastructure and in the Niger Delta region. This research finds that a bipartite network approach is effective for providing a more comprehensive understanding of terrorism dynamics, which is essential for effective counterterrorism policy and analysis.