COUNTER-TERRORISM LEGISLATION AND INSECURITY REDUCTION IN BORNO STATE: AN ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIA'S TERRORISM (PREVENTION AND PROHIBITION) ACT, 2022

Abstract

This article evaluates the effectiveness of Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (TPPA) 2022 in addressing insecurity in Borno State, the epicentre of Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgencies. Using a concurrent mixed-methods design (408 survey respondents; 12 Key Informant Interviews), multiple regression revealed that deradicalisation and reintegration most strongly reduced insecurity (β = −0.852), followed by international collaboration (β = −0.141) and community engagement (β = −0.063), explaining 80.4% of the variance. While the TPPA provides a comprehensive legal framework, critical implementation deficits — institutional corruption, over-reliance on kinetic operations, limited deradicalisation resources, divergent MNJTF interests, and community distrust — undermine its effectiveness. The study recommends strengthening accountability, embedding deradicalisation in transitional justice frameworks, expanding international cooperation beyond military operations, and integrating socio-economic development as a core security strategy.