African Journal of
Political Science and International Relations

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pol. Sci. Int. Relat.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0832
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPSIR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 411

Article in Press

Overcoming Boko Haram Insurgency in the North East, Nigeria: The Challenges of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) in Yobe State

Raji Rafiu Boye, Sani Garba Wakili, Baba Audu

  •  Received: 25 March 2024
  •  Accepted: 24 May 2024
This research seeks to investigate the challenges of ending Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East through the activities of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), with particular reference to the Gujba Local Government Area (LGA) of Yobe State. Insurgency is scholarly termed irregular war, usually protracted and devastating. The North-East fell to the crisis of insurgency since 2009 that refused cessation. The insurgents have killed thousands of people; UNDP (2021), came up with a modest figure of 350,000 deaths. In spite of application of force against the group, the conflict is not over. Scholars thought that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) should adopt a combination of strategies of peace building and peacemaking. The FGN initiated Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) as part of non-kinetic approach to terminate the insurgency. This research, therefore, attempts to examine the pros and cons of the policy and the challenges currently facing this initiative. A qualitative method guided the collection and analysis of the data. It viewed that FGN should implement a situation-dependent policy that includes; good governance and outside support, with other success-driven initiatives. The research recommends a holistic progromme for rehabilitation and resettlement of survivors and BHT that willingly surrender to embrace the OPSC programme.

Keywords: Boko Haram, insurgency, rehabilitation, peace-building, Operation Safe Corridor