Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Insurgency and Humanitarian Conditions in IDP Camps in Nigeria

Literature Review

Insurgency as a concept is difficult to define. The reason for this is predicated on the fact that it is often used interchangeably with terrorism. In this regard, Moriss (2005) contends that while insurgency and terrorism quite frequently appear as synonyms, the existing definitions do more to confuse rather than clarify the issues. Implicitly, neither the government nor academics agree on suitable definitions for both terms. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish between insurgency and terrorism because both employ almost the same method, more importantly, using force and threats to coerce their target audience. In fact, both groups could threaten, injures, kill civilians and employees of government deployingsimilar means.

Furthermore, the confusion surrounding the concept is exacerbated by the position of Schmid and Jongman (1988), and Hoffman (2006 cited in Assaf, 2015) that terrorism usuallydoes not endeavor to hold or seize territory; and does not exercise governance or direct control over a population at the local or national level. However, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) often referred to as a terrorist group acquired territory in Iraq and Syria before they were dislodged; ditto Boko Haram which is tagged a terrorist group in Nigeria.