MEMORANDUM

To: United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle1

From: MacKenzie Adamson

Subject: An Overview of Nigeria and a Plan to Eliminate Boko Haram in Northern Africa

Date: April 20, 2016

SUMMARY

Nigeria has been in a constant state of unrest due to the effects of Britain’s colonization,

religion, ethnic groups, and poverty. All of these factors have contributed to the development of

Boko Haram, a terrorist group and armed insurgency that forbids western education and instead

preaches the importance of an Islamic State. Some argue that its goal is to overthrow the

Nigerian government and instill Sharia law.2 Boko Haram is simply an effect of the strife and

tension within the country, and it cannot be eradicated until the causes have been resolved. This

will entail severe reform by the Nigerian government to rid itself of corruption, collect the funds

gained illegally by corrupted officials and citizens and apply it towards social programs, bolster

the Nigerian military with the help of the international community to better protect its people

from Boko Haram, and finally encourage international companies to leverage Nigeria’s natural

resources in order to create more jobs and better the economy. The protection of the Nigerian

people is of the upmost importance.

1 "Nigeria." Central Intelligence Agency. March 1, 2016; available from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 20162 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.

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THE PROBLEM

Nigerian Historical Overview

Nigeria celebrated its independence from Britain in 1960; however, the country remained

weak and fractioned. Nigeria is divided between the Muslim North and the Christian South, with

over 300 different ethnic and cultural groups. There are four main ethnic groups in Nigeria: the

Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the southwest, and the Igbo in the southeast.

Britain’s colonization of Nigeria brought together people of different backgrounds that were

forced to work together in one state after Britain’s departure. The country was unstable with

little to no understanding of how to govern itself, which made it vulnerable to the military coup

that took place in 1966 by General Aguiyl Ironsi, an Igbo from southern Nigeria. General Ironsi

was not in power for long before he was assassinated. This led to increasing hatred and violence

between the north and the south of Nigeria.3 Eventually, the Christian South decided to secede

from Nigeria and form the Republic of Biafra, under Colonel Odumegwu Ojukqu. In retaliation,

the Supreme Commander Yakubu Gowon of northern Nigeria declared war against the seceding

southeast. The Biafran War, otherwise known as the Nigerian Civil War, lasted from 1967 to

1970. During this time, the Muslim North prevented supplies and food from entering the

Christian South, causing starvation and creating a major humanitarian crisis.4

The United Kingdom supported their former colony and backed the Nigerian Federal

Military Government along with the Soviet Union. Biafra gained the sympathy of much of the

West and several non-governmental organizations like the International Committee of the Red

3 "Nigerian Civil War." New World Encyclopedia, January 12, 2015; available from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nigerian_Civil_War; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.4 "The Famine in Biafra - USAID's Response to the Nigerian Civil War." Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training; available from http://adst.org/2014/05/the-famine-in-biafra-usaids-response-to-the-nigerian-civil-war/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016

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Cross (ICRC) and the Joint Church Aid (JCA), when the humanitarian crisis became apparent to

the rest of the world. Over one million civilians died either from fighting or starvation during the

Biafran War, and many of those were in southern Nigeria. They died from starvation and lack of

medical care. The ICRC and the JCA delivered food, medicine, and supplies to the South in

hopes of preventing more unnecessary deaths.5 The Nigerian government eventually won the

war in 1970; however, there are still strong tensions between the ethnic groups, and the war is

deeply rooted in the memories of Nigeria’s citizens.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria

Nigeria is currently classified as a federal republic that has a mixture of English common

law, Islamic law, and traditional law. Islamic law is found in twelve of the 36 states in Nigeria,

and all are located in the Muslim North. The most recent Constitution was adopted 5 May 1999

and last amended in 2012. Citizenship can only be obtained through direct descent on either the

side of the mother or the father.6 The government is supposedly divided equally between the 36

individual states and the national government located in the capital city of Abuja; however, in

practice it appears that the government does not operate on a federal level, but rather a unitary

level.7 Part of this is due to the clear ethnic divides within Nigeria due to over 300 ethnic groups

speaking more than 250 languages. Nonetheless, corruption runs rampant in Nigeria. A 2009

Amnesty International report said that the Nigerian police were guilty of hundreds of illegal

killings and disappearances that are “uninvestigated and unpunished.” In 2011, the Human

Rights Watch said that “corruption is so pervasive in Nigeria it has turned public service for

5 Simpson, Brad. "The Biafran secession and the limits of self-determination." Journal Of Genocide Research 16, no. 2/3 (July 2014); (accessed April 22, 2016).6 "Nigeria." Central Intelligence Agency. March 1, 2016; available from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 20167 Emmanuel, Idugboe Jesuorobo. "Restructuring The Nigerian Federation." Franklin Business & Law Journal 2013, no. 4 (December 2013); (accessed April 22, 2016).

