By Atoyebi Nike
Several retired senior military officers have supported former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), in calling for a state of emergency to tackle Boko Haram insurgency and worsening insecurity across Nigeria.
In his new book, Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, Irabor argued that the absence of political will had hindered Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts. He urged the Federal Government to proclaim an emergency, backed by the National Assembly, to mobilise all elements of national power against the terrorists.
Recent attacks have underscored the urgency. Boko Haram fighters seized Kirawa, a border town in Borno, destroying a military barracks, homes, and the district head’s palace, and displacing more than 5,000 residents into Cameroon. The group also attacked military formations in Banki and other parts of Borno, killing soldiers and burning equipment.
Brigadier General Peter Aro (retd.) said Irabor’s proposal was “apt” and would bring coherence and urgency to the fight. He stressed the need for genuine political backing, not symbolic gestures. Major General Dayo Olukoju (retd.) agreed, adding that root causes such as freedom, identity, and governance failures must also be addressed.
Colonel Saka Folusho (retd.) supported the call but warned that insecurity would persist without tackling illicit arms trade and underfunding of troops. “When you are paying somebody ₦50,000 and not giving them equipment, you can’t expect results,” he said.
The Northern Elders Forum also renewed its demand for a security emergency across the North, calling for massive deployment of security forces in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Kwara, Benue, and Borno.
Meanwhile, Adamawa lawmaker Kwamoti Laori advocated state policing as a more sustainable solution, citing its past effectiveness in community-based security.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticised President Bola Tinubu’s “indifference” to worsening insecurity, accusing him of neglecting his duties as Commander-in-Chief. It condemned his frequent public appearances amid killings and abductions and urged transparent security reforms.
The ruling APC countered that Nigeria is moving “from insecurity to greater security,” citing recent arrests of high-profile criminals.
