Combating Nigerian Insecurity and Armed Group Resilience: An Analysis of the Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda

Combating Nigerian Insecurity and Armed Group Resilience: An Analysis of the Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda

James E. Archibong

Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Nigeria

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.12020035

Received: 23 January 2025; Accepted: 31 January 2025; Published: 05 March 2025

ABSTRACT

Since the return to democracy in 1999, various armed non-state actors have held the nation hostage and unleashed violence on individuals and public institutions. Nigeria has a variety of security issues that undermine its stability and sovereignty. Boko Haram insurgency has persisted since July 2009. Banditry, herder-farmer clashes, separatism, and kidnapping for ransom have added to the complexity of the conflicts. Poverty and unemployment are among the major causes of insecurity, which has become Nigeria’s worst nightmare. Nigeria is Africa’s biggest exporter of crude oil and boasts of having the largest economy on the continent. But most Nigerians live in extreme poverty because the nation’s immense wealth has not trickled down to the populace. As enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. Successive administrations from 2009 tried but failed to end insecurity. The current administration is also grappling with insurgency, banditry, separatism, and other forms of discontent and has vowed to end the ugly trend. The big question, however, is what will it do differently. The government has taken the fight to the militants, who have also shown resilience amid military onslaught. It has also promised, through its eight-point agenda to revamp the economy, create jobs, and lift as many people as possible out of poverty. This paper examines the strategy to end insecurity encapsulated in the eight-point agenda. Apart from using force, it recommends other approaches such as massive job creation, poverty alleviation, and de-radicalization.

Keywords: Nigeria, insecurity, armed groups, resilience, eight-point-agenda

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria has a wide range of security issues, including secessionist agitation, banditry, and terrorism. Banditry and herder-farmer conflicts are currently making the problem of Boko Haram terrorists, which has been present in the northern region for over 15 years, worse. The complicated security situation in the southern region is exacerbated by movements like the Yoruba Nation’s struggle for secession in the southwest and the Biafra agitation in the southeast (Akingbohungbe, 2024).

Nigeria frequently takes pride in being Africa’s biggest exporter of crude oil and the continent’s largest economy (Aduloju, 2023). Although this is admirable, most Nigerians live in extreme poverty since the country’s immense riches have not trickled down to the general populace. Nigeria used to hold the notorious title of the world’s ‘capital of poverty’ (Victor, 2022). According to 2023 data from the World Poverty Clock, 71 million Nigerians lived in extreme poverty (Ubanagu, 2023). Nigeria suffers from insecurity despite having a wealth of mineral resources, mostly ascribed to mistakes made by the government and its people.

According to the 1999 Constitution, the government is in charge of ensuring the safety and well-being of the populace. The current form of insecurity persisted under Presidents Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), Goodluck Jonathan (2009–2015), and Musa Yar’adua (2007–2009). In the Niger Delta, insurgency flourished from 1999 to 2007 as a result of environmental deterioration and oil production. Musa Yar’adua’s government opened a line of communication with the militants, resulting in their disarmament and the restoration of regional peace.

The current administration is battling secession, banditry, insurgency, and other types of unrest (Adeodu et al, 2024). Through its eight-point agenda, the administration has pledged to eradicate insecurity, revitalize the economy, provide employment, and help as many people escape poverty as possible. What will it do differently, though? Thus far, the government has not defeated the insurgents, who have also proven resilient in the face of military assault. This essay looks at the government’s eight-point program as a means of putting an end to insecurity. In addition to using force, it suggests strategies like deradicalization, poverty reduction, and job development.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Nigeria experienced an oil boom in the 1970s and beyond, earning billions of dollars over the years (Pinto, 1987). Nigeria retains the top spot as Africa’s biggest oil producer (Lawal, 2024). Nigeria is also Africa’s top gas producer (Nakhle, 2024). Despite this great wealth and endowment, there is massive inequality, marginalization, poverty, and unemployment among the populace, especially young people. Much of the wealth from oil exploration ends up in the pockets of a few elites, leaving the majority of citizens grossly impoverished and the environment degraded. This has fueled insecurity and conflicts.

