The Philosophy of War and Peace: Evaluating the Ethics of the Boko Haram Counter-Insurgency Campaign in North East Nigeria

This study examines the ethics of the Nigerian military's counter-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram in North East Nigeria, applying just war theory and the philosophy of violence and peace to evaluate the moral dimensions of state-sanctioned military force in Borno and Adamawa States. The philosophy of war and peace addresses questions of when armed force is morally justified, what limits govern its conduct, and what obligations exist toward civilian populations in conflict zones. Using a descriptive philosophical design, the study applies classical just war criteria from Michael Walzer and Brian Orend to documented incidents in the counter-insurgency campaign, including civilian deaths, destruction of communities, and the detention of suspected insurgents. Secondary philosophical literature on just war theory and peace ethics published between 2020 and 2024 informs the analysis. Interviews with 15 peace researchers and philosophy academics in Maiduguri supplement the documentary analysis. Findings reveal that while the jus ad bellum conditions for the counter-insurgency campaign are largely satisfied, significant jus in bello violations, including disproportionate force and failure to distinguish combatants from civilians, have occurred and have not been adequately investigated or prosecuted. The study argues that just war theory imposes positive obligations on the Nigerian military that currently go unfulfilled. Keywords: just war theory, Boko Haram, counter-insurgency, ethics of violence, North East Nigeria.