Nigerians want military to scale up fight against terrorism

…As Plateau monarch urges action on illegal mining, kidnapping in North Central

Since 2009 when Nigeria began the war against insurgency, thousands of citizens have lost their lives in the hands of blood-thirsty criminals.

Security agents, who lead the war for the country, are also not spared. By the end of January 2025, more than 300 Nigerian soldiers had been killed in the war against terrorism over the past eight years.

These figures, though alarming, may not even capture the full extent of military losses, as many deaths go unreported or are downplayed.

Apart from the casualties recorded by the military, countless ordinary Nigerian citizens have been killed in the low-grade war in the country.

No day passes without a report of killings by either the insurgents, bandits, kidnappers or other assorted criminals that have converted Nigeria into a killing field.

Last December, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released a data, claiming that Nigeria recorded more than 600,000 deaths from insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024. Although this set off serious controversy, the government has not released any other data countering the one by the NBS.

The report said that about 614,937 people were killed nationwide, with North West leading with the highest figure of 206,030.

The data showed that there were 188,992 deaths recorded in North East, while the least was recorded in the South West with 15,693.

Nigeria is indeed, facing multiple security challenges in different regions. While the country is battling a Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, banditry and kidnapping for ransom are high in the North West.

Read also: NAF intensifies counter-terrorism efforts, eliminates key terrorist leaders

With each passing month, insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to invade communities in the North, using the natives as shields. They mix themselves among the people, who they have intimidated into submission.

The infiltration of these communities by the bandits and insurgents have led to serious unintended casualties as the military tried to take out the criminals.

These criminals also ambush military personnel, raising questions about Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy.

Ambushes have been one of the most devastating tactics used by terrorists against Nigerian soldiers.

Typically, these attacks occur when soldiers are on patrol or conducting clearance operations in insurgent strongholds.

Some security experts suspect that insider information—possibly from fifth columnists within the military or local informants—often aids these surprise attacks.

For instance, on January 16, 2025: Nine soldiers were ambushed and killed by Boko Haram while returning from an operation near Lake Chad.

In March 2020, Boko Haram ambushed and killed at least 50 Nigerian soldiers in Yobe State, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the military in recent years.

Also, in July 2020 Islamist militants killed 23 Nigerian soldiers in an ambush along a key road near Maiduguri.

These repeated ambushes suggest that insurgents are exploiting intelligence gaps and weaknesses in military tactics, making it crucial for Nigeria to reassess its approach.

From 2018 to 2025, Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise in military fatalities due to terrorist attacks.

The persistent insurgency, led by groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has resulted in significant losses for the Nigerian military.

Between 2018 and 2019, reports indicate that 148 soldiers were killed in Boko Haram attacks, highlighting the increasing threat posed by the militant group.

In March 2020, Boko Haram fighters ambushed and killed at least 50 Nigerian soldiers near Goneri village in northern Yobe State.

This attack was one of the deadliest at the time and underscored the group’s ability to launch devastating offensives against military personnel.

In November 2021, ISWAP had intensified its operations, ambushing and killing Dzarma Zirkusu, a Brigadier General, along with three other soldiers in Borno State.

The targeted attack on a senior military officer demonstrated the group’s strategic approach to weakening Nigeria’s security forces.

The trend of military casualties has continued into 2025, with at least 35 soldiers killed in Nigeria’s northeast in just the first three weeks of the year alone.

This alarming statistic reflects the ongoing challenges the Nigerian military faces in combating insurgency and securing conflict-prone regions.

Despite these heavy losses, the insurgents remain active, raising concerns about whether the military is adequately equipped to turn the tide.

‘Military not sleeping on guard’

The military has continued to evolve strategies to deal with the insurgents. The media is awash with reports of the exploits of the military in taking the battle to the enclaves of bandits and insurgents across the country.

Reports about many neutralised criminals by the Nigerian military are common features in the media space.

Security experts however, argue that winning the war against terrorism requires a combination of better equipment, improved intelligence, and a stricter counterterrorism policy.

Emmanuel Onwubiko, national coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), insisted that Nigerian soldiers should have superior weapons and technology compared to terrorists.

He also criticised the government’s practice of releasing captured insurgents, arguing that it undermines military efforts.

Mike Ejiofor, former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), warned that insurgents are desperate to prove their relevance, often through deadly attacks on soldiers.

He stressed the need for more careful military planning and intelligence gathering to prevent future ambushes.

The Nigerian government has increased its defense budget, but questions remain about how effectively funds are used.

Without strategic investments in surveillance, reconnaissance, and counterinsurgency training, the military could continue to suffer heavy losses.

The Nigerian military has made significant progress in pushing back insurgents from key territories, but sporadic attacks and rising casualty rates show that the war is far from over.

So, the pressing question remains: How many more soldiers must die before Nigeria can claim victory?

On how the military can reduce the heavy loss of personnel to insurgents, Edward Buba, director of Defence Media Operations, told BusinessDay Newspapers that enhanced training remains a crucial strategy.

According to him, continuous and advanced training will equip soldiers with the necessary skills to counter evolving terrorist tactics, improve battlefield decision-making, and minimise casualties.

Monarch wants more action against illegal mining

Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos and chairman Plateau State Council of Chiefs, has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for signing the bill that established the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Speaking with journalists in Jos, Buba expressed his appreciation for the president’s decision, which he described as a significant move to address the region’s numerous challenges.

According to the Gbong Gwom Jos, the establishment of the NCDC will help alleviate the issues faced by the North Central Zone. He extended his gratitude to the governors of the North Central states and members of the National Assembly for their contributions to the passage of the bill, which has been long anticipated by the people of the region.

The monarch emphasised the importance of unity and responsibility in the appointments to the NCDC, urging that those selected for the commission’s board should be committed to the development of the entire North Central Zone.

“We appeal to everyone in the North Central to work together to ensure that the benefits of this commission are spread across the geopolitical zone. When it comes to appointments into the board of the commission, we urge that there should be representative of the entire North Central. Those who will be entrusted with running of the commission must always remember the purpose for which it was established”.

He highlighted that the commission should be representative of all states within the region, ensuring that its benefits are equitably distributed.

Buba further stressed the need for the members of the commission to remember their primary responsibility: fostering development across the zone. He called on all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure that the new commission achieves its goals for the betterment of the people in North Central Nigeria.

In addition to welcoming the creation of the NCDC, the Gbong Gwom Jos voiced concern over the persistent insecurity, including banditry and kidnappings, that continue to plague the region. He called on the government to take decisive action to address these critical issues, which have disrupted daily life and hindered economic growth.

The monarch also expressed alarm over the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities in the region, as well as the troubling rise in child trafficking, particularly in Plateau State. Buba urged the government to act swiftly to combat these harmful practices and protect the people of North Central Nigeria.

The Gbong Gwom Jos made an impassioned appeal for the urgent rehabilitation of the road linking Akwanga through Jos to Bauchi and Gombe. He noted that the road has been in a terrible state for years, causing unnecessary travel delays and increasing costs.

With the establishment of the NCDC, Buba expressed hope that the road’s reconstruction would be prioritised, facilitating smoother movement and boosting economic activities in the region.