The Role of the Civilian Joint Task Force in the Improvement of Security in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian state has been fighting Boko Haram since the establishment of the terrorist organization. Due to the equipment's poor quality, the lack of experience, and the staff shortages, the Nigerian Army could not defeat the enemy and provide a secure life for the citizens in Borno state, which is the base of Boko Haram. That was why the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) or locally known "Yan Gora" was established in 2013 by volunteer citizens. The organization's personnel consist of mainly jobless young and undereducated people with poor quality of equipment and weaponry.

As a non-state actor (NSA), CJTF has been fighting the terrorist organization along with the Nigerian Army and caused severe loss to Boko Haram while it has also been suffering from serious losses.

Besides the fight, the organization participates in different civil security activities such as security scans, body searches of individuals, protecting public buildings, and supervising checkpoints.

Although the Borno state government financially supports the organization, it covers only a small part of its budget. That is why most of the twenty-six thousand CJTF fighters are self-sufficient. The low budget and the lack of salaries can be the reason for crimes allegedly committed by the members of the CJTF.

The organization was initially considered as an important, apolitical actor to protect the communities, but it gradually transformed into a group with political connections which impact the future of the CJTF.

This paper is searching for the answer to how effective the CJTF is and the organization's vision after the defeat of Boko Haram.

The organization as a Non State Actor (NSA) has been fighting the terrorist organization along with the Nigerian Army and caused serious loss to the Boko Haram while it itself also has been suffering from serious losses.

Besides the fight the organization takes part in different civil security activities such as security scans, body searches of individuals, protecting public buildings, and supervising checkpoints.

Although the Borno state government financially supports the organization it covers only a small part of its budget that is why the most of the twenty-six thousand CJTF fighters are self-sufficient. The low budget and the lack of the salaries can be the reason for crimes allegedly committed by the members of the CJTF.

The organization was initially considered as an important, free from politics actor to protect the communities, but it gradually transformed into a group with political connections which have impacts on the future of the CJTF.