Many Nigerians want this to be a political issue: Why? Because that would mean that INSECURITY would disappear once the current government is changed.The stark reality is that INSECURITY is a real non-political issue feeding off age-old tribal/religious beliefs and the many fault-lines in Nigeria.

INSECURITY IN THE NORTH EAST is a response to long-neglect of the Northeast by the political elite: The Northeast, home and theater of operations of the Boko Haram, is the farthest from Lagos ( the country's commercial nerve center) and also farthest from Abuja ( country capital). It has been largely neglected over time and many ills have been allowed to fester.
Boko Haram is only the latest incarnation of northern sectarian uprisings that have take place over the years: The early-to-mid eighties saw the Maitatsine uprisings in the north by similar islamic militants who were then forcibly put down.

Boko Haram is partly a Kanuri tribal militia gone haywire: The bulk of recruits of the Boko Haram are of Kanuri stock. They have been recruited mostly from Kanuri people living in Borno, Jigawa and Adamawa areas of the north east.

Boko Haram and bandits are also a symptom of the larger Sahel crisis: All along the Sahel belt in west africa ( fringe of the Sahara desert), the problems associated with climate change, deforestation and poor government have caused different groups in different countries to flare up and they are all coordinating activities. Boko Haram claim to have participated in the Mali uprisings and Nigerian authorities claim that some of them may have also received training and supplies in Mali too.

Varied funding sources: If they were only being funded by politicians, this would have been an easy thing to resolve. However, it is the opinion of many observers that they are funded also through kidnappings, protection rackets for businesses in the northeast, bank robberies and illegal taxation. Besides, like any competent guerrilla force, they also feed on the Nigerian security forces for supplies and advanced weaponry. Recent attacks have featured offensives using captured Nigerian Army APCs.

Their existence also serves other people's goals: There are also many parties benefiting from the ongoing conflict including the many corrupt civil servants or military crooks siphoning money from the many defence contracts meant to arm the security forces against this menace.

Ending the conflict would potentially put a stop to the windfall and as such it is the silent belief in many quarters that the group has been allowed to fester because many players have something to gain from their continued existence. So in reality Insecurities in Nigeria is a cash cow to State factors involved a sad reality and there is no end in sight.
This is solely my opinion. I am opening minded, will love to read healthy contributions.