The Nigerian Government's War Against Boko Haram and Terrorism

This work applies Jacques Ellul’s thought to the Nigerian government’s war against Boko Haram, examining the war as a manifestation of “necessity.” How is information about the ongoing war effort managed and how is propaganda applied by the government when communicating to the Nigerian people? How does Jacques Ellul’s communicative perspective provide the critical consideration for communicating humanly and with dignity while pursuing the war effort? The central idea is on the indignity of using the power of communication as a propaganda tool to counter terrorism or in any war against an insurgency. The central concern is: does the Nigerian government subtly apply propaganda as a “politically motivated strategy for controlling a population?” Reviewing the situation in Nigeria and applying Ellul’s thinking on propaganda and communication will help us evaluate these questions.