International Journal of Law and Legal Studies

International Journal of Law and Legal Studies ISSN 2736-1608 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Leveraging Law to Counter Terror: A Critical Analysis of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 and the Emerging Concept of Lawfare

G. N. Okeke*

Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. E-mail: okekegodwinn_40@yahoo.co.uk

Accepted 16 April, 2025

This article reflects on and appraises the recent preventive approach to terrorism which is of a varied nature and which has to do more particularly with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1373. The resolution is relatively new, yet it shows the way forward in tackling the menace of terrorism. It clearly points out areas where efforts should be geared towards if the fight against terrorism would be won. This article appraises these areas of the Resolution with a degree of clarity to show the light in the dark tunnel of terror network so that there will be no hidden place for both terror and terrorists and this is done with the aim of calling the attention of the member states of the United Nations to the possibility of using the law to successfully curb or curtail international terrorism. Whereas in warfare force is matched against force, in lawfare law is matched against crimes (including terrorism). This is what lawfare, which is relatively a new concept of law, is all about. The methodology employed in this work relates to books, case laws and internet materials.

Key words: United Nations Security Council Resolution, lawfare, terrorism, warfare.