Some retired senior military officers have thrown their weight behind the call by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), urging the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to effectively combat the Boko Haram insurgency.
In his new book, Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, Irabor argued that Nigeria’s failure to decisively end terrorism stems from a lack of political will. He stressed that a state of emergency, supported by the National Assembly, would mobilise all national resources and focus attention on ending the war.
Irabor, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, wrote:
“The government has not yet demonstrated the political will and instruments necessary to declare war against Boko Haram. With an emergency proclamation backed by the National Assembly, there will be a more coordinated and determined effort to bring all elements of national power to bear on the conflict.”
He explained that true strategy involves leveraging every national resource — economic, political, social, diplomatic, informational, and military — noting that without strong political leadership, operational victories cannot translate into long-term success.
“Tactical operations alone rarely achieve the desired outcome in politically driven conflicts,” he wrote.
Although Boko Haram has been weakened over the years through military offensives and leadership losses, the group has recently regained strength, launching renewed attacks that have devastated northern communities.
Last week, Boko Haram captured Kirawa, a border town in Borno State, burning a military barracks, homes, and the district head’s palace, forcing over 5,000 residents to flee to Cameroon. The group also attacked another army base in Borno, killing four soldiers and setting military assets ablaze. Security forces repelled a separate assault in Banki, though one police officer was injured.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has since called for more troops to protect border towns. Over 2.2 million Nigerians remain internally displaced due to the conflict.
Retired Brigadier General Peter Aro described Irabor’s call as “apt and deeply informed,” saying a legislatively backed state of emergency would bring coherence to Nigeria’s security operations.
“General Irabor’s position is well-grounded in both operational and strategic experience. But it must be genuine — not one where governors and local leaders continue business as usual,” Aro said.
“When politics steps aside and the military takes command, coordination improves, resources flow better, and decisions become clearer. This gives the military freedom to act effectively and with integrity.”
Similarly, Major General Dayo Olukoju (retd.) agreed but emphasised the need for a multilateral approach that also addresses terrorism’s root causes.
“I agree with General Irabor, but we must go further. Terrorism thrives where issues of freedom, poverty, and identity are ignored. If we don’t tackle those, we risk resurgence,” Olukoju said.
“A state of emergency can work, but it should involve collaboration between military, spiritual, traditional, and political leaders.”
Colonel Saka Folusho (retd.) also endorsed the idea but warned it must be accompanied by tighter control over arms trafficking and better support for soldiers.
“Declaring a state of emergency is fine, but the real problem is the illegal trade in weapons. When people sell arms meant for defence, it’s like planning suicide,” he said.
“Commanders should be clearly empowered, and soldiers must be well-equipped and fairly paid. Paying a soldier N50,000 and expecting full performance is unrealistic.”
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) also renewed its call for a state of emergency on insecurity, particularly in the North.
Its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, said:
“We’ve called for this before — twice. It doesn’t mean suspending democracy but massively deploying security forces to troubled areas such as Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Kwara, Benue, and Borno.”
“The Federal Government must treat this as a national emergency and take decisive action.”
However, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said Irabor was “entitled to his opinion” but declined to comment further.
Kwamoti Laori, a member of the House of Representatives representing Demsa, Numan, and Lamurde Federal Constituency (Adamawa State), argued that state policing is the best solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.
“In the 1960s, we had local police in my area called ‘Friday Police,’ who operated on market days. They knew everyone and deterred crime effectively,” Laori recalled.
“If reintroduced, communities should nominate recruits since they know who the criminals are. Officers should also serve in their own areas to ensure accountability.”
In a statement on Sunday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticised President Bola Tinubu for what it called his “insensitivity” to Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, accused the President of neglecting his duties as Commander-in-Chief while attending social events amid widespread killings.
“The President’s frequent appearances at ceremonies while Nigerians are dying is unacceptable,” Abdullahi said.
“Nine local governments in Kwara have been attacked by bandits. People are forced to provide food and money to criminals. Over 180 schools in the North are shut due to insecurity.”
The ADC further accused the government of downplaying the crisis, saying Tinubu’s claims of “progress” in fighting insecurity contradicted the daily killings.
“Nigeria is under attack. This administration must stop pretending otherwise. What we need now is responsible leadership, urgency, and measurable results,” the party stated.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the ADC’s criticism, insisting that Nigeria is steadily improving in terms of security.
Bala Ibrahim, the party’s Director of Publicity, said:
“The ADC is only desperate because it has failed to win public acceptance. Nigerians can see the progress being made.”
“The APC government recently arrested some of the most notorious kidnappers and gang leaders in West Africa. Their confessions are already helping security agencies address the crisis. The country is moving from insecurity to stability.”
In summary, while General Irabor’s call for a state of emergency has drawn strong support from retired generals and northern leaders, others advocate complementary measures such as state policing, arms control, and addressing root causes of extremism.
The Federal Government, however, has yet to respond officially to the proposal.
