Rethinking Nigeria’s war on insurgency: Why a new approach is urgent — by Kayode Adebiyi

Terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and all forms of violent crime have become stubborn problems in Nigeria. For more than a decade, different administrations have tried to deal with them, yet the results have been limited and, in many cases, temporary.

The fact that this crisis has lasted across three to four governments tells us something important. The current approach is simply not working, and something has to change.

Nigeria needs to move beyond speeches and adopt a more practical and effective security strategy. The scale and persistence of these attacks demand fresh thinking, institutional reform, and above all, political will.

I support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but support should not mean ignoring reality. The issue of insurgency remains one of the biggest challenges facing his administration, just as it was for those before him. Saying this is not about criticism. It is about honesty and the need to find a lasting solution.

Many Nigerians backed the change in government in 2015 because of the urgent need to tackle terrorism, especially the activities of Boko Haram. At that time, the situation under Goodluck Jonathan government had become alarming.

Abuja itself came under attack. The National Police Headquarters was bombed, and even the United Nations building was not spared. The Iyanya motor park massacre, where hundreds of innocent people lost their lives, is still hard to forget.

We also remember the Independence Day bombings of October 1, 2010, a day that should have been a celebration but turned into tragedy. Then came the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, which drew global attention and showed just how serious the crisis had become.

There was hope that a leader with a military background in the person of the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari would bring a decisive solution. And to be fair, there were some gains. Territories were reclaimed in Borno State, and for a while, there was some level of stability. But those gains did not last. New threats emerged. Banditry spread across the Northwest, kidnappings became widespread, and old tensions resurfaced in the North Central. The problem did not end. It only changed form.

Now, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, efforts are ongoing. But we must be honest with ourselves. The problem is still very much with us. In fact, it continues to weaken the impact of the government’s broader reforms in other sectors.

One important thing we must understand is that this is not a conventional war. You cannot fight it the same way you would fight a traditional battlefield conflict. These groups are flexible, unpredictable, and in many cases operate across borders and within civilian populace. Nigeria’s porous borders make it easy for them to move in, carry out attacks, and disappear.

Looking at other countries can be helpful, but only to a point. The Irish Republican Army, for example, had a clear political goal. Its political wing, Sinn Féin, had known leaders, which made negotiation possible. In Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia also had structure and leadership, which allowed for eventual dialogue.

Nigeria’s case is different.

Many of the groups causing violence today do not have clear leadership or defined demands. Some are simply criminal networks focused on ransom and profit. Others are extremists trying to force their beliefs on communities. They are scattered, unpredictable, and often faceless.

This makes negotiation very difficult. You cannot sit at a table with people who have no clear structure or consistent demands. That is why Nigeria needs to rethink its strategy.

Force, in this context, becomes unavoidable. The state must be able to confront and dismantle these groups with strength and precision. This means better intelligence, modern technology, stronger coordination, and faster response. The goal should be clear: deny these groups the space to operate and make it impossible for them to regroup.

At the same time, this effort cannot stop at Nigeria’s borders. Many of these actors move across neighbouring countries. Without proper regional cooperation, they will continue to exploit those gaps. Nigeria needs to work more closely with its neighbours through joint operations, intelligence sharing, and stronger border control.

Another major issue is the size of the country itself. Nigeria is vast, and there are many areas where government presence is weak. These ungoverned spaces provide safe havens for criminals.

This is where the conversation about state policing becomes important.

A centralised police system cannot effectively cover every part of a large country like Nigeria. State policing would allow local authorities to take more responsibility for security. People who understand the terrain and the communities are often in a better position to detect threats early and respond quickly.

Of course, there are concerns about misuse, and those concerns are valid. But they can be addressed through proper laws, oversight, and accountability. What is clear is that doing nothing is no longer an option.

The National Assembly also has a key role to play. Laws need to be updated to reflect current realities. Reforming the Police Act and supporting decentralised policing should be treated as urgent priorities.

At the same time, politics should not distract from governance. Elections will come, but right now the focus should be on protecting lives and restoring stability. There is still time before the next electoral cycle. Governance must continue.

Too many innocent Nigerians are losing their lives. This cannot become normal. It cannot continue.

Nigeria is at a turning point. The fact that insurgency has lasted this long shows that small adjustments are not enough. What is needed is a bold and coordinated shift in strategy. A total disruption of the Nigerian security architecture. Stronger security operations, better policing, regional cooperation, and real institutional reform must all come together.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has an opportunity to make a difference in this area. The challenge is serious, but so is the responsibility. What matters now is action, and I know he can do it.