Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Prominlent Nigerian activist, publisher, and presidential contender Omoyele Sowore has expressed serious concerns about the country’s security system, warning that Nigeria’s military and overall security apparatus are ill-prepared and weakened in the face of rising threats from insurgents, extremists, bandits, and criminal gangs across the nation. His remarks highlight deep anxieties over national defence and internal security as violence, kidnappings, and coordinated militant attacks continue to challenge the capabilities of Nigeria’s armed forces.
Sowore noted that ongoing insecurity, including repeated assaults by groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), exposes systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s military capacity and strategic leadership. Recent attacks have seen militant groups escalate raids on military bases, resulting in the deaths of soldiers and the capture of military equipment, demonstrating a level of coordination that underscores gaps in preparedness and response. These developments have intensified public frustration over perceived insecurity and government response.
He linked the military’s challenges to broader governance issues, asserting that leadership has failed to implement a coherent defence strategy capable of countering evolving threats. Sowore emphasised the need for structural reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture, including improved oversight, accountability, investment in technology, and better coordination across security agencies. He called for deeper engagement between political leaders and defence chiefs, transparent monitoring of defence expenditure, and a shift toward proactive rather than reactive security management.
Sowore also pointed out that socio-economic conditions contribute to insecurity. He argued that high unemployment, widespread poverty, and underdevelopment weaken national resilience and increase recruitment into criminal and extremist networks. According to him, addressing these root causes through investment in education, healthcare, and employment opportunities is essential to long-term security solutions and should complement military and police efforts.
The activist’s warnings come amid escalating violent incidents across Nigeria. Beyond militant attacks on military installations, extremist groups and bandits have carried out deadly raids in rural communities, killing civilians, burning homes, and abducting villagers. These events illustrate the complexity and scale of Nigeria’s security challenges and have prompted national debate over the strength and readiness of the armed forces and other security agencies.
Reactions to Sowore’s remarks have been mixed. Supporters argue that outspoken critique is necessary to hold government and military leadership accountable and push for reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s defence and internal security. Critics contend that portraying the military as weak overlooks contextual challenges such as resource constraints, legal limitations on internal operations, and the multi-dimensional nature of contemporary threats. They note that despite difficulties, the armed forces continue to make gains in several regions while facing asymmetrical warfare challenges.
Experts also caution that the military’s extended role in internal security, often supporting the police, can have unintended consequences. Prolonged deployment of troops for internal policing duties may strain the Nigeria Police Force and divert resources from the military’s primary mandate of defending against external threats, potentially exacerbating capacity gaps in both institutions.
Calls for strengthening Nigeria’s security capabilities have included investing in intelligence systems, surveillance technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance operational effectiveness. Analysts also stress the importance of inter-agency cooperation, improved training, and modernisation of equipment to confront threats ranging from terrorism and banditry to kidnapping and transnational crime.
Sowore’s warnings underline public concerns that without sustained reforms, increased investment, and clear strategic direction, Nigeria’s military and security forces may remain overstretched in a rapidly evolving threat environment. How the government and defence leadership respond with tangible changes will be critical in determining the country’s ability to protect its citizens and sovereignty.
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