Nigeria has experienced insecurity and violent conflicts for many years occasioned by multidimensional. During the era of military dictatorship, disputes of all forms were minimal because they were suppressed by military might (Osagie et al, 2010). However, in the current democratic dispensation, which started on May 29, 1999, citizens tend to have more freedom for self-expression (Osagie et al, 2010). This new-found opportunity for agitation was first expressed in the oil-rich Niger Delta region when the youths of the area formed several armed groups and engaged the Nigerian state in military confrontations (Ojo, 2015). Their grievances centred around economic deprivation, poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation in the oil-rich region became one of Nigeria’s biggest security challenges in the 1990s (Wellington, 2007). Osagie (2010) opines that depriving the citizens of oil proceeds has accounted for the greatest cause of conflict.  Eventually, the government negotiated with the Niger Delta militants, who surrendered the arms in return for amnesty (Ebiede et al, 2020).

While there is relative peace in the Niger Delta, other armed groups have emerged to fight the government. They include insurgents, bandits, separatists, and criminal gangs who indulge in kidnapping for ransom (Orhero, 2020). Adeodu (2024) attributes the current insecurity to poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. According to Erumebor (2023), the past seven years have been hard for Nigerians. Apart from two economic recessions, the unemployment rate pushed 133 million people into multidimensional poverty.

Successive Nigerian governments have found themselves in a dilemma in resolving the problem of insecurity (Orhero, 2020). They branded these non-state armed actors as terrorists and applied maximum state power to suppress the rebellion without any success. In its Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration has added a socio-economic dimension to address the root causes of insecurity, marking a clear departure from its predecessors. In the light of this, several suggestions are made in this paper. Tackling current insecurity would require socio-economic transformation, community participation, and peacebuilding factors for the security aspect of the agenda.

Militants’ tenacity in the face of military assault

Nigeria’s peace and national growth are seriously threatened by insecurity (Collins & Chukwuemeka, 2024). Due to attacks, kidnappings, and extortion by various non-state armed groups, Nigerian residents have faced several security risks and the possibility of atrocities since the country’s restoration to democracy in 1999. Mass crimes against civilians have been committed in northern Nigeria by armed extremist organizations, particularly Boko Haram, and their offshoots, such as the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Beginning in the northeast in the early 2000s, Boko Haram aimed to topple Nigeria’s secular government and started an insurgency in 2009 to create an Islamic state. Tens of thousands have been killed and nearly two million have been displaced as a result of Boko Haram’s attack, which is expected to continue until 2025. They use suicide bombs, kidnappings, torture, rape, forced marriages, child soldier recruiting, and attacks on people, traditional and religious leaders, and government infrastructure. Recently, armed organizations such as Boko Haram have bolstered their influence by joining forces with the bandits.

Armed gangs known as “bandits” in the area have been committing mass crimes like murder, rape, kidnapping, systematic cattle rustling, and looting for several years. Preying on established farming communities serves as a major source of motivation for armed bandit groups, who are primarily driven by criminal objectives. Large tracts of farmland are also being overrun by armed bandits, which has caused many farmers to flee their property for fear of being attacked. For the gangs, kidnapping for ransom is a significant source of revenue, and the crime continues to pose a danger to Nigeria’s security environment.

In the north and some areas of southern Nigeria, frequent violence between farmers and herders has increased since 2011. This violence is based on competition for limited resources. Tensions have also been made worse by climate change and growing desertification in the north, forcing many herders southward into areas farmed by populated groups due to the loss of grazing ground (Thomas, 2024). The Boko Haram conflict in the northeast has forced herders into the Middle Belt.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are the two primary factions vying for secession in the southeast region of Nigeria (Collins and Chukwuemeka, 2024). While IPOB was designated a terrorist organization in 2017, MASSOB was outlawed by Nigerian authorities in 2001. To achieve their goals, IPOB formed the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a paramilitary wing that has engaged in armed confrontations with Nigerian state security forces. There have been reports of civilian deaths and retaliatory attacks as the violence between IPOB members and Nigerian security personnel has intensified.

