Countering Terrorism in Nigeria: The Imperative of Geospatial Intelligence and Information Technology

Terrorism which etymologically is expressed as an act of creating fear has remained a growing bane to infrastructures, investments, and human lives since its debut. Militias such as the Fulani-herders, indigenous people of Biafra, Boko Haram (Bandits), and the Niger Delta Militants which have over the years ‘combined’ to advance terroristic activities in Nigeria have successfully put the nation on the third position of the global terrorism index for the sixth consecutive year. The chapter in examining how geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) cum Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can contribute to countering terrorism in Nigeria adopted the survey method using Open Data Kit (ODK) in administering questionnaire (250) to obtain responses on the etiology of terrorism alongside the theoretical approach relying on extant literature and Tarde’s Imitation theory to explicate the practicable role of GEOINT and ICT. Based on its findings, the chapter advocates that government can eclectically subdue terrorism by intensifying value reorientation amid other etiologically directed and military kinetic efforts while intensively engaging the possibilities of GEOINT and ICT through international cooperation and promotion of self-regulation policies to mandate the ICT service providers divulge all suspected terroristic usage of their platforms for further action.