BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY AND THE CHALLENGES OF ONLINE TERRORISM IN NIGERIA

The Boko Haram terrorist group is one of the major threats to peace and security in Nigeria. Since 2015, the group seemed to have altered its modus Operandi and modus vivendi in favour of online communication platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. This study therefore examines issues and challenges faced by the government in the management of the use of Online Media by the terrorist group in the propagation of its extremist ideology. It also examines its implications for national security. Using secondary sources and descriptive narrative analysis, the study shows that the online space in Nigeria is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is a veritable tool for social and economic development; on the other, it is an avenue for indoctrination and radicalization by violent extremist groups.  With over 104 million active internet users in 2021, the paper argues that the online space in the country is not properly monitored. It, therefore, recommends collaboration with members of the international communities and international security organizations to tap from their experiences