Description
The military is an institution that closely guards its methods and operations from outsiders. This presents unique challenges for researchers interested in studying the institution and its members. These challenges are evident in the Nigerian military, which has been engaged in conflicts with Islamist terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the West African Province in the northeastern region of the country. The Nigerian military community has felt the impact of the conflict, resulting in thousands of military widows and a significant number of permanently incapacitated and deceased soldiers.
This article provides comprehensive coverage of how the closed-off community of Nigerian military widows affected by the Boko Haram conflict was accessed, navigated, and negotiated. Accessing the Nigerian army and engaging with widows of the Boko Haram conflict involved a combination of formal and informal means. The author's personal and social networks played a pivotal role in facilitating this access. These networks were instrumental in engaging with the Nigerian military and overcoming challenges commonly faced by researchers studying various militaries. The experiences and outcomes of the fieldwork resonate with the findings of other qualitative methodological studies on the military.
Reflections on the methods and approaches used to access Nigerian military widows affected by the Boko Haram conflict contribute to the global literature on methodological issues in military social research. They underscore the importance of researchers reflecting on their work and striving to produce critical and socially enlightening knowledge about the military. Through this approach, we can deepen our understanding of and engagement with the institution.
