Recent national and sub-regional measures have been undertaken to contain Nigeria’s insurgency.

It is eight months since Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, declared a state of emergency in the three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, to counter the Boko Haram militant insurgency.

Founded in 2002 by the late Mohamed Yusuf, Boko Haram’s avowed objective is to establish Sharia law in Nigeria and destroy Western-imported institutions. Also known as ‘Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati w’al Jihad,’ the Islamic militants, alongside their Ansaru allies, have become more radical and violent since 2009 under the new leadership of Abubakr Shekau.

Recent dare-devil attacks by militants that have resulted in an estimated 1,200 deaths since emergency rule took effect in May 2013, have led to a change in strategy at both the national and sub-regional levels. The upsurge in violence followed the government’s failure to reach peace with the splintered militant group. The President on Monday, February 24, 2014, again appealed to the militants to drop their weapons and seek peace with government.  

Creation Of Army Division                               

In order to better coordinate the fight against Boko Haram, the government in 2013 created a new army division based in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri. Codenamed Boyona Division and headed by Major General Obida Etnan, the new structure on August 19, 2013 formally replaced the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, that had hitherto led anti-terrorist operations in the northeast.

Military Shake-up

Faced by increasingly deadly militant attacks that seemed to make nonsense of the government’s claim that it was winning the war against them, President Goodluck Jonathan on January 16, 2014, appointed new service chiefs. Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh replaced Admiral Ola Ibrahim as the Chief of Defence Staff, the most senior post in the military.

Major Gen. Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah took over as Chief of Army Staff in place of Lt. Gen. Azubike Ihejirika; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin replaced Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff, while Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu became Chief of Air Staff in place of Air Marshal Badeh. All the four service chiefs are experienced military officers in their mid-50s. While taking over as Chief of Defence Staff on January 20, 2014, Air Marshal Alex Badeh vowed to end insurgency and all forms of terrorism in the northeast. He said he wanted to avoid an extension of emergency rule in April 2014.

Acquisition Of Drones

Speaking on January 20, 2014 at the handover of command to Major Gen. Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, disclosed that the Nigeria Army has acquired Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs. Popularly known as predator drones, the unmanned aircraft are intended to deal with the security challenges in the north-eastern part of the country, Gen.  Ihejirika promised. He described the acquisition as a game changer in the fight against violent extremism, adding that pilots were being trained to handle the aircraft. There were unconfirmed reports in 2013 of drones from an undisclosed source patrolling Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Role Of Neighbouring Countries

Nigeria has been collaborating with neighbouring countries to stem cross-border terrorism. The authorities over the weekend announced the closure of a portion of the northeastern border with Cameroon to prevent militants from fleeing. A multi-national force is also in place on the border with Chad. The authorities in Niger on February 17, 2014 announced the arrest of at least 20 Boko Haram suspects from Nigeria who were allegedly planning to attack the border town of Diffa.

Army Chief, General Seyni Garba, said the militants were preparing attacks on markets and other gatherings in retaliation for Niger's stance against extremists in the region. The alleged plot highlights the cross-border threats following a Nigerian army offensive against militants that has pushed thousands of refugees and some insurgents across the porous border into Niger.

International Connections

From its early days in 2009 in Kanamma village in Nigeria’s Yobe State, three kilometres from the border with Niger, Boko Haram is known to have attracted followers from neighbouring countries. A decade on, it has become one of the world’s most ruthless, violent, and aggressive terrorist organisations.

It is likely that Boko Haram fighters are connected to regionally-focused militant groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, AQIM, Ansaru and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, MUJAO. The relationship between Boko Haram and other regional actors includes weapons acquisition and training, especially since the overthrow of Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.