ABSTRACT
Since independence in 1960, Nigeria has experienced different violent conflicts that have not only triggered political instability, but have also threatened the corporate existence of the country. Since 2009, the Nigerian government has used the hard or "fire for fire" approach in its response to Boko Haram terrorists, using full military engagement, including the declaration of a state of emergency in the most affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. This chapter focuses on the prevention of radicalization and recruitment. The "Terrorism and Radicalization", discusses the terrorism-radicalization nexus and locates the context of radicalization that supports terrorism. The "Radicalization and terrorism in Nigeria", examines the context of radicalization and the emergence of Boko Haram as a terrorist group. The "Counter-terrorism in Nigeria", interrogates Nigeria's counter-terrorism strategy and explores counter-radicalization approaches that can be taken to prevent radicalization and recruitment of individuals, including victims of Boko Haram terrorists, into terrorist groups. The chapter concludes with notes on challenges to counter-radicalization.
