The Halal and Haram of Boko: Communicating Meaning in Contending with Statecraft or “Modern-Witchcraft” in Nigeria

Abstract

Despite its gains, western education is perceived as a tool for subjugation. Some citizens of the Middle East and their allies in Sub-Saharan African States like Nigeria perceive western education as inimical to Islam. Although Islamic scholars have countered this position, the Boko Haram sect in North-Eastern Nigeria upholds it in communicating their ideologies. Through a qualitative method of study, this paper investigates the communication of meaning by insurgents and discovered that apart from illiteracy and unemployment, extreme religious beliefs are also responsible for the menace. It suggested that building strong statecraft through education, employment, and reintegration of victims could curb the menace.