The Making of Boko Haram is more than yet another book about an insurgent group. It is a study of how violence is socially produced, historically embedded and politically rationalised. Indeed, a masterpiece and a must read. This book is recommended for anyone seeking to understand not just Boko Haram, but the broader dynamics of insurgency and religious mobilisation in Africa. * Africa Briefing * A remarkable book - accessible, reader-friendly and versatile * Iwebunor Okwechime, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria * Akali Omeni brings rigor and originality to a subject that continues to shape Nigeria and Africas security landscape. The Making of Boko Haram is not just scholarship; it is a valuable reference for historians, security practitioners and professional military education (PME). * Major General Muhammad Inuwa Idris (rtd), The 26th Commanding General of the Nigerian Defence Academy * The Making of Boko Haram is an important and much needed contribution to understanding the rise and trajectory of this violent and highly consequential movement. Akali Omeni has done a superb job of mining archival material, utilizing key narratives, and applying social movement theory to produce this compelling and authoritative account of Boko Haram * Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University, USA * Akali Omeni's "The Making of Boko Haram" peels back critical layers to explain the group's origins, ideolog(ies) and violence, reframing our understanding of an extremist movement often narrowly defined despite its wider social movement grounding. Omeni skillfully uncovers the historical tensions and contextual debates between faith and politics which shaped Boko Haram's evolution, adaptation and resilience. A timely and essential read, imperative for Nigeria and the world to better understand the challenge rising religious fundamentalism' poses to multicultural, constitutional democracy. * Leena Koni Hoffmann-Atar, Chatham House, UK * Omeni has written the definitive history of Boko Haram. Vivid, well-evidenced and gripping. If you are interested in understanding how social movements gradually embrace terror, with Boko Haram as an exemplar, you should read this book. * Finda Koroma, ECOWAS Commission, Former Vice President, Sierra Leone *
