Study of terrorist longevity: The case of Nigeria

Abstract

Why do some terrorist organizations survive longer than others? This paper investigates the longevity of domestic terrorist groups in Nigeria and seeks to uncover the determinants of longevity. The sample, drawn from the Extended Data on Terrorist Groups (EDTG) and the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), consists of 25 diverse terrorist organizations operating in Nigeria from 1979 to 2022. I find that religion does not affect group duration in Nigeria. However, I find that terrorist organizations located in states with extensive water cover tend to have a longer duration than groups in the forest. This finding is noteworthy, as no existing literature discusses the effect of waterways on group lifespan. Finally, the author provides areas to advance future research and make policy recommendations to concerned authorities.