For nearly two decades, Northern Nigeria has faced relentless violence from groups like Boko Haram, bandits, and other insurgents.
Experts attribute the rise of terrorism to factors including poverty, weak governance, and porous borders.
Former Director of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, identified Nigeria’s poorly policed borders with Niger, Mali, and Libya as key enablers of extremist movement. He emphasised that socio-economic issues, such as high illiteracy and unemployment, provide fertile ground for radicalization.
Also, Rear-Admiral Babalola (rtd) also cited corruption, inadequate security infrastructure, and cross-border arms smuggling as critical challenges.
“A new threat, the IS-Sahel-affiliated group “Lakurawa,” has emerged in Sokoto State, imposing strict Sharia mandates and taxing residents. The group reportedly offers youth one million naira to join, further exacerbating insecurity. Sokoto State authorities confirmed the group’s activities in five council areas, where vigilante efforts have been banned”, he stated.
Experts, including Amachree and retired General Babalola, call for a multi-faceted approach to counterterrorism, including advanced surveillance, strengthened intelligence, and socio-economic development programmes.
They stressed the need to address root causes like poverty and poor governance while boosting military capacity with technology and international cooperation.
