Global Islamic Terrorism and Its Implications: A Cautionary Framework for Nigeria’s Security and Governance

Global Islamic terrorism, as exemplified by al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and their regional affiliates, continues to pose severe challenges to state security, governance, and human rights in the 21st century. This paper examines the structural dynamics of global Islamic terrorism and their implications for Nigeria, with a particular focus on Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Using a qualitative document-analysis methodology, the study draws on peer-reviewed scholarship, institutional reports, and policy documents to develop a theoretically grounded comparative framework. The analysis is guided by two complementary theories: State Fragility Theory, which explains how weak institutions and governance deficits create conditions for extremist exploitation, and Relative Deprivation Theory, which accounts for the socioeconomic grievances that fuel radicalization. Through comparative case studies of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, the paper demonstrates that military-centric counterterrorism strategies are insufficient without parallel governance reforms and socioeconomic inclusion. Applied to Nigeria, these findings reveal that the persistence of Boko Haram and ISWAP reflects institutional weakness, corruption, and entrenched inequality rather than ideological factors alone. Nigeria's 2025 redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the United States further underscores the reputational and diplomatic consequences of governance failure. The paper concludes with a holistic policy framework emphasizing regional intelligence cooperation, institutional accountability, expanded deradicalization programs, and socioeconomic investment as essential pillars of a sustainable counterterrorism strategy.