Enhancing National Security and Combating Insurgency in Nigeria: The Role of the Library
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/3005-4222/15742Keywords:
security, insecurity, national security, insurgency, security information needs, libraryAbstract
This study underscores the integral role of libraries in promoting transparency, resilience, and collective efforts towards a more secure and stable nation. Libraries are positioned as dynamic information repositories, housing a diverse array of materials that range from academic research to intelligence analyses providing valuable insights into the complexities of insurgency. Through systematic literature reviews, articles were harvested from databases including Google Scholar, Research Gate, Academia, and ProQuest. The study examines the pivotal role of libraries in enhancing national security and combating insurgency in Nigeria. Findings reveal that libraries play a crucial role in public education and awareness, promoting literacy and critical thinking skills essential for citizens to resist extremist ideologies. Findings further indicate that the collaborative nature of libraries as neutral grounds facilitates cooperation among diverse stakeholders, fostering the exchange of insights and experiences that contribute to the development of innovative strategies. Findings recognise the contributions that libraries have made in generating new knowledge and cultivating an informed citizenry to address the root causes of insurgency and foster sustainable peace in Nigeria. The study highlights that libraries in Nigeria can play a vital role in enhancing national security and combating insurgency by serving as hubs for disseminating accurate information, fostering critical thinking skills, countering extremist propaganda, building community resilience, providing professional development opportunities, advocating for effective policies, and preserving national identity. The study recommends leveraging resource and community networks that can contribute significantly to peacebuilding efforts in the country. The study recommends the need not to overlook the role of libraries in national security and counterinsurgency efforts, offering insights into innovative approaches and strategies for addressing these challenges.
References
Adedire, S. A., Ake, M., and Olowojolu, O. 2016. "Combating Terrorism and Insurgency in Nigeria: An International Collaboration against Boko Haram." Fountain University Journal of Management and Social Sciences 5: 67-74.
Akinola, A. O., and Tella, O. 2013. "Boko Haram Terrorism and Nigeria's Security Dilemma: Rethinking the State's Capacity." International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences and Humanities Research 1(3): 70-78.
Dadur, P., and Aliyu, S. K. 2021. "The Impact of Multinational Joint Task Force Counter-operations in the Fight Against Boko Haram Insurgency." Gusau International Journal of Management and Social Sciences 4(3): 23-23.
Dasuki, S. 2013. "Nigeria's Security Challenges: The Way Forward." Speech delivered by Col Sambo Dasuki at the 3rd seminar held at the National Defence College, Jaji. 1 February 2013.
Gana, M. I. 2023. "Exploring Ethno-religious Identity and its Impact on the Struggles of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria's Fourth Republic." Wukari International Studies Journal 7(3): 402-417.
Horsfall, M. N., Orubebe, E. D., and Nsirim, O. 2020. "Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Library and Information Science Students of Rivers State University in Digital Age." International Journal of Information Processing and Communication 8(1): 26-34.
Igwela, J.N.B., and Nsirim, O. 2018. Library and Information Services for National Security and Fight against Insurgency." Paper presented at the National Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state. 124-240. 23 July 2018.
Igwela, J.N.B., and Nsirim, O. 2017. "Libraries and Promotion of National Development." Delta Journal of Library and Information Science 11(1 and 2): 267-27.
Igwela, J.N.B., Adomi, E., and Nsirim, O. 2019. "Collaborative Technologies for Knowledge Sharing in Sustaining LIS Education in Nigeria: A Survey of Library Schools in Rivers State." Paper presented at the National Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt. 9-13 September 2019. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359193903
Ikeanyibe, O. M., Olise, C. N., Abdulrouf, I., and Emeh, I. 2020. "Interagency Collaboration and the Management of Counter-insurgency Campaigns Against Boko Haram in Nigeria." Security Journal 33: 455-475. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-020-00237-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-020-00237-3
Iwuoha, V. C., and Onuoha, F. C. 2021. "Current Trends in Boko Haram's Terrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Strategy in Nigeria." On Terrorism 91.
