Internal Conflict Management And The Nigerian Military: Issues And Challenges In The Fourth Republic

ABSTRACT
The Nigerian state is confronted with enormous internal security challenges
ranging from religious crises, communal conflicts, socio- political upheaval, the
Niger Delta militancy and Boko haram insurgencies to the recurrent herdsmen
invasion of villages in the northern and southern part of Nigeria. These challenges
have brought the Nigerian military to the fore in internal conflict management.
The primary responsibility of the Nigeria police is to maintain law and order and
the protection of lives and properties but over time the police have failed in her
duty thus the quest for the military in internal conflict management. The Nigerian
military derives its legitimacy in internal conflict management from section 217
(c) of the 1999 constitution as amended. A Cursory look into the history of the
military in internal conflict management in Nigeria reveals that the military has
performed above board, however like other institutions there are recurrent issues
and challenges that are hindering the effective operationalization of the military
in internal conflict management. I