People as Protection – Civilians Countering Terror in Northeast Nigeria

Explores the complex and underappreciated role of civilian self-defense groups in northeastern Nigeria during the Boko Haram insurgency

People as Protection is a groundbreaking exploration of the complex and underappreciated role of civilian self-defense groups in northeastern Nigeria during the Boko Haram insurgency, particularly the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). Emerging in 2013, the CJTF was a grassroots initiative led by civilian populations, especially youth, to protect their communities from Boko Haram terror and the brutality of military forces. Caught between insurgents and the state, young volunteers patrolled their neighborhoods and risked their lives to prevent attacks while working alongside security forces many considered complicit in civilian harm.

Focusing on the deep motivations of these civilians, Daniel E. Agbiboa reveals how young Nigerians, when they chose to protect their communities, were driven by a desperate hope for security, a profound sense of patriotism, and personal courage. He shows how political emotions, such as a desire for recognition, dignity, and belonging, fueled civilians’ willingness to act, even as they grappled with, and sometimes contributed to, the deeply fraught nature of the Nigerian state. These civilians, he argues, remain emotionally tethered to the dream of a safer future, despite systemic betrayals.

People as Protection further reveals how civilians actively reshape security and governance in conflict zones, often through acts of profound political and emotional significance. Challenging the view of civilians as victims or pawns, and through extensive interviews and ethnographic fieldwork, Agbiboa uncovers the grit, courage, and emotional investments that drive the CJTF’s efforts. By foregrounding the roles of patriotism, political emotions, and grassroots values, he brings civilian agency into focus within the boundaries of security, governance, and citizenship in one of the world’s most volatile regions.