INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH (IJCR)
HUMAN SECURITY AND TERRORISM IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA
E-ISSN: 9330-322X
P-ISSN: 8323-4458
DOI: https://iigdpublishers.com/article/1632
This study examined Human Security and Terrorism in South-South Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions, which focused on the major forms and dimensions of human insecurity associated with terrorism, the factors contributing to terrorism and related violent insecurity, and the effectiveness of government and community-based measures in addressing terrorism and improving human security in the region. The study adopted a qualitative documentary research design and relied entirely on secondary sources of data, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, government publications, reports of international organizations, and other relevant scholarly and documentary materials. The data were analyzed thematically in line with the research questions, while the study was anchored on Galtung's Structural Violence Theory. The findings revealed that terrorism and related violent insecurity constitute significant threats to human security in South-South Nigeria. The major dimensions affected include personal, economic, food, health, environmental, community and political security. The study further found that poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, resource-related grievances, perceived political marginalization, weak governance, organized criminal activities and limited socioeconomic opportunities contribute to the broader environment of violent insecurity. The findings also showed that government security operations, development interventions, disarmament and reintegration programmes, and community-based initiatives have achieved some positive outcomes but remain only partially effective in addressing the underlying causes and consequences of insecurity. The study concludes that terrorism in South-South Nigeria is not merely a conventional security problem but a multidimensional human-security challenge requiring both immediate protection and long-term preventive interventions. The study recommends an integrated human-security approach that combines effective security operations with youth empowerment, employment creation, environmental protection, good governance, community participation and sustainable peacebuilding.
Eze Promise Vivian
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