The Nigerian Government's Response to Northern Militancy

Northeastern Nigeria has seen a significant uptick in attacks from Islamist militant group Boko Haram in recent months, leading Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to make a June 10 announcement offering amnesty to militants who lay down their arms. However, Boko Haram's organization and goals are unclear, and the group lacks strong leadership with which to negotiate. It is thus increasingly likely that Jonathan's government will deploy security forces to the region for a harsh crackdown.