In the face of an ongoing military assault, militants have proven resilient and determined to carry out more strikes. The regions of operation of bandit groups, ISWAP, and Boko Haram are still growing. “Unknown gunmen” are still wreaking devastation on citizens, state security forces, and public infrastructure in the southeast, and kidnapping for ransom in the southwest. Civilians in northern and southeast Nigeria saw increased violence and almost daily attacks by armed groups in 2023 and 2024. At least 2,140 were reported abducted in incidents across 24 states between January and July 2024 (Punch, 2024). Gunmen in Katsina State killed at least 50 individuals and kidnapped an unknown number of citizens in June 2024.

In their stronghold areas of Borno and Yobe states, suspected Boko Haram militants and ISWAP persisted in carrying out destructive attacks. At least 32 people were killed and over 100 injured in a series of female suicide bombing strikes in the Borno State town of Gwoza on June 29 (Santos & Ewokor, 2024). At least 128 villagers were killed in a catastrophic attack by rebels in Mafa, Yobe State, on September 1, 2024. In September, the sect’s fighters again stormed Mafa village, setting homes and businesses on fire. About 150 suspected members of the group, equipped with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, carried out the attack, killing dozens of people (Aljazeera, 2024). Significant worries regarding the security situation in the area have been aroused by the recent assaults in Yobe State and the revival of female suicide bombs in Borno State. Bandits and insurgents impose taxes and other levies on the local population in isolated locations to gain access to their fields and engage in other economic activities.

The Renewed Hope Agenda 

On May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office as head of the current administration. He introduced his four-year plan, the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which outlined the administration’s top priorities (Yatai, 2024). According to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government has determined eight Presidential Priority Areas essential to national development from 2023 to 2027. The dedication to promoting sustainable growth, maintaining security, and raising the standard of living for all Nigerians is reflected in these priorities, namely:

1. Restructuring the economy to achieve long-term, equitable growth
2. Boost national security to promote prosperity and peace.
3. Encourage farming to ensure food security.
4. Open up natural resources and energy for sustainable growth.
5. Improve transformation and infrastructure as growth-enabling factors.
6. Prioritize social investment, health care, and education as crucial development pillars.
7. Increase diversification through manufacturing, innovation, digitization, industrialization, and the creative arts.
8. Boost governance to ensure efficient service provision

Based on the fundamental principles of democracy, development, demography, and diaspora participation, the Renewed Hope Agenda is a revolutionary policy initiative designed to reestablish Nigeria as a top international investment destination. The agenda reflects the administration’s resolve to implement daring reforms and develop strategic alliances to revitalize Nigeria’s economy, improve security, and reestablish the country as a major global participant. The new agenda would accelerate diversification through manufacturing, innovation, digitization, industrialization, and the creative arts.

The Eight-Point Agenda and Security

President Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to national security, emphasizing that it continues to be a primary priority of his administration. He has also insisted that he will not lose the fight to keep Nigeria safe. The President nominated a new inspector general of police, a new national security adviser, and new chiefs of military services shortly after taking office. During their first meeting, he asked the new service heads to unite as a team to eradicate insecurity. He called for an end to the inter-agency agency competition among the nation’s law enforcement agencies to eliminate the threat of insecurity in the country, stating that coordinated efforts from the country’s security agencies were necessary to counter the unpleasant trend.

To end the proliferation of illegal weapons President Tinubu signed a bill in September 2024 creating the National Center for Arms Control. To guarantee that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) fulfills its mission by 2030, his administration has committed to making large funding for the organization. DICON has been manufacturing equipment and munitions to support the military and security forces since its founding. The improved capabilities resulting from this approach will greatly improve our defence infrastructure, guaranteeing peace and prosperity for our country, according to President Tinubu (Odeniyi, 2024a).

Along with domestic manufacturing, the government has started to address the welfare of the armed forces and weapons, ammunition, and other essential supplies. President Tinubu added new combat helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force inventory, reaffirming his commitment to eradicating insecurity. These two brand-new T-129 ATAK helicopters and a King Air 360ER Beechcraft have been added to the Nigerian Air Force’s Order of Battle (ORBAT) (Daramola, 2024).

