Diplomacy as a panacea for resolving the Boko Haram insurgence in northern Nigeria: Implication for national integration

For over a decade now, the country have been experiencing violence attack by a group of insurgence popularly called boko haram. This group have created a lot of threat in the country which the government have been trying to curb out the mennence by using force. This paper however examine diplomacy as a panacea for resolving the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram insurgence in the country. Some literatures on the subject matter were reviewed while secondary sources were employed to analyze the issues therein. State fragility and frustration aggression theories were adopted as our theoretical framework in explaining the issues that are involved in the paper. The paper reveals that since the inception of this sect in the northern part of the country the national integration principle which is based on building a strong and prosperous nation irrespective of our differences has been in shamble, and the   government on the other hand has been using the military approach in combating this terrorist group which has been causing a lot of harm in the country. In the quest for resolving this insurgence, the paper recommends some diplomatic element which may be used for combating or addressing this sect. These include, negotiation, arbitration, being patient, and adopting secrecy. The paper however, recommend that  alleviating poverty as well as Education and employment opportunities  are  vital channel for combating terrorism in the Northern part of the country. Any action in this regard would prevent the youths from being ready tools for instability and recruitment. The paper concludes that for this act of terrorism to stop, the government should not solely rely on force, but must also focus on diplomatic element as well as addressing how to eliminate the underlying social and political causes of terrorism. It is only when this is done that we can effectively resolve the Boko Haram   terrorist organization.