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many into a kind of criminal enterprise.” Ethnic fighting and illegal killings have led to the

deaths of over 34,000 people since 2011.8

Nigeria is the largest and most populous country in Africa with roughly 174 million

people and an abundance of natural resources at its disposal, and yet 61 percent of the population

lives on less than one dollar a day.9 These natural resources include: petroleum, natural gas, tin,

iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, and land.10 There is a substantial difference between the

Muslim North and the Christian South in terms of poverty. Most of Nigeria’s natural resources

are in the South, which contributes to a division in wealth between the North and South. 72

percent of the North is in poverty in contrast to the 27 percent poverty level in the South.11 This

is because most industry is located in the South, along with most of the natural resources.

The current leader of Nigeria is President Muhammadu Buhari from the Katsina State in

northern Nigeria.12 Buhari is the first candidate to beat the incumbent in a presidential election.

He was the former military leader of Nigeria from January 1984 until August 1985 after a

military coup. The people remember him for his strict campaign against corruption. There is a

concern over past human rights abuses due to his strict policy of adherence to social order,

including having soldiers stationed at bus stops with whips to ensure that civilians stood in lines

as they waited for the bus to arrive.13 Buhari has made several changes already to the Nigerian

government to diminish corruption. One of these changes is his decision to run the oil ministry

8 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.9 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.10 "Nigeria Facts and Figures." OPEC; available from http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/167.htm; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.11 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.12 "Muhammadu Buhari." Encyclopedia Britannica, January 1, 2016; available from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammadu-Buhari; Internet; accessed 20 April 201613 "Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari in Profile." BBC, March 31, 2015; available from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12890807; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.

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himself. While this sounds like the beginning strategy of a dictator, he has fired those in charge

of skimming off money from the oil industry. The oil industry is also divided into two different

parts to create a system of checks and balances on the corporation so it does not become too

powerful, and in the process he fired the majority of its board. Buhari has also adjusted the bank

system to ensure that all government financial transactions go through one bank so he is able to

monitor it and make sure no money is missing. Lastly, Buhari has promised to hold previous

government and cabinet officials accountable for their corruption and is looking into restoring

the 150 billion dollars that was illegally taken throughout a ten-year period.14

Boko Haram

Boko Haram was founded in 2002 as an Islamist group against Western education;

however, in 2009 it morphed into an armed insurgency.15 Mohammad Yusuf believed in a strict

interpretation of the Quran and thought Nigeria was corrupt due to its colonization by the

British.16 Boko Haram is a nickname given to the group due to their anti-western attitudes.

Boko is derived from book and haram meaning forbidden.17 The insurgency’s true name is “جما

والجهاد للدعوة السنة أهل عة ” or “Association of the People of the Sunnah for Preaching and

Jihad.”18 Mohammad Yusuf was a Salafist influenced by the 14th century teachings of Ibn

Taymiyyah. Yusuf preached to young men in Maiduguri, and eventually the group began acting

14 Okeowo, Alexis. "Can Nigeria's New Government Overcome Its Old Corruption?" The New Yorker, October 14, 2015; http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-nigerias-new-government-overcome-its-old-corruption; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.15 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.16 Smith, Mike. "FACTSHEET: Explaining Nigeria's Boko Haram and Its Violent Insurgency." Africa Check. 2014; available from https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.17 "Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center; available from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.18 "Boko Haram." Encyclopedia Britannica, March 11, 2016; available from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Boko-Haram; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.

