For over a decade, Nigeria has been engaged in a persistent battle against terrorism as Boko Haram and its factions continue to perpetrate acts of terror within the country. While the northwestern states have seen some Boko Haram-related incidents, the northeast states, especially Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, have suffered the most from the group’s brutal attacks. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of over 2 million people in Nigeria. In the northeast, the group has created an unending humanitarian crisis that has affected the region’s development. In 2014, the terrorist group became internationally infamous after the abduction of 270 girls from the town of Chibok in Borno state. Boko Haram’s increasing violence led to its ranking as the deadliest terrorist group in the world, surpassing the Islamic State Group (ISIS) in 2015.
In response to the growing threat of Boko Haram, the Nigerian government launched a more coordinated response in 2015. The government partnered with various federal agencies, neighbouring countries, and partner countries to end the insurgency. The military cooperation between the Nigerian government, neighbouring countries and international partners resulted in Boko Haram losing most of its territory by 2015. The loss of territories resulted in a split and the creation of two other terrorist groups, Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and Islamic State West African Province. Military setbacks experienced by Boko Haram led former President Muhammadu Buhari to declare that the group was technically defeated. Current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also echoed a similar statement regarding terrorism in the country. In 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISWAP, and they continue to pose a significant threat to northeastern Nigeria and the nation. They have continued to be formidable and have shown their capabilities in carrying out deadly attacks.
On January 24, 2025, ISWAP targeted an army base and killed at least 20 soldiers in Malam Fatori, a remote town in Borno state. On January 12, 2025, suspected Islamist militants carried out an attack on the Dumba community in Borno State. This attack led to the death of 40 farmers in northeastern Borno State. The Islamist militants were believed to be part of Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP. These attacks underscore a more significant issue: Nigeria’s ineffective counterterrorism measures.
Reactive approaches significantly hinder Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts and hinder the effective reduction of terrorist activities. A study by Nkata (2023) on the effectiveness and efficiency of counterterrorism measures revealed that Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategies are primarily reactive, addressing issues only after a terrorist act has occurred. While this approach may produce short-term results, it ultimately proves counterproductive in the long run. Reactionary military strategies allow terrorist groups to exploit the military’s unpreparedness (Makai, Fadola, and Sholademi, 2024). The ambush of the Nigerian army in their base is a prime example of Nigeria’s reactive approach to terrorism. Being well prepared would have prevented such an attack from happening.
Nigerians have a constitutional right to protection by their government. However, this right has been violated at various times. On January 11, 2025, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike in Tungar Kara, Zamfara State, resulted in the death of over 16 residents. The governor of Zamfara stated that the airstrike carried out by the NAF was unintentional. Likewise, in 2023, an accidental bombing in Tudun Biri, Kaduna state, by the Nigerian military resulted in 120 casualties. Incidents like this alienate communities and foster mistrust between the government and its citizens. Counterterrorism measures require collaboration between the government and local communities. When these measures disregard Nigerians’ constitutional rights, they become ineffective. As a result, public trust between citizens and the government is lacking, undermining counterterrorism efforts’ effectiveness.
Corruption is another factor that renders counterterrorism measures ineffective. Resources meant for military operations against terrorist groups may be siphoned into the pockets of top officials. A study on Nigeria’s kinetic counterterrorism approach found that most international development agencies collaborating with the government intentionally withhold money from the government due to corruption. Instead, international organisations partner with state and federal governments to deliver the funds and prevent corrupt practices (Nte, Isa, Omolara 2024). A respondent in the study who represented an international development agency stated that the agency the respondent represented does not work directly with the Nigerian government on principle because of corruption (Nte, Isa, Omolara 2024).
The persistent threat that Boko Haram and its splinter factions pose to the Nigerian people is a clear indication that Nigeria needs to improve its counterterrorism measures significantly. The government must ensure that Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts begin to yield results. Unless the government acts, terrorist groups will continue to run amok in the country, and more civilian lives will be in constant jeopardy. Nigeria has one of the best-funded militaries in Africa. Yet, it struggles to yield tangible results against terrorism.
To ensure the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts, the government must embrace security reform. The government and relevant stakeholders must work together to implement fundamental reforms that target the effectiveness of the military. Reform may also involve appointing civilians and people who can bring new perspectives on fighting terrorism. There is a need to pay more attention to the non-kinetic approach. Holding dialogues between different defence agencies will be crucial. Civil societies, non-government organisations, and civilians will find it essential to identify the various challenges within the security sector. This will help identify challenges and proffer solutions to guarantee
Counterterrorism cannot be effective without public trust. The government must ensure that the rights of the people they are trying to protect are respected and protected. Any form of negligence must be compensated. Military officials who violate the rights of civilians while carrying out counterterrorism measures must face the consequences of their negligence. This will help build public trust and ensure that countermeasures against terrorism are effective. Also, legislative oversight of the security sector should be upped to prevent wasting resources and reduce corruption. This will create transparency in resource allocation within the security sector. Relevant stakeholders must collaborate to ensure the security sector is transparent with its resources. Proper transparency will safeguard resources allocated to the security sector and help prevent corruption.
For Further Reading
Makai, C. C., Fadola, A. B., & Sholademi, D. B. (2024). Beyond security failures: The complexities of addressing Boko Haram in Nigeria. World J Adv Res Rev, 24(1), 503-517, https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.24.1.3080
Nkata, R. A. (2023). An appraisal of the effectiveness and efficiency of Nigeria’s counterterrorism approach in the North East-2009-2021. Wukari International Studies Journal, 7(2), 287-315. https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/166
Omolara, J. A. (2024). Beyond the Kinetic Approach to Counter Terrorism in Nigeria and Towards a Sustainable Soft Power Paradigm. Journal of Crime and Criminal Behavior, 4(2), 213-248,
