Boko Haram Insurgency and Regional Security Cooperation in the Lake Chad Basin

This study examines the regional security response to the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin, assessing the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation frameworks in containing the threat. The insurgency, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, represents one of Africa's most enduring security crises. Bilateral and multilateral responses have included the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), intelligence-sharing arrangements, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Drawing on securitisation theory and the regional security complex framework, this research analyses the design, implementation, and outcomes of cooperative security initiatives from 2019 to 2024, with particular attention to Nigeria's leadership role. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, drawing on official mission reports, United Nations assessments, and academic literature. The North East zone of Nigeria, specifically Borno and Yobe states, serves as the primary geographical focus, given the concentration of conflict activity in these areas. Field-based secondary data from aid organisations and conflict monitoring groups supplement the analysis. Findings are expected to show that while the MNJTF has degraded Boko Haram's territorial control, cross-border information-sharing gaps and resource disparities continue to undermine sustained effectiveness. Recommendations are offered for strengthening the MNJTF mandate and improving civilian protection outcomes. Keywords: Boko Haram, Lake Chad Basin, regional security, Multinational Joint Task Force, insurgency.