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out against the Nigerian people. Under Mohammad Yusuf, the group relied mostly on guns and

trucks to wreak havoc, but attacks in 2009 caused a shift in the organization. The attacks began

when Nigerian security officials reprimanded Boko Haram insurgents for not obeying the law of

wearing helmets on motorbikes. The insurgents attacked the security officers, which sparked an

armed uprising.19 The uprising ended with the Nigerian government as victors and hundreds of

Boko Haram members killed. Mohammad Yusuf was captured and publicly executed in

Maiduguri.20

Upon Yusuf’s death, Boko Haram shifted from a radical Islamist movement to an armed

insurgency that escalated from guns to suicide bombers. Abubakar Shekau is the current leader

of Boko Haram and was Yusuf’s second in command. Nigerian officials claimed to have killed

him on several occasions, but he is still alive. Under his leadership, Boko Haram has

increasingly used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on civilian and government targets. 21

Boko Haram has also splintered from one organization into several different factions. Abubakar

Shekau leads the main organization; however, other factions have spread into Cameroon, Chad,

and Niger.22 Boko Haram acts like a ladder with the true organization led by Shekau at the top

and fractioned cells going downward. Shekau’s goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government

to create an Islamic State. It is strictly forbidden for Muslims to take part in any western activity

or politics including elections, receiving a secular education, and wearing shirts or pants.23 Boko

19Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.20 "Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center; available from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.21 "Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center; available from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.22 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.23 Chothia, Farouk. "Who Are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists?" BBC, May 4, 2015; available from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.

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Haram has even gone so far as to pledge its allegiance to ISIS, although it appears it is more

symbolic in nature.24

Boko Haram Attacks

Since the formation of Boko Haram, more than 10,000 people have been killed and at

least 1.5 million have been displaced due to the violence.25 77 percent of these deaths are

Nigerian civilians. To put Boko Haram’s violence into perspective, they killed 6,644 people in

2014, whereas in the same time frame, ISIS killed 6,073.26 Boko Haram is just as violent as

ISIS, but they have less of a social media presence, which has allowed them to commit atrocious

acts under the radar of many Western citizens. In 2011, Boko Haram conducted a suicide

bombing on the UN headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria killing 23 people.27 In 2013, insurgents

attacked a local college in Yobe killing 65 students. In 2014 they bombed a bus station that

killed almost 100.28 2014 is also the year that marks the kidnappings of 276 schoolgirls from

Chibok. Some girls managed to escape, but 219 are still missing. Just recently in April 2016,

newly released footage reveals a proof of life video of fifteen of the Chibok girls.29 The video

was apparently given to the government officials soon after it was filmed on 25 December 2015,

and yet neither the parents of the girls nor the public were informed about this until now. While

24 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.25 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.26 Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015; available from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram-terrorism/416673/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.27 Smith, Mike. "FACTSHEET: Explaining Nigeria's Boko Haram and Its Violent Insurgency." Africa Check. 2014; available from https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.28 Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015; available from http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.29 Winsor, Morgan. "Were Chibok Schoolgirls Found? 219 Still Missing 2 Years After Boko Haram Nigeria Kidnapping." IB Times, April 14, 2016; available from http://www.ibtimes.com/were-chibok-schoolgirls-found-219-still-missing-2-years-after-boko-haram-nigeria-2353274; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.

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the girls appear to be reading from a script, one stressed the word “all” when she stated that all of

the girls were doing well. Boko Haram is suspected to have forced the girls to convert from

Christianity to Islam. Their kidnappings in 2014 sparked protests by the Nigerian people, and

people across the world, urging the government to act.30 The Nigerian families and communities

are hoping that this proof of life video will cause the government and military to re-focus on

finding the girls; however, it has also brought suspicion since the Nigerian government withheld

the video from the public for several months.

Boko Haram has abducted approximately 2,000 women and children since 2012. The

women and girls are taken as brides and raped by the insurgents, some are purposefully

impregnated in the hopes of raising a new generation of radicals. Increasingly, women are being

used in suicide bombings. They are deprived of food and water until they choose to convert

from Christianity to Islam. They are then forced to take classes on how to detonate bombs.

While the majority of women and girls act out of sheer fear, some are enthusiastic for the cause.

A woman who escaped enslavement by Boko Haram with her two children and grandchild

depicted her life in the camp. She claimed she was only allotted one meal a day, and all of them

were told that they would be sent to paradise if they blew themselves up in the name of Islam.

Unfortunately, as many as 105 girls were used in terrorist attacks since June of 2014, which

means that aid workers and non governmental organizations are fearful of providing food, water,

and medicine to escaped girls due to the possibility that they might be hiding a bomb under their

clothes.31 Depriving the girls of food and water and the constant abuse of rape makes them more

30 Busari, Stephanie, Nima Elbagir, and Sebastiaan Knoops. "Nigeria's Missing Girls: A Glimpse of the Stolen." CNN, April 14, 2016; available from http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/13/africa/chibok-girls-new-proof-of-life-video/; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.31 Searcey, Dionne. "Boko Haram Turns Female Captives into Terrorists." The New York Times, April 7, 2016; available from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/world/africa/boko-haram-suicide-bombers.html?hpw&rref=world&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well; Internet; accessed 20 April 2016.

