Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Lagos, Nigeria — The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has called on residents of Borno and Yobe states to take greater responsibility in helping to end the Boko Haram insurgency, saying that the people of the North‑East are familiar with those responsible for many of the attacks plaguing their communities. His remarks came amid renewed violence in the region and follow a directive from President Bola Tinubu for senior military leadership to take direct control of the security situation in Borno State.
General Oluyede spoke in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, where he met with community leaders, residents and senior military commanders, including the Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shuaibu. The high‑level visit, ordered by President Tinubu, was in response to a series of deadly explosions and militant attacks that have recently hit Maiduguri and other parts of the state, causing both civilian and military casualties and heightening fears of a resurgence in extremist violence.
Addressing those gathered, Oluyede stressed that military operations alone would not be enough to defeat the insurgency. He said the involvement of local communities is essential because many of those perpetrating attacks are believed to come from within Borno and Yobe. “To eradicate this terrorism, the people of Borno and Yobe must take responsibility for this issue,” he said, urging residents to work with security forces and provide accurate information that could help disrupt militant networks. “The majority of those committing these terrible acts are from these states; they are our relatives, and we are familiar with them.”
He cited specific instances where militants were identified as originating from local communities, including an attack on Kukawa town in northern Borno in which two of the attackers were found to be from that locality. Such examples, he said, illustrate why local knowledge and cooperation are vital to understand how groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoots move, hide and launch operations.
General Oluyede emphasised that defeating the insurgency requires a collective effort. “We must take responsibility for this crisis. That is my message to the people of Yobe and Borno,” he said. His comments underline a strategic shift toward greater emphasis on community‑based intelligence and engagement in the fight against violent extremism, reflecting long‑standing challenges in distinguishing insurgents from civilians in areas where militants have established influence or support networks.
The chief of defence staff also addressed concerns about evolving militant tactics. He noted that insurgents have increasingly used technology, including unmanned aerial systems, to target military and civilian areas, presenting new challenges to security forces. In response, he said the Nigerian military is adapting its own capabilities by deploying aerial surveillance systems and acquiring additional drones to enhance reconnaissance and operational response.
The renewed focus on Borno and Yobe follows a series of violent incidents that shook the region. In mid‑March, multiple explosions struck Maiduguri, killing and injuring a number of residents and prompting widespread alarm. These coordinated attacks in public spaces such as markets and areas near major facilities marked one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in the city in recent months and drew urgent attention from the federal government.
In neighbouring rural areas and along border communities, Nigerian troops have also faced assaults by insurgent fighters, including coordinated attempts to overrun military posts. In recent engagements, security forces reported killing dozens of militants, including commanders, in clashes that demonstrated the continued strength and resilience of militant groups despite sustained counterinsurgency campaigns.
The Boko Haram insurgency began in the early 2000s and erupted into full‑scale conflict in 2009, evolving over time and splintering into factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Over more than a decade of conflict, tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and millions have been displaced in northeastern Nigeria. The violence has destroyed infrastructure, disrupted schooling and economic activity, and created deep social wounds that have made peace elusive.
Analysts note that insurgent groups have been able to exploit local grievances, socioeconomic deprivation, weak governance and difficult terrain to embed themselves in some communities and sustain recruitment. For years, the military has attempted to combat the insurgency largely through force, supported at times by local volunteer groups and civilian support units that assist with intelligence and ground navigation. The renewed appeal from the CDS to involve communities more directly is rooted in the belief that such cooperation can help security forces anticipate and interdict planned attacks more effectively.
The federal government has previously supported community‑based efforts to counter violent extremism, including coordinating civilian task forces that share local knowledge and support military operations to clear and hold liberated areas. These efforts have sometimes been credited with helping to reduce militant influence in some towns and villages, though concerns over accountability and the protection of civilians have accompanied the use of such groups.
General Oluyede’s remarks in Maiduguri were met with mixed reactions. Some residents welcomed the call for community involvement, saying they are weary of the violence and eager for any strategy that could bring greater security and normalcy to daily life. Others expressed fear of retaliation by militants against those who are seen as cooperating with government forces, a concern that has long hindered open collaboration in some areas.
Security officials have sought to reassure communities by promising greater protection for those who provide information and by emphasising the importance of credible, actionable intelligence. They have also reiterated the need for sustained engagement between security forces and local authorities to build trust and enhance cooperation.
The government’s renewed focus on the North‑East, including the dispatch of senior military leadership and the public call for community responsibility, signals an intensified effort to reverse gains made by Boko Haram and its affiliates. As the conflict enters its third decade, strategies that integrate military action with community engagement, socioeconomic development and governance reforms are widely seen as necessary to address both the symptoms and underlying causes of violent extremism.
Following the Maiduguri address, the defence leadership indicated that further initiatives aimed at strengthening local‑level support mechanisms and enhancing civil‑military partnerships are in development. The effectiveness of these measures, however, will depend on sustained commitment from government authorities, credible protection for civilians who aid security efforts, and continued efforts to address the complex social and economic conditions that have allowed extremist violence to persist in parts of Nigeria’s North‑East.
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