ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of militants is not new to Nigeria. The history of post-independent Nigeria is replete with cases of militarized groups threatening the very existence of the Nigerian state. But of all the militant groups that have sprung up there, Boko Haram remains the most enigmatic in terms of raison d'etre, the most violent in terms of modus operandi and the most destructive. This chapter examines how Nigerians understand Boko Haram and how their divergent perspectives exacerbate divisions within Nigerian society. Specifically, it argues that to the extent that the responses to Boko Haram follow divisions within Nigerian society, it follows that the insurgency has succeeded in widening existing cleavages among different groups in the country. The chapter provides a review of the responses by various groups in Nigeria to Boko Haram, which is framed by the country's prevailing cleavages.
