Boko Haram in Nigeria: R2P and non‐state armed groups

Abstract

Focusing on the case of Nigeria with the aim to understand what has been missing in terms of the protection of the Nigerian population and the role the NSAGs play, this chapter asks to what extent and how the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) has been implemented in response to the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria? The chapter proceeds in three sections. First, it provides a brief background on the roots of the conflict and the scope of Boko Haram’s influence in the region. The subsequent section explores R2P’s implementation in the case of Nigeria through a pillar-by-pillar analysis. It first studies the national response with the aim to understand the extent and nature of the Nigerian State’s failure to protect its population with respect to Pillar One. This is followed by an overview of the international responses to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria in relation to Pillar Two, and a discussion on Pillar Three including the possibility of employing forceful measures. The final section reflects on the lessons that can be drawn from the case of Nigeria for future implementations of R2P.