Kielsgard, M. D., and Orina, N. M. 2020. "Boko Haram in the Context of Global Jihadism: A Conceptual Analysis of Violent Extremism in Northern Nigeria and Counter-Terrorism Measures." U. Pa. J. Int'l L 42: 155.
Kinsey, C., and Krieg, A. 2021. "Assembling a Force to Defeat Boko Haram: How Nigeria Integrated the Market into its Counterinsurgency Strategy." Defense and Security Analysis 37(2): 232-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2021.1919356 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2021.1919356
Klain-Gabbay, L., and Shoham, S. 2019. "The Role of Academic Libraries in Research and Teaching." Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 51(3): 721-736. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000617742462 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000617742462
Lekunze, M. 2023. "Insurgency and National Security: A Perspective from Cameroon's Separatist Conflict." Third World Quarterly 1-19.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2023.2177149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2023.2177149
Lenshie, N. E., Nwangwu, C., Ezeibe, C., Ifem, L. M. A., and Okafor, G. O. 2024. "Boko Haram, Security Architecture and Counterinsurgency in North-East, Nigeria." Armed Forces and Society 50(2):497-519. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X221121656 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X221121656
March, A. M., Vaikosen, H., and Nsirim, O. 2019. "Institutional Repositories: A strategy for Enhancing Networked Information for University Library Services. The Information Managers." Journal of Nigerian Library Association, Rivers State Chapter 3: 57-72. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348630172
Neetha, D. N.V. 2020. "Role of Academic Libraries in Research." https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339473798
Obi, B. B., and Oladokun, B. 2023. "Security Measures in Meeting Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Agricultural Science Students in Nigerian Universities." Southern African Journal of Security 1: 12. https://doi.org/10.25159/3005-4222/14383 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/3005-4222/14383
Ogu, U. K., and Areji, A. C. 2022. "Ethnic Nationalism and Ethno-religious Conflicts: Setting an Agenda for Stability and Development in Nigeria." Sapientia: Journal of Philosophy 16.
Ojo, J. S., Lamidi, K. O., Odewale, A. D., Shiyanbade, B., and Ihemeje, G. 2020. "Enemy Within the State: The Pathology of Boko Haram Insurgency, Military Corruption, and Fallacy of Arms Procurement in Nigeria." International Journal of Public Administration. 43(12): 1068-1082. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2019.1665068 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2019.1665068
Olabanji, O.E., and Ese, U. 2014. "Insecurity and Socio-economic Development in Nigeria." Journal of Sustainable Development Studies 5(1): 4063.
Oleksiyuk, T. 2023. "Access to Official Information for Countering Disinformation: Key Findings and Steps for Ukrainian Policy Makers." Ukraine Analytica 1(30): 88-96.
Omigie, C. A., Makinde, T. O., and Oboite, A. S. 2023. "Community Library for Education for Sustainable Development in Nigerian Digital Age." Ghana Library Journal 28(1): 68-74. https://doi.org/10.4314/glj.v28i1.6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/glj.v28i1.6
Oyewole A.O. 2017.. "Intelligence Information Sharing: Benefits of Collaboration Among Security Agents in Nigeria." The Guardian. January, 20 2017. https://guardian.ng/features/intelligence-information/
Shelupanov, A., Evsyutin, O., Konev, A., Kostyuchenko, E., Kruchinin, D., and Nikiforov, D. 2019. "Information Security Methods: Modern Research Directions." Symmetry 11(2): 150. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym11020150 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sym11020150
Sule, B., Yahaya, M. A., Rabiu, A. A., Ahmad, M., and Hussaini, K. 2019. "Strategies of Combating Insurgency in North-eastern Nigeria: A non-Traditional Approach." Journal of Administrative Science 16(2): 54-75. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.02.02.79 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.02.02.79
Tom-George, N., and Nsirim, O. 2020. "Digital Library Services for Sustainable University Education." International Journal of Innovative Education Research 8(3):128-135.
Udoh, E. W. 2015. "Insecurity in Nigeria: Political, Religious and Cultural Implications." Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion 5(1): 9-16.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Onyema Nsirim, Clementina Clement-Abraham, Aminatu Ajie
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2024-04-19
Published 2024-06-05