Retired Nigerian military officer, Captain Abdullahi Bakoji, has issued a cautionary statement regarding reported United States efforts to weaken insurgent groups within Nigeria. While acknowledging the understandable intent behind such foreign military support, Bakoji, who also serves as the Kano Chairman of the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders association, firmly warned that uncoordinated actions could precipitate severe problems, potentially endangering civilians and exacerbating insecurity across the region. His remarks underscore the delicate balance required when international partners engage in sensitive security operations on sovereign territory.
Captain Bakoji elaborated on the inherent risks associated with external military interventions that lack full local cooperation and oversight. He stressed that operations conducted without the explicit, real-time coordination of Nigerian security forces could lead to unintended consequences, including the displacement of violence from one area to another. Such an outcome, he argued, would not resolve the underlying issues but merely shift the burden of conflict, potentially destabilising new communities and regions.
The United States has a documented history of providing security assistance and engaging in counter-terrorism efforts across West Africa and the broader Sahel region. These initiatives typically aim to bolster the capabilities of local forces, share intelligence, and directly target extremist organisations such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), which pose significant threats to regional stability and international security. The goal is often to degrade these groups’ operational capacity and prevent their expansion.
However, Bakoji’s primary concern revolves around the potential for uncoordinated actions to undermine Nigeria’s sovereign control over its own security landscape. He asserted that without complete alignment and joint operational planning, foreign interventions risk eroding public trust in both local governance and the national security apparatus. Such a breakdown in trust is counterproductive to long-term counter-insurgency efforts, which rely heavily on community cooperation and intelligence gathering.
The retired officer highlighted the critical imperative of civilian protection in any military operation. He warned that actions not fully integrated with Nigerian security protocols could inadvertently endanger non-combatants, leading to tragic loss of life or displacement. Such incidents, even if unintentional, can alienate local populations, inadvertently fostering resentment and potentially pushing disillusioned individuals into the arms of insurgent groups, thereby inadvertently strengthening the very forces they seek to weaken.
Furthermore, Bakoji pointed to the risk of insurgents being pushed from their strongholds into adjacent, often more vulnerable, areas. This ‘balloon effect’ scenario means that while pressure might be applied in one location, the threat simply migrates, creating new fronts for conflict and placing additional strain on already stretched security resources in other states or regions. This dynamic demands a comprehensive, regionally coordinated strategy rather than isolated strikes.
For any foreign military support to be genuinely effective and sustainable, Captain Bakoji emphasised the absolute necessity of close collaboration with host nation security forces. This involves not only intelligence sharing and strategic planning but also tactical coordination on the ground, ensuring that operations are conducted within local legal frameworks and are sensitive to the socio-cultural context of the affected communities. Transparency and mutual respect are foundational to such partnerships.
While acknowledging the potential utility of foreign assistance in the short term, Bakoji stressed that Nigeria’s enduring peace and stability ultimately hinge on its ability to strengthen its own internal security systems. He advocates for a robust, self-reliant security architecture capable of independently addressing the complex challenges posed by various armed groups. This perspective underscores the principle of national ownership in charting a path to lasting security.
Lasting solutions, according to Bakoji, depend less on external military actions and more on effective governance, the establishment of strong, professional security institutions, and active, meaningful engagement with local communities. He argued that addressing the root causes of insurgency – such as poverty, lack of opportunity, and grievances against the state – through good governance and community trust-building is far more impactful than purely kinetic military responses.
This holistic approach necessitates a multi-faceted strategy that extends beyond military might, incorporating socio-economic development initiatives, justice sector reforms, and peacebuilding efforts. Such measures are crucial for fostering resilience within communities, reducing the appeal of extremist ideologies, and creating an environment where peace can genuinely take root and thrive, rather than being a temporary reprieve from violence.
The trans-border nature of many insurgent groups in the Sahel and West Africa further amplifies the need for regional cooperation. Effective counter-insurgency requires harmonised strategies among neighbouring states, supported by international partners, to prevent insurgents from exploiting national boundaries as safe havens or operational bases. A shared understanding of the threat and coordinated responses are vital.
In conclusion, Captain Bakoji’s assessment serves as a critical reminder for both Nigeria and its international allies. He advocates for a strategic partnership where foreign support complements, rather than supplants, national efforts, ensuring all operations are meticulously coordinated, prioritise civilian safety, and contribute to a sustainable, locally-driven security framework. This approach is paramount for achieving genuine and lasting peace in the troubled region.