The military has demonstrated professionalism, unity, and dedication to eradicating instability under the current administration. The president ordered Nigerian armed forces to eliminate the instability in Zamfara State and the northwest. The President directed service leaders and the Minister of State for Defense to move to the Northwest after banditry surged there in 2024 (Isenyo, 2024). According to the defence minister, the federal government has initiated measures to stop the threat of terrorism and other criminal activity and bring peace back to the nation, particularly in the northeast geopolitical zone (Ogubike, 2023). The ministry has been essential in organizing the military and successfully implementing plans to combat terrorism. To address the underlying causes of radicalization, he continued, a multifaceted strategy combining military precision with socioeconomic measures was required (Ogubike, 2023).

Periodically, the Minister of Defence travels to the front lines to evaluate the troops’ performance and motivate them to take more action to put an end to the current wave of insecurity. “We are deploying additional platforms, including attack helicopters and drones, to enhance your capabilities and eliminate bandits and terrorists,” the Minister of Defence said during a visit to the Headquarters of 213 Forward Operating Base in Katsina State (Ogubike, 2024c). To evaluate the status of the Joint Task Force Operation Fansan Yamma North West Headquarters, the Minister also traveled to Zamfara State (Ogubike, 2024b).

According to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), military intelligence officers are essential to President Tinubu’s goals of promoting national stability and reducing poverty. He added that resolving insecurity was crucial to the President’s goal of altering the current situation and bringing many Nigerians out of poverty (Odeniyi, 2024). To better align military operations with contemporary operational needs, he oversaw the reorganization of the former Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Whirl Punch into a single joint task force for the Northwest under the new code name “Operation Fansan Yamma” (Muhammad, 2024). Banditry in Zamfara State has been severely damaged thus far by Operation Fansan Yamma.

Taking the battle to the extremists is the present administration’s plan to eradicate insecurity. Since late 2021, government troops have increased military operations and initiated counterterrorism operations in impacted areas to stop the activities of armed bandits. These operations have included heavy airstrikes on militant hideouts and places of operation throughout northern Nigeria. In November 2023, a spokesperson for Defence Headquarters (DHQ) stated that in several operations around the nations, forces in the most recent one killed 99 terrorists and captured 198 others (Ramaian, 2023). In numerous operations around northern Nigeria, he claimed, the military also retrieved 1,463 different types of ammunition, 141 different types of weaponry, and 139 captives. One GPMG, one GT3 rifle, one assault weapon, 49 AK47 rifles, one Josef Magnum Pump Action gun, one double barrel gun, and two single barrel firearms are among the recovered items, he said. In addition, there were two hand grenades, seven locally built rifles, one hand grenade, nine locally made pistols, and thirteen Dane guns (Ramaian, 2023).

The DHQ said in August 2024 that troops had freed 721 hostages who had been kidnapped, killed 1,166 terrorists, and arrested 1,1096 suspects in 29 days throughout the nation (Premium Times, 2024). During the month, the troops also retrieved 10452 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1,991 rounds of NATO ammunition, 293 cartridges, 42 assorted arms, 2,498 assorted ammunition, 391 weapons, 15,234 rounds of ammunition, including 208 AK-47 rifles, 54 locally made guns, 53 Dane guns, and 36 pump action guns (Premium Times, 2024). As part of continuing operations, Nigerian forces assigned to JTF Northeast Operation Hadin Kai in September 2024 killed eight terrorists and freed sixteen hostages. In a quick offensive, they also retrieved a haul of firearms (John Shiklam and Linus Aleke, Arise News). The DHQ declared in October 2024 that in a single week, troops sent to various theaters of operation had killed at least 165 terrorists, detained 238 more, and freed 188 captives who had been kidnapped (Aleke, 2024). Additionally, the DHQ revealed that throughout the reviewed period, JTF South-South Operation Delta Safe troops found and shut down 65 illicit refining installations and captured 35 oil theft offenders (Aleke, 2024). When Nigeria’s military launched a significant operation against their locations in January 2025, a new rebel organization called Lakurawa—said to be associated with ISIL—was severely humiliated (Aljazeera, 2025).

