Socio-economic incentives, new media and the Boko Haram campaign of violence in Northern Nigeria

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Periodical article

Title:	Socio-economic incentives, new media and the Boko Haram campaign of violence in Northern Nigeria
Author:	Musa, Aliyu Odamah
Year:	2012
Periodical:	Journal of African Media Studies (ISSN 1751-7974)
Volume:	4
Issue:	1
Pages:	111-124
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Nigeria Northern Nigeria
Subjects:	Islamic movements violence mass media
Abstract:	This article examines the emergence of the extremist Islamist Boko Haram sect that is perpetuating a reign of violence in Northern Nigerian cities, focusing on the factors that aided its rise. It first takes a look at the changing political and socioeconomic situation in the country, especially from the early 1980s when, despite the oil boom, people's standard of living started to deteriorate. On the basis of field research conducted in Northern Nigeria and interviews with Nigerians in the UK, the author argues that Boko Haram uses religion as a decoy, while its main motivation is economic. It is able to capitalize on the extreme poverty in the region to increase its number of followers. Furthermore, the growing use of new media like the internet and the mobile phone contributes to the success of the movement's campaign. The author suggests economic empowerment and dialogue as countermeasures. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]