The Olufemi Oluyede, has raised fresh concerns over internal complicity in the protracted insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East, urging residents of Borno and Yobe states to take greater ownership of the fight against terrorism.
Oluyede made the remarks after a high-level security meeting held in Maiduguri, signalling what analysts describe as a strategic shift from reliance on purely kinetic military operations to a more community-driven counterinsurgency approach.
The meeting, which lasted about four hours, brought together top military officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shuaibu, and the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Abdulsalam Abubakar, among others.
At the core of the CDS’s message is concern that the insurgency—driven by groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province—is being sustained partly by individuals embedded within affected communities.
According to Oluyede, intelligence reports suggest that many perpetrators of attacks over the past 15 years originate from the same communities most impacted by the violence. He noted that this dynamic provides insurgents with advantages such as familiarity with terrain, access to local networks, and the ability to blend into civilian populations.
He cited a recent incident in Kukawa, where troops reportedly discovered wounded insurgents hiding within the community during post-attack clearance operations, underscoring the difficulty of distinguishing between civilians and collaborators.
Security experts say such conditions complicate military operations, as insurgents exploit family and social ties to evade detection, thereby weakening intelligence-gathering efforts despite sustained offensives.
Oluyede’s call for residents to “take ownership” of the counterinsurgency effort reflects an acknowledgment that military force alone may not be sufficient to end the conflict without stronger civilian cooperation.
He also highlighted evolving insurgent tactics, including the growing use of drones and other technologies in attacks.
In response, the CDS disclosed that the Nigerian military is adapting by deploying advanced drone systems to improve surveillance, targeting and battlefield coordination.
The renewed emphasis on community involvement, alongside technological upgrades, signals a broader recalibration of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy as the country continues to confront insecurity in the North-East.
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