The disclosure that 100 soldiers and 280 civilians were killed in 252 Boko Haram attacks in Borno State within six months is most disturbing. That reality starkly advertises the collective vulnerability of Nigerians, if soldiers who are defenders of the country’s territorial space have themselves become exposed to harm and death in the course of fighting insurgency. But Nigeria does not need to descend to that level, because her military capacity is immense; and certainly capable of overrunning the insurgents.
The problem with the Nigerian military is the enemy within that has failed, either negligently or wilfully, to take the right action at the right time; thus allowing terrorists to gain a foothold and confidence in perpetrating their criminal activities on the country. What is required are urgent, extraordinary steps by the military to make their base and the country impregnable against enemy attacks. The military must retool and redouble its counterinsurgency measures, and take the fight to the enemy, rather than waiting for the enemy to strike and for the military to react lamely.
The Senator representing Borno State, Ali Ndume, sounded the alarm that Boko Haram insurgents and their affiliates operating in Nigeria’s Northeast have renewed attacks and are gaining territories. According to the senator, three local government areas of Borno State – Gudumbari, Marche and Abadam are under Boko Haram rule. Ndume said that in Southern Borno, it is unsafe for citizens to go about lawful duties in seven out of the nine local government areas once it is 6 p.m. The nights, too, are unsafe, he lamented.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State reiterated the warning that the jihadists have made a comeback in a series of attacks in which they have seized control of territories from the military. The governor lamented that Boko Haram fighters now kidnap people in affected communities on a daily basis.
In January this year, insurgents were reported to have killed 20 soldiers and 40 farmers in separate attacks. They are reported to have escalated campaigns, leading to attacks on residents who had just returned to their ancestral homes from internally displaced persons’ camps. In March, suspected insurgents attacked Nguro-Soye, a resettled town in Bama, where they killed residents.
In announcing their return, the insurgents, on March 24, reportedly launched attacks on military formations in Wajirko, in Damboa council area and in Wulgo, in Gamboru Ngala council area. It is reported that these attacks are frustrating resettlement efforts as residents live in fear of terrorists’ return. The senator and governor concurred that there are insufficient boots on the ground to fend off attacks in liberated communities. Residents of Gwoza told newsmen that though they had returned home, there were no military patrols to assure them of safety.
Another offensive deployed by the insurgents as they return is the deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along highways around the Lake Chad region. Reports say IEDs have damaged bridges at Gujba and Biu local government areas of Yobe and Borno, thus hampering community activities and the movement of commodities and farm goods. The local economy is constrained, and farmers can no longer go to farm.
It is disturbing that gains made by the military in the fight against Boko Haram are being reversed with ease, suggesting that security forces have not done enough to warrant resettling residents, who are thus exposed to renewed danger. It is worrisome that despite heavy defence budgets, insecurity is still among the major headaches facing the country. At the signing of the 2025 Budget, President Tinubu boasted that with the N6.11 trillion defence budget, the highest in the nation’s history, the government had laid the foundation for stability. Nigerians are yet to see any foundation for stability in the country. Since the insurgency became a major threat nearly 15 years ago, defence allocations have taken a large chunk of the country’s resources. Despite that, insecurity has spread across the land, with the epicentre of violent insurgency moving from the Northeast and spreading to every other region.
It is equally disheartening that under the Tinubu government, insurgents have returned to hoist flags in hitherto liberated communities. They make life hellish for law-abiding citizens, just as they make a mockery of government rhetoric.
It is given that the nature of the Boko Haram insurgency and their asymmetric tactics constrain the military’s conventional orientation and operation. But after 15 years, the military ought to be ahead of the criminals. That is yet to happen. It is also a fact that sabotage is common in an insurgency that is largely driven by sectarian values. Again, the military, by now, should have found answers to that dilemma and stopped carrying on as if the fight against insurgency should last forever.
The combined essence of government is to have its presence felt in every inch of Nigerian soil. Where communities are paying tolls to bandits in Zamfara and at other places in North-central, to live and work in peace, what then is the essence of government? Let the government take charge of these communities. It is a costly mistake for the government to allow bandits to take territories in the first place; it erodes citizens’ confidence in the government’s constitutional obligation to protect life and property. In worse scenarios, citizens are being forced to trust the terrorists when the government is absent.
The government and the political class should not politicise the insurgency fight as they are wont to do so regularly now. This amounts to a great disservice to soldiers who are daily laying down their lives for the ordinary Nigerian to live in peace; and it is equally an additional insult to citizens who are being killed daily just because they are Nigerians who have chosen to be law-abiding. In matters of insecurity, everybody loses. This is the time to bring on board state police, to allow sub-national governments to play their role at the state level. Local governments should not be left out in the fight, at least in the formation of neighbourhood security posts for intelligence and surveillance. Efficient security is local.
The Nigerian Military remains the most powerful in sub-Saharan Africa and is well ranked continentally and globally. The government must do everything possible to protect the integrity of the military. The country’s territorial integrity is tied to the success or failure of our military.
In August 2023, Tinubu listed security as one of his priorities for Nigerians among his government’s eight-point agenda. In his first two years, it is worth reminding Mr. President that he is not close to meeting the target he set for himself. Nigerians are dying needlessly, both civilians and military. This is the time to redouble efforts to make Nigeria safe for all.
