ABSTRACT
One of the major challenges facing Nigeria in recent times is the issue of national insecurity. Nigeria’s territorial boundaries with her neighbours which were hitherto avenues for positive cross-border relations, trading activities and a holistic regional integration, have in modern times become the main source of insecurity. From Gwoza hill and Sambisa Forest in Borno state and most recently in Zamfara state, the levels of cross-border banditry and terrorism have assumed a higher scale. It has been argued that Boko Haram and other criminal groups used the hit-and-run tactics through the nation’s porous border. What these groups have succeeded in doing is to latch onto the existing network of cross-border crimes that for long have benefitted from characteristically poor technology. The study is significant especially now that the country is struggling to curtail the activities of Boko Haram in the North-East, Fulani Herdsmen in the North-Central and Armed Banditry in the North–West.
This study examines the problems of border porosity on national security and specifically; it focused on the Nigeria-Niger frontiers with particular reference to Katsina State. It employed the state capacity and fragility theory as prime plank of its investigation. Objectively, it identified the impact and nature of border porosity in Nigeria; ascertain the porous character of Nigeria land border system; determination of the impact of border porosity on national security; identified the causes of Nigeria’s land border problems and discussed how border- related threats can be tackled. The study adopted the survey research design and tested the formulated research propositions. The data were derived from the research subjects through research instruments including, In-Depth Interview, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) and Personal Observation. To justify the latter, the Transect Walk which is a very flexible and simple method of participation in research, was deployed. It involves interviewing pedestrians and other passersby while at the same time, observing risks, characteristics, features and potential solutions to the problems of the subject under investigation. The good thing about it is that the walk will ultimately lead to a friendship exchange of knowledge between the locals and the researcher.
In addition, dataset by reliable organizations such as the United States based Council on Foreign Relations as well as Nigerian Watch were employed to generate additional information. It must be noted that successive administration in Nigeria have focused more on identity such as; poverty, unemployment, corruption, ignorance, illiteracy, ethnic and religious sentiments, poor governance, political and social exclusion, inequality, lack of trust in government, increasing cases of social vices like drug addiction, failure of parents to effectively instill moral values on their wards and marginalization. However, Findings from the analyzed data revealed that the porous character of Nigeria frontiers contribute greatly to the security challenges bedeviling the country. It showed clearly that the free movement of persons and goods across the nation’s land borders is a major source of threat to Nigeria’s collective existence, security and peace. From all the borders visited, it was the same observable pattern, that is, unhindered entry and exit. It was also discovered that the land borders of Nigeria are so expansive to the effect that securing them has overwhelmed border security personnel which is very limited in relation to the size of the borders. Findings also showed that Nigeria land borders with her neighbours stretches through difficult and rugged terrains which has made security surveillance and patrol more difficult. It was also revealed that Nigeria borders are carryovers from colonial regimes where in some areas, log of wood serve as separation; in some, it is rickety or condemned vehicles while in others, no separation at all. What this means is that they are not clearly demarcated and thus, unmanned and under-policed.
