Victims or Vanguards? Exploring the Females’ Role in Boko Haram Insurgency and Banditry in Northern Nigeria

The paper explored the double role of women in insecurity in northeast (Boko Haram insurgency) and northwest Nigeria (Banditry), challenging the conventional belief that portrays females as only victims. Although several women and girls have suffered various exploitation, abduction and violence, others have equally played vital roles as vanguards of terror though their involvement in combat operations, intelligence gathering and logistics. This study explored how both coercion and voluntary alignment with armed groups’ operations and ideologies drive females’ involvement in the groups. The study also investigated the complex ideological and socio-economic motivations driving their involvement. Extensively anchoring on data from secondary sources, the paper examined how females’ participation as both victims and vanguards influences the complexities of conflict and conflict resolution in northern Nigeria. It argued that understanding the complex roles of women and girls in these conflicts is essential in effective deployment of counterinsurgency measure and rehabilitation programs. Amongst others, the paper recommended gender-sensitive security policies, enhanced community-based support systems and improved socio-economic opportunities for women and girls to address the fundamental drivers of female participation in armed conflicts.