STATE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT ERGA OMNES RIGHT: AN APPRAISAL OF THE NIGERIAN STATE PROSECUTION OF THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

The prevalence of terrorist attacks on the Nigerian State despite the Nigerian government counter-terrorism efforts have led to several discussions on the way forward. This long essay seeks to advocate for international collaboration with the Nigerian government to fight and actually defeat terrorism in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Thisstudyseekstoappraisetheprosecutionofthewaragainstterrorism bytheNigerian state governmentvis-à-vis the legalprinciples ofstate responsibility,responsibilitytoprotectandergaomnes.The21stcenturyischaracterizedbyseveralemerging globaltrends.These trends include globalization,technologicalboom,artificialintelligence,agitations forself-determination,insurgence and terrorism.Logically,theforegoingtrendsimposeenormoussecuritychallengesongovernmentsacrosstheglobeespeciallydevelopingnationslikeNigeria.Nigeriaisparticularlyofinterestinthisstudy,havingbeingundersiegeofterroristattacksbytheBokoHaramsectaswellasgruesomekillingsorchestratedbytheFulaniHerdsmen.Theeffectoftheseisthatthesanctityoflifeisbeingdesecratedknowinglyandintentionallybythesegroupsinavisiblepragmaticmanner.Consequently,Nigeriansnolongerfeelsafeintheirfatherlandandintheirfarmlandsparticularly.Inthelightoftheforegoinginsecuritychallenges,Nigeria’sdream ofbecomingadevelopednationwillremainelusiveexcepturgentradicalstepsaretakenbytheFederalgovernmenttoarresttheuglysituation.Hence,thisprojectreportadvocatesfortheimplementationoftheresponsibilitytoprotectprinciple (R2P)in Nigeria bytheinternationalcommunityaswellasanacceptanceoftheimplementationofthisprinciplebytheNigeriangovernment.

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Titlepage iCertification iiDedication iiiAcknowledgement ivTableofContents vTableofStatues viiiTableofCasesixAbstract xCHAPTERONE:INTRODUCTION 11.1Introduction 11.2BackgroundoftheStudy 21.3StatementoftheProblem 31.4ResearchObjectives 41.5ResearchQuestions 41.6ResearchMethodology41.7DefinitionofKeyTerms51.7.1StateResponsibility 51.7.2TheResponsibilitytoProtectPrinciple 51.7.3‘ErgaOmnes’Right 6

CHAPTERTWO:LITERATUREREVIEW 72.1Introduction 72.2LiteratureReviewofTerrorismasaConcept7

vi2.2.1AnOverviewoftheLegalFrameworkforTerrorisminNigeria102.2.2TheNigerianTerrorismPreventionAct(TPA)of2013 112.2.3HowEffectiveHasTheTPAof2011Been?122.3AnOverviewofInternationalLegalInstrumentsonTerrorism132.3.1TheOAU(AU)ConventiononPreventingandCombatingTerrorism 142.4IsTerrorismaCrimeAgainstHumanity? 152.5Conclusion 18

CHAPTERTHREE:STATERESPONSIBILITYTOPROTECTUNDERINTERNATIONALLAW 203.1Introduction 203.2 AnOverviewofStateResponsibilityunderInternationalLaw213.2.1AnappraisaloftheRelationshipbetweenUniversalJurisdictionandTerrorism233.2.2CanUniversalJurisdictionbeInvokedfortheProsecutionofTerrorism?233.2.3ShouldICCHaveJurisdictionoverTerrorism?253.3 PrincipleofResponsibilitytoProtectunderInternationalLaw273.3.1LegalBasisfortheResponsibilitytoProtectPrinciple 283.4 TheResponsibilitytoProtectPrincipleasaComponentofStateResponsibility303.5 Conclusion31

CHAPTERFOUR:APPLICATIONOFTHERESPONSIBILITYTOPROTECTPRINCIPLEINNIGERIA 32

vii4.1Introduction 324.2BackgroundtotheBokoHaramCrisisinNigeria334.2.1TheRisingFulaniHerdsmenCrisisinNigeria344.3 TheResponseoftheInternationalCommunityCurrently354.3.1TheUnitedNations(UN) 354.3.2TheEconomicCommunityofWestAfricanStates(ECOWAS)394.4AnExaminationofInterventionasaKeyConceptoftheResponsibilitytoProtect414.4.1InterventionorNoInterventioninNigeria 424.5Conclusion 45

CHAPTERFIVE:SUMMARYOFFINDINGS,RECOMMENDATIONSANDCONCLUSION 465.1SummaryofFindings465.2Recommendations485.3Conclusion 49Bibliography 50