By Nathaniel Zacchaeus and Cross Udo, Abuja
Yesterday, the Senate urged the Nigerian Armed Forces to urgently redeploy personnel and advanced equipment to the Borno and Yobe states.
The resolution followed a fresh wave of attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in the region.
The resolution was adopted and passed in response to renewed violence in the North-East, including the killing of over a dozen soldiers in Marte town in Monguno local government area of Borno State, on Monday, May 12.
Terrorists also launched another assault early Tuesday on Gajiram, the headquarters of the Nganzai local government area.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Munguno sponsored the motion.
It drew attention to the resurgence of terrorist activity in an area that had previously enjoyed relative peace.
Munguno recalled that while two-thirds of Borno’s local government areas were once under Boko Haram control, coordinated efforts by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Civilian Joint Task Force had successfully reclaimed most of the territories.
However, he noted that relative stability had prompted the military to shift tactical command to the North West, where troops were currently tackling kidnapping and banditry.
The lawmaker expressed deep concern over the terrorists’ evolving tactics, including the use of modern technology such as drones.
He also said they were increasing deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which he said have led to rising civilian and military casualties and disrupted key transportation routes in the region.
“The recent attacks highlight the need for the military to reassess its current deployment strategy and refocus on the North-East,” Munguno stated.
After deliberations, the Senate urged the military high command to redeploy sufficient troops to the North-East immediately.
The Senate also resolved that the military should ensure that the deployed personnel were equipped with modern technologies to match the terrorists’ growing capabilities.
It mandated its committees on the Army and Air Force to monitor and ensure compliance with the resolution.
Munguno emphasised that renewed military presence and tactical upgrades were essential to preventing further escalation of violence and protecting vulnerable communities in the affected areas.
*Security experts urge FG to recalibrate security architecture
Meanwhile, research experts from Nextier SPD have reported that over 100 military personnel and 200 civilians were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria within five weeks.
The experts also said that between November 2024 and April 2025, more than 252 attacks were recorded, with January 2025 recording the highest number of attacks by terrorist groups.
The Nextier SPD Policy Weekly report titled, “Re-thinking Nigeria’s Counterinsurgency Strategy: The Aftermath of the Boko Haram Resurgence,” was authored by Dr Ndu Nwokolo, Managing Partner at Nextier and Honorary Fellow at the School of Government, University of Birmingham, UK and Visiting Research Fellow at the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime, and Security, York University Canada and Dr Chibuike Njoku, an Associate Consultant at Nextier, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Advance Studies, Ile-Ife, and Senior Research Fellow, Institute Francais De Recherche en Afrique (IFRA-Nigeria).
According to the report, the edition examined the current counterinsurgency strategy, analysed the insurgency’s evolving dynamics, and proposed a comprehensive framework that integrates military efforts with governance reforms, inclusive dialogue, and socioeconomic revitalisation.
According to the report, Nigeria is witnessing a resurgence of Boko Haram activity, particularly in the North East and along its border regions, adding that the group has executed coordinated assaults that resulted in the seizure of three local government areas in Borno State, challenging state authority and obstructing humanitarian efforts.
It said, “Between November 2024 and April 2025, no fewer than 252 attacks were recorded, resulting in the deaths of over 100 military personnel and more than 200 civilians, highlighting not only the human toll but also the deteriorating security environment.
“The resurgence is further characterised by tactical diversification: Boko Haram’s factional groups of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have increased the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), launched ambushes on military convoys, and executed raids on internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and farming communities.
“Despite ongoing military operations and regional cooperation, JAS and ISWAP continue to pose a grave threat to national and regional stability in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. The recent resurgence of attacks in hard-hit areas like Borno, Yobe, and parts of Adamawa underscores the limited success of current approaches that have prioritised mainly kinetic military actions over holistic, community-driven solutions.
“Reports from humanitarian organisations and conflict monitors have flagged growing fatigue within the military ranks, deteriorating civil-military relations, and increasingly sophisticated insurgent tactics.
“The re-emergence of targeted attacks on soft targets, ambushes on military convoys, and the abduction of civilians—including aid workers and schoolchildren—signals a dangerous escalation that current policy frameworks have failed to pre-empt.”
Giving an insight into the trends in violence, the Nextier-SPD report explained that recent data from November 2024 to April 2025 provides critical insights into the evolving dynamics of insurgent violence in Nigeria, highlighting the limitations of the current counterinsurgency strategy and underscoring the need for a more holistic, people-centred approach.
The report stated that Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy against JAS and ISWAP has evolved over the past decade, reflecting kinetic and non-kinetic dimensions.
“Initially reliant on military force, the strategy has broadened to include regional security cooperation and soft power interventions to tackle radicalisation,” it said.
It noted that while the efforts have yielded measurable gains, persistent and emerging challenges continue to undermine the long-term success of Nigeria’s approach.
It said that effectively addressing Boko Haram’s resurgence requires a strategic policy shift from a primarily kinetic approach to a comprehensive and multi-dimensional counterinsurgency framework.
It is recommended that Nigeria recalibrate its security architecture by adopting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and strengthen community-based intelligence by engaging traditional leaders, vigilantes, and local networks to enhance early warning and deter surprise attacks.
“It must also ensure security forces uphold accountability, minimise civilian harm, and build trust in conflict-affected areas.
“The government must prioritise investments in education, vocational training, youth employment, and basic infrastructure in the North East, as well as paying special attention to marginalised communities vulnerable to recruitment, ensuring inclusive service delivery and development planning.
“The government should also tackle local grievances such as land disputes, lack of justice, and political exclusion, which will help weaken the insurgents’ recruitment base and reinforce state legitimacy.
“It should strengthen deradicalisation and reintegration programmes, and Operation Safe Corridor must be expanded and restructured to ensure adequate screening, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former fighters.
“It should also foster regional cooperation and diplomacy by strengthening cross-border collaboration through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) with Cameroon, Niger, and Chad to disrupt Boko Haram’s networks.
“Prioritise joint operations, intelligence sharing, and coordinated military efforts. Leverage support from the AU, ECOWAS, and global partners for capacity building, funding, and diplomatic backing for counterterrorism.
“There is a need for Nigeria to recalibrate its security architecture by adopting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
“The government must prioritise investments in education, vocational training, youth employment, and basic infrastructure in the North East. There is a need to strengthen deradicalisation and reintegration programmes.
“Enhancing regional cooperation and diplomacy by strengthening cross-border collaboration through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is essential. It is necessary to drive institutional reform by enhancing civilian oversight through empowering legislative and civil society actors to ensure transparency,” it added.
In conclusion, the experts said, “Nigeria must move beyond a security-first approach to counterinsurgency. The resurgence of Boko Haram reflects the adaptability of insurgents and the insufficiency of current policy frameworks.
“A reimagined strategy that integrates military, political, and socioeconomic components is essential. This must involve inclusive governance, strategic communications, regional diplomacy, and community-driven development to tackle violent extremism’s manifestations and drivers. Nigeria can only lay the foundation for a durable and inclusive peace in the North East and beyond.”
