Over the years, Nigeria has been grappling with the challenge of insurgency from Boko Haram extremists. The Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, the group carried out terrorist activities in northern Nigeria for more than a decade, leaving it with wakes of bloodbaths, deaths, displaced people, and other humanitarian challenges in Nigeria.
Former President Muhammad Buhari had promised to end insurgency which was not to be even though it was adjudged then as technically defeated. However, the extremist group continued to cause havoc in many parts of the country despite the efforts of the administration to end the violence.
At the inauguration of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu on May 29th, 2023, he wasted no time in taking actions to tackle the challenge of insurgency and immediately showed the political will to decisively deploy the Nigerian armed forces to the insurgent’s hideout and provide the military with the needed resources and arms to uproot the evils of Boko Haram and insecurity in Nigeria.
On February 6th, 2024, President Tinubu inducted two new T-129 ATAK helicopters and a King Air 360ER Beechcraft into the Order of Battle, ORBAT of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, at the NAF Base in Makurdi, Benue State, North Central Nigeria.
These helicopters were meant to enhance the NAF’s combat efficiency in addressing contemporary security challenges, especially counter-insurgency operations.
The President’s decision to change strategy in Nigeria’s war against insurgency added zest to the fight against the lingering challenges caused by significant loss of lives and displacement of the people. It also reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and other criminal activities in Nigeria.
In September 2023, President Tinubu urged the United Nations to provide more support to Nigeria in its fight against insurgency, emphasizing that terrorism poses a danger to democracy and national development. The call was pertinent because of the global threat posed by terrorism in the world.
The Nigerian military has been engaged in counter-insurgency operations against the Boko Haram insurgency for the past ten years. This fight gave rise to different theatres of operations in different geo-political zones across the country.
These operations are the Joint Task Force Operation, Hadin-Kai in North East, Joint Task Force Operation Safe Haven in North Central, Operation Whirl Stroke in North Central, Joint Task Force Operation Hadarin Daji in North West, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Punch in North West, Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe in South South and Joint Task Force Operation Udoka in South East Nigeria.
These operations have to a large extent, brought peace, stability, and security in most parts of the country.
The Director, of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba emphasized that the operations of the Nigerian military led to many successes in the various battlefields during the period in review as well as stopped oil theft worth over two billion naira.
General Buba asserted that aggressive air flight surveillances are always conducted to confirm terrorists’ presence and movement of terrorists’ commanders and foot soldiers.
That happens before fighter jets carry out major bombardments on significant terrorist’ enclaves which normally results in the neutralization of several terrorist combatants and their commanders.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have been recording Successes in the fight against insurgency in recent months in the country.
The Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin-Kai has achieved milestones in the fight against insurgency in the country especially in the North East part of Nigeria.
The Commander, of Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin-Kai, Major General Waidi Shaibu in his briefing of journalists noted the significant successes that have been recorded in the States and its environs through various kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
The effective operation of the troops of Operation Hadin-Kai has led to the restoration of socio-economic activities in the North East, part of which has led to the Bornu State government to resume the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, Scheme.
This is a compulsory one-year national service that has been suspended in most orientation camps for over 12 years in parts of the Northeast region and also the full return of teaching and learning in most of the affected schools in Bornu State.
Other achievements include the resumption of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, activities in the Banki and Gwoza areas where the examinations were suspended due to insecurity; the de-mining of the Kumshe area of explosive hazards, the reopening of closed roads and the return of people in the IDP camps to their ancestral communities.
The Theater operational strategy adopted by the military with several non-kinetic activities was conducted along general operations, while more repentant Boko Haram insurgents surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin-Kai in 2024.
It is expected that the welfare of troops will remain central to the successes of the military operations for the desired outcome in ending insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The aggressive and composite use of technology and intelligence sharing are also necessary to reduce casualties and minimize casualties during military operations.
The Nigerian military requires more funding to procure the state-of-the-art fighting equipment essential to accelerate the winning of the battle against insurgency and to end insecurity in Nigeria.