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vulnerable to radicalization because they will reach a breaking point where they will do anything

to escape their pain and suffering, including killing themselves in a suicide bombing.

IMPLEMENTATION AND JUSTIFICATION

The Proposal

Boko Haram evolved from the corruption and divisions within the Nigerian government

and country as a whole. In order to diminish the influence of Boko Haram and reduce the

number of recruits, the Nigerian government must make impactful changes in its structure in

order to create stability and instill trust within its people. The following steps are essential to

eliminate the terrorist threat of Boko Haram and to strength Nigeria: create a transparent

government with zero corruption, use funds illegally obtained by corrupt officials to create and

enhance social programs that benefit the people, hold the military responsible for its actions by

having civilian officials oversee their conduct, invite the international community to help the

Nigerian government and military to create a secure state for the Nigerian people, and lastly to

encourage international businesses and incorporations to leverage Nigeria’s abundance of natural

resources in order to create more job opportunities for the Nigerian people.

Step One: Corruption in the Government

First the Nigerian government must take a stance against corruption. President

Muhammadu Buhari won the election with his anti-corruption campaign. He is a strong leader

with good disciplinary skills that will play a vital role in rebuilding the structure of the Nigerian

government. All government officials must be evaluated on their past performances in their

respective positions to ensure that those that have abused the system and become corrupt are not

only fired, but prosecuted. The military must be reviewed as well. Cleaning house is an

essential first step. Those that have committed crimes will be investigated and interviewed for

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the purpose of finding any stolen money. Once the Nigerian government is free of corrupt

officials, the Constitution must be reviewed. It is critical that the Constitution is the focal point

of the new Nigerian government so that the people come first. Currently, the Nigerian people

see themselves first as a member of their ethnic, religious, or cultural group. In order for Nigeria

to become strong, it must develop a national identity. Part of this will be done through the

elimination of the rotating presidential system. It marginalizes hundreds of ethnic groups and

reinforces the idea of a divided country. Nigeria can no longer govern based on ethnicity. The

people must first and foremost see themselves as Nigerian. This will be a long process as ethnic

groups and divisions run deep in their history; however, it can be done if the Nigerian

government elects the president based on a purely democratic system where each candidate has

an equal chance of being elected. The government must re-enforce the idea of unity through

slogans, propaganda, speeches, and actions.

The funds collected by the Nigerian government from prior corrupt officials will be

distributed amongst social and welfare programs designed to decrease the poverty divide

between the North and the South, as well as to improve the lives of the impoverished. These

programs will provide food and water to those who have none. The money will go towards

rebuilding villages destroyed by Boko Haram. With 61 percent of Nigerians living on less than a

dollar a day, these programs will help distribute money so people are able to thrive. These

programs can also include medical aid and even job opportunities. The Nigerian government

should invite NGOs and other aid based organizations to help uplift the Nigerian people in this

process.

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Step Two: Nigerian Military and International Assistance

Once the Nigerian military has been reformed, corrupt officials have been fired, and

soldiers have been investigated for their conduct, the military needs to be deployed throughout

the country to act as security personnel to villages, cities, and communities. The Nigerian people

need to feel safe and secure. By better protecting the people, less Nigerians will join Boko

Haram because they will no longer feel the need to protect their families by becoming members.

Often times, people join terrorist organization because their governments are unable to protect

them. The Nigerian government must use the military actively in search of finding and rescuing

abducted women, boys, and girls from Boko Haram; however, it is important that the victims are

brought to safe locations for psychological testing to ensure that they are able to be successfully

reintegrated into society. This protects communities from radicalized victims that may choose to

act violently on behalf of Boko Haram.

The Nigerian government and military will not be able to do all of this on their own.

They need help from the international community. Ambassadors in Nigeria from their respective

countries must work together to provide support and guidance whenever necessary. This may

include encouraging native countries to send military support and personnel to train the Nigerian

military and help protect the Nigerian people. The United Nations would also be a valuable

resource and ally.

