Security Agencies Response to the Boko Haram Uprising in Nigeria: Perception and Challenges

The paper focuses on the security agencies responses to the July 2009 deadly outbreak of Boko Haram Islamic uprising in Maiduguri, Northeastern region of Nigeria. Objective is to interrogate the manner in which the security agencies handled the incidents. To achieve the objective, the paper delves into the origin, ideology and activities of the groups over the years in Maiduguri and its environs. The paper adopted historical descriptive approach in analyzing the issues involved. It reveals that the security agencies responses were timely and decisive however, the incidents following the arrest and the death of the leader and some of the financiers as well as some top members of the group beclouded any lucid assessment of professionalism of the security agencies. In another clime, such incidents could happened unnoticed and in a professional manner. The paper further argues that the escalation of the Boko Haram activities under a new leader Abubakar Shekau was not a revenge mission as claim but propelled by an ideology that upheld violent as the only means to attain objectives. It concludes that to correct any violent uprising, it is expedient to understand its underlying ideology.