Making sense of resilience in the Boko Haram crisis

Why have Bauchi and Gombe not experienced similar levels of violent extremism as other Nigerian states?

Major risk factors for violent extremism can be found in Bauchi and Gombe, two states in the north-east of Nigeria – the zone where the terror group Boko Haram is active. Yet in spite of risk factors, these two states have not experienced similar levels of violent extremism as other states in the same geographical zone. This study explains the synergy of issues that have shaped the narrative of resilience in Bauchi and Gombe over the last decade.

About the author

Dr Akinola Olojo is a senior researcher in the Complex Threats in Africa Programme of the Institute for Security Studies, based in Pretoria. Before this, he was a visiting scholar at the Institut d’Études Politiques (Sciences Po), France and a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), The Hague.

Picture: Amelia Broodryk/ISS