Step Three: International Corporations and Businesses

In order for Nigeria to truly prosper, it must open itself up to international trade,

businesses, and organizations. By welcoming international businesses into Nigeria, more jobs

will become available to the Nigerian people, essentially increasing the amount of wealth being

distributed across the country. Ideally, this would lead to a decrease in poverty. It would also

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improve Nigeria’s relations with the international community and could possibly lead to a

decrease in tariffs and trade barriers. This step can only happen when the Nigerian government

is no longer corrupt and the country is well protected by the military and law enforcement.

International businesses and organizations will not operate out of Nigeria if the country is not

stable or secure.

OBJECTIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

An objection to this plan is that it relies first and foremost on the creation of a corrupt-

free government. If the first step is not taken, then the rest cannot follow. Another limitation is

that the Nigerian government may not have enough resources to follow these steps. This means

that they may need to rely on outside help from NGOs and other nations. If the international

community is not willing to help, then the Nigerian government may not be able to protect its

people on its own. It is also important to note that NGOs may not come without security. Boko

Haram could deter nations and organizations from becoming involved. There is also the

possibility that the hatred between ethnic groups might not be able to be extinguished within a

reasonable time frame. Lastly, international businesses and organization could take advantage of

a fragile Nigeria and become corrupt themselves, taking money away from the Nigerian people

or destroying their environment by not following standard procedures.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these steps will strengthen and cleanse the Nigerian government, provide

social programs, reform the military, ensure protection of the Nigerian people, improve

international relations, and increase job opportunities as well as income. This plan does have

limitations. The Nigerian government must first choose to dedicate itself to the betterment of the

country and its people. This will not happen immediately, but gradually. Reform takes time and

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changes may be costly. Despite these drawbacks, this plan will slowly strengthen Nigeria’s

government and weaken Boko Haram. Over time, the people will turn to the government for aid

and Boko Haram will lose power and influence.

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Works Cited

"Boko Haram." Encyclopedia Britannica, March 11, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/topic/Boko-Haram."Boko Haram." National Counterterrorism Center. Accessed April 20, 2016. https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html.Busari, Stephanie, Nima Elbagir, and Sebastiaan Knoops. "Nigeria's Missing Girls: A

Glimpse of the Stolen." CNN, April 14, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/13/africa/chibok-girls-new-proof-of-life-video/.

Chothia, Farouk. "Who Are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists?" BBC, May 4, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501.

Delman, Edward. "The World's Deadliest Terrorist Organization." The Atlantic, November 18, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/isis-boko-haram- terrorism/416673/ .

Emmanuel, Idugboe Jesuorobo. "Restructuring The Nigerian Federation." Franklin Business & Law Journal 2013, no. 4 (December 2013): 1-18. Business Source Complete EBSCOhost (accessed April 22, 2016)."The Famine in Biafra - USAID's Response to the Nigerian Civil War." Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://adst.org/2014/05/the-famine-in-biafra-usaids-response-to-the-nigerian-civil-war/."Muhammadu Buhari." Encyclopedia Britannica, January 1, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammadu-Buhari."Nigeria." Central Intelligence Agency. March 1, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html."Nigeria Facts and Figures." OPEC. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/167.htm."Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari in Profile." BBC, March 31, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12890807.

"Nigerian Civil War." New World Encyclopedia, January 12, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nigerian_Civil_War.Okeowo, Alexis. "Can Nigeria's New Government Overcome Its Old Corruption?" The New Yorker, October 14, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-nigerias-new-government-overcome-its-old-corruption.

Searcey, Dionne. "Boko Haram Turns Female Captives into Terrorists." The New York Times, April 7, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/world/africa/boko-haram-suicide- bombers.html?hpw&rref=world&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-r egion®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well.

Sergie, Mohammad, and Toni Johnson. "Boko Haram." Council on Foreign Relations, March 5, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739.

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Simpson, Brad. "The Biafran secession and the limits of self-determination." Journal Of Genocide Research 16, no. 2/3 (July 2014): 337. Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File, EBSCOhost (accessed April 22, 2016).

Smith, Mike. "FACTSHEET: Explaining Nigeria's Boko Haram and Its Violent Insurgency." Africa Check. 2014. Accessed April 20, 2016. https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/.

Winsor, Morgan. "Were Chibok Schoolgirls Found? 219 Still Missing 2 Years After Boko Haram Nigeria Kidnapping." IB Times, April 14, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.ibtimes.com/were-chibok-schoolgirls-found-219-still-missing-2-years-after-boko-haram-nigeria-2353274.

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