A Decade of Terror in Nigeria: Challenges and Response from 2011 – 2021

Nigerians national security got flawed by a terror group on 26<sup>th</sup> August, 2011. A terror group which refers itself as “Jama ‘atuAhl as - sunnah li-Da’awatiWal- Jihad” JASDJ popularly known as Boko Haram detonated a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devise(VBIED) on United Nations Headquarters in Abuja killing scores and left many injured. A decade after, terrorists continue plotting and launching attacks in Nigeria.Barely,a decade into Nigeria return to a democratic government witnessed the sudden rise of insurgency threat to human lives, property and her nascent democracy.Considering the miracle of a transition to democracy after years of dictatorship military rule,many never imagined the sudden rise of terrorist cellular development that would bring feverish tension gripping innocent civilian populace of Nigeria.Compared to the ruthless and often uncommon shrewdness of the era of military rule that rose to dizzy heights in Nigeria,non had such sudden and prolonged reign of terror and insurgency threat to national security Foreign Embassies have issued travel advisory to its citizens, who intend visiting Nigeria, due to threat to life, terrorism and other related crimes.In so far as gap exist in the safety of lives,property and national security,this paper raises questions on what is terrorism? and what are the background and motives of terrorism in Nigeria? This paper examines the challenges and response top restoring order and averting the multiplication of terrorist groups in Nigeria. Terrorism releases shocking waves of fear in the spine of nations. When fear is gone life opens up all its grandeaur. An increased majority are in fear from extremist andradical terror groups in Nigeria. Their right to life need be reassured and be delivered fromthis fear.Ultimately this paper deploys conceptual tools such as historical sources for objective analysis and answers to the concept of terrorism, its background and motives in Nigeria.