Sani Usman: Fighting Terrorism In Nigeria A Collective Responsibility

Sani Usman links rising attacks in Nigeria to insurgent tactics and societal factors, calls for collective national response.

A former spokesperson of the Nigerian Army and Consultant Director at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Brigadier General Sani Usman (retd.), has said that tackling insurgency in Nigeria requires a collective national effort, stressing that the fight against terrorism cannot be left solely to the military.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Usman attributed the recent spike in attacks across parts of the country to a combination of operational dynamics, environmental factors, and evolving insurgent strategies.

He explained that seasonal and climatic conditions often influence the movement and activities of terrorist groups, creating windows of opportunity for renewed attacks.

According to him, intensified military operations targeting Boko Haram strongholds have also contributed to the surge, as displaced insurgents seek softer targets.

“This spike is brought about by… renewed effort… to clear the vestiges of Boko Haram strongholds… so they are looking for opportunity targets,” he said.

Usman further noted that terrorists exploit divisions within society, embedding themselves within local populations to sustain their operations and evade detection.

He described the civilian population as a critical factor in the conflict, stating that “the population is also the… force multiplier of the terrorists.”

The retired general also pointed to the influence of international terrorist affiliations, noting that insurgent groups are under pressure to demonstrate continued relevance and operational capacity.

Addressing concerns over accidental civilian casualties, he maintained that the military does not deliberately target civilians and emphasized the need for proper context in assessing such incidents.

“There is no way the armed forces… will deliberately target innocent Nigerians,” he said, adding that ongoing investigations would help establish the facts in specific cases.

Usman stressed that rebuilding trust between security forces and communities requires broader societal involvement, rather than placing the burden solely on the military.

He argued that non-military measures, including community engagement, socio-economic development, and public cooperation, are essential to defeating insurgency.

“The kinetic aspect… is insignificant compared to the non-kinetic effort,” he added.

Usman concluded that a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s security challenges lies in coordinated action between the military, government, and citizens, emphasizing that only a unified national approach can effectively curb insurgency and restore lasting peace.