"Northern and central Nigeria have been engulfed in a violent insurgency campaign waged by Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda'awati w'al Jihad, a.k.a. 'Boko Haram', and for a time, its splinter group 'Ansaru'. From its inception an inward-looking, almost parochial, movement, Boko Haram, and even more so Ansaru, have now shown clear signs of regionalisation, expanding their operations across West Africa and forging links with al-Qaeda affiliated groups. Boko Haram's stated aim is to Islamise Africa's most populous country but, like earlier Nigerian Islamist groups, of which there is a long tradition in the Sahel, the discontent prompting young Nigerians and other young West African Muslims to join the insurgency is rooted in more than just religious orthodoxy and cannot be disentangled from their economic, social and political marginalisation. In spite of talks about dialogue and amnesty for those prepared to renounce violence, the Federal Government's response has been a militarised one, resulting in the largest deployment of the Nigerian armed forces since the end of the Civil War. But what is the real magnitude of the threat? What can foreign partners do to support Abuja? How effective is the current government's strategy in tackling the insurgency? And, more importantly, are the root causes of the insurgency being addressed and the foundations for a durable peace being established?"--Publisher description.

Introduction --Research challenges -- Islam in Nigeria: Historical Background -- Usman Dan Fodio's Jihad -- The British colonial era -- The path to Sharia -- Some reflections on religious identity -- The Genesis of Radical Groups -- Splintering -- Transformation -- Reform (modernisation) -- Formation (creation) -- Daawa -- Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, Ja'amutu Tajidmul Islami/Islamic Movement of Nigeria[IMN] -- Yan Izala -- Maitatsine -- Conclusion -- What is Boko Haram? -- Where it all started -- The sect goes underground -- The 2009 turning point -- Dead or alive? -- Post-Yusuf -- The Shakau era -- the beginning of the insurgency -- Splintering, factionalisation and kidnappings -- Suicide attacks -- Who are these men? -- Funding -- The Internationalisation of Boko Haram -- Borderlands -- Cameroon -- Niger -- Chad -- Human security implications -- A wild card: the Central African Republic (CAR) -- Changing al-Qaeda patterns and Boko Haram's position in the broader Islamist environment -- The 2012 -- 13 Malian civil conflict -- Al-Shabaab -- Tactical implications of foreign influence -- Will Boko Haram become the next al-Qaeda franchise? -- Government Responses -- The military response -- A first state of emergency is declared -- Between two emergencies -- Negotiations and amnesty -- A second state of emergency is put in place -- Moving beyond JTF ORO -- Allegations of human rights abuses -- A softer approach -- COIN vs CT: What strategy? -- Western response -- The United States (US) -- The United Kingdom (UK) -- Canada -- Conclusions -- The Way Ahead?.