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Cited by 162Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political ViolenceDiverse Research Studies OverviewCrime, Illicit Activities, and Governance

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Governing “Ungoverned Spaces” in the Foliage of Conspiracy: Toward (Re)ordering Terrorism, from Boko Haram Insurgency, Fulani Militancy to Banditry in Northern Nigeria

Open access
Ojo, John Sunday·2020·African Security
DOI 10.1080/19392206.2020.1731109
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Abstract

This article explores the dominant narrative of ill-governed or ungoverned territories in the northern region of Nigeria where informality and socioeconomic deficit fashioned the mannerism of everyday life. Reconnoitering ungoverned territories, positing that radical jihadist and non-jihadist movements and criminal-armed groups are ideologically driven by localism and informal networks, particularly in the areas unkempt by the state. The paper interrogates to what extent ungoverned spaces embolden the recruitment of criminal and terrorist groups in northern Nigeria. It explains the complex security paradoxes confronting the Nigerian state, it analyses the Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani militancy and banditry within the context of ungoverned spaces that continuously breed terrorist organizations, and criminal networks, that pose an enormous risk to human security. It adopts a qualitative approach and spatial network analysis using Geographical Information System (GIS). The paper argues that the primordial negligence of ungoverned areas with limited state surveillance or unharmonized state presence, controlled by informal networks and hybrid arrangements creates an enabling environment for warlordism, religious fanaticism and tribal self-defense forces. It further demonstrates that governance failure in these regions stimulates illegal movement of arms and ammunition, the raw material for bombs, illegal drugs and foreign machines, and becomes abodes for Boko Haram jihadist and non-Boko Haram armed groups. The paper concludes that ungoverned spaces could be morphed into a production site for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) by the terrorists in the near future, thus, until the Nigerian state pays attention to the territories under-governed or poorly governed, it will become difficult to win the war against terrorism, Fulani militancy and banditry through military response. Therefore, good governance that transcends ethnic chauvinism remains a veritable weapon in conquering multilayered security quagmires facing the giant of Africa.

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Research works printed but not linked: 31

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Cited by

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Metadata

Authors
Ojo, J. S.
Affiliations
Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Ojo, John Sunday
ORCID
Ojo, John Sunday
Venue
African Security
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2020-01-02
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
77-110
ISSN
  • 1939-2206 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-2214
DOI
10.1080/19392206.2020.1731109
OpenAlex
W3007608369
Cited by
162
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2
FWCI
22.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • African Security (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Diverse Research Studies Overview
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance
Keywords
ungoverned spaces, Boko Haram, banditry, terrorism, Northern Nigeria, state failure, informal networks, warlordism, arms trafficking, weapons of mass destruction, human security, good governance, ethnic chauvinism, security paradox, jihadist recruitment

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Governing “Ungoverned Spaces” in the Foliage of Conspiracy: Toward (Re)ordering Terrorism, from Boko Haram Insurgency, Fulani Militancy to Banditry in Northern Nigeria. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1080/19392206.2020.1731109
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Ojo, J. S. (2020). Governing “Ungoverned Spaces” in the Foliage of Conspiracy: Toward (Re)ordering Terrorism, from Boko Haram Insurgency, Fulani Militancy to Banditry in Northern Nigeria. African Security. https://doi.org/10.1080/19392206.2020.1731109

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