12.6 Trillion Naira Later, Nigeria Still Grapples With Terror – A Nation Under Siege

The killing of Boko Haram’s founding leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri in 2009 was widely expected to quash the group’s violent uprising. Instead, Boko Haram evolved into one of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups, defying over a decade of counterinsurgency efforts.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, since the administration of the late President Umar Musa Yar’adua, successive Nigerian governments have launched various military operations and allocated trillions of naira annually to end terrorism in the North-East—yet with little success.

In 2017, former Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima revealed that Boko Haram had already killed over 100,000 people and displaced more than two million.

Following Yusuf’s death, Boko Haram grew more violent under President Goodluck Jonathan, prompting the deployment of full military force. Several operations—Restore Order, Boyona, Zaman Lafiya—were launched, with support from international partners. Still, devastating attacks like the Bama massacre and the abduction of the Chibok girls underscored the group’s resilience.

To supplement the overwhelmed security forces, vigilante groups such as the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) emerged in 2013.

Armed with basic weapons and local intelligence, they played a vital role in helping reclaim communities. Some of these volunteers were later absorbed into formal structures.

Under President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, military strategy was revamped again. Command was temporarily moved to Maiduguri, and operations like Lafiya Dole and later Hadin Kai were introduced.

Air support was strengthened with U.S.-supplied Tucano jets, and a non-combatant initiative—Operation Safe Corridor—offered de-radicalization programs to repentant terrorists. Still, the insurgency continued, joined by newer threats such as ISWAP, bandits, and communal clashes.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, between 2009 and 2025, Nigeria allocated over ₦12.6 trillion to the Ministry of Defence. Despite these massive figures, security challenges persist.

Factors such as corruption, procurement fraud, poor inter-agency collaboration, and lack of development in conflict-prone areas have severely undermined these efforts.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has maintained most of its predecessor’s policies, with an emphasis on intelligence-led operations and technological surveillance.

Initiatives like the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre (JDWC) aim to improve coordination among security agencies and multinational forces.

Yet, recent reports, including the 2025 mid-year Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL), show a disturbing trend: over 6,800 civilian deaths and 5,400 abductions in the first half of 2025 alone, with Zamfara State recording the highest figures in both categories. Experts argue that military efforts, while necessary, cannot succeed in isolation.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, analysts stress the urgent need for holistic security reforms. Issues like youth unemployment, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas continue to fuel radicalization and insecurity.

Without transparency, community engagement, and accountability in military spending and operations, Nigeria’s fight against terrorism may remain a costly and protracted struggle.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”