A Review on Security Failures and the Five Drivers of Terrorism in Nigeria

This article investigates the security shortcomings that have enabled the emergence and longevity of terrorism in Nigeria despite continual government counter-insurgency efforts. Focusing on Boko Haram, ISWAP, the paper explores how these actors utilise ideological grievances, economic difficulties, government failures, and regional instability to perpetuate their acts of violence. The study utilises a qualitative approach, based entirely on secondary data taken from government papers, policy documents, academic literature, and respected online materials on Nigeria’s security landscape. Using theme analysis, the paper combines existing material to identify significant sources of insecurity and structural shortcomings within Nigeria’s security architecture. The paper adopts the Marxist theory as its systemic tool of analysis. It argues that structural inequality, economic difficulties, corruption, and weak governmental institutions generate conditions that foster insecurity. When applied to Nigeria, this theory helps explain why terrorism thrives in places typified by extreme poverty, marginalisation, and low governmental presence. These situations result in discontent and weakness, which extremist groups exploit for recruiting and operational support. The paper identified five primary drivers of terrorism in Nigeria namely: religious extremism, chronic poverty, corruption within security institutions, porous borders, and political instability in surrounding countries. Extremist groups recruit through distorted religious discourse, offers of financial reward, or coercion, while corruption within security agencies enables diversion of weapons and intelligence leaks. Weak border control promotes the transit of terrorists and small weaponry, while regional crises drive arms trafficking into Nigeria. Terrorism is also sponsored by kidnapping for ransom, extortion, smuggling, and informal financial networks. The paper finds out that countering terrorism in Nigeria requires an integrated approach involving military action, increased intelligence, community engagement, regional cooperation, and socioeconomic reforms that address core causes of insecurity which leads to terrorism. Received: 15 November 2025 / Accepted: 28 December 2025 / Published: January 2026