The President’s audacious strategy for addressing insecurity in the northern region has been praised by the Northern Elders Group. The group expressed confidence in the President’s ability to address insecurity and commended his “Fansa Yamma” approach (Isenyo, 2024). As peace was restored to the area, kingpins and many of their supporters were killed by the army’s relentless attacks and raids. The Chairman of the Arewa Elders Progressive Group in the Northwest praised the decision to attack the bandits’ hideouts in a statement released in Kaduna, calling it a significant step forward in the region’s efforts to attain peace (Isenyo, 2024). The elders referred to Tinubu’s tough strategy of employing military power to mercilessly smash robbers as a “bull by the horns” approach and stated it had produced encouraging results. As evidence of the President’s courage and dedication, the group pointed to the recent visit of the Minister of State for Defence to the epicenter of banditry in Sokoto State. The group also praised the Chief of Defence Staff and brave soldiers for their sacrifices in restoring peace and security to previously insecure areas (Isenyo, 2024).

The new agenda and socioeconomic revival

The government is taking a constructive step to combat insecurity by reviving the economy and enhancing the well-being of Nigerians. Most people believe there is a direct correlation between the nation’s current economic problems and insecurity. Therefore, in addition to security, the government’s objective includes anti-corruption, job development, and the rule of law to boost the Nigerian economy. According to the CDS, the President was committed to altering the current situation and bringing many Nigerians out of poverty, and resolving insecurity was crucial to accomplishing this objective (Odeniyi, 2024).

The administration has launched several programs and initiatives to turn the economy around to achieve this goal. On its first day of office, the government announced the removal of subsidy on petrol, which amounts to billions of US dollars yearly (US$10 billion in 2022), and of multiple foreign exchange systems. Smuggling, fraud, and egregious mismanagement were purportedly hallmarks of the subsidy regime, which deterred fresh investment in the petroleum sector (Ajisafe, 2024). Nigerians now pay the actual market price for fuel, thus allowing the industry to operate in a free market. A privately-owned oil refinery started producing petrol, and two government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri have been reopened. There are now 1.61 million barrels of oil produced daily, and two foreign direct investments totaling more than $500 million have been signed.

Increased federal cash allocation to states is another effect of ending subsidies, and it is expected to improve socioeconomic services and development for citizens (Ajisafe, 2024). To increase livelihood assistance for its residents, the government has released approximately N570 billion to the 36 states, and 600,000 small businesses have benefited from the administration’s Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme. The federal government has pledged to take decisive action in 2025 to address the suffering and inflation brought on by the elimination of the fuel subsidy.

The federal government announced in July 2024 the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to guarantee food security and end the ongoing conflicts between sedentary farmers and herders. The new ministry’s responsibilities include managing animal health and illness, improving breeds and genetic resources, improving husbandry and production systems, supporting rural livelihoods, modernizing livestock marketing and trade, and supervising and creating livestock regulations.

The federal government has also secured autonomy for local government administration through the Supreme Court, to separate the third-tier government, which directly impacts the local populace, from the state government’s apron strings (Ogunike, 2024a). Most services will be provided, at the rural level, to ensure an efficient local government system. Local governments will have more money to spend on updating infrastructure, upholding laws, and enhancing the quality of life for residents (Cyriacus et al, 2024). Through cash transfer grants, the federal government has also touched millions of households that are at risk. Targeting the nation’s poorest households, this program aims to promote development priorities and objectives by providing beneficiary households with timely and easily accessible cash transfers. It is clear that cash transfer programs significantly affect vulnerability and poverty.

Major infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, railroads, electricity, and oil and gas developments—most notably the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto Badagry Highway projects—are still in progress. The federal government has set up development commissions in each of the country’s six geographical zones in addition to infrastructure development. The commissions are a component of a larger plan to expedite development throughout the geopolitical zones, particularly to make it easier to build homes, companies, roads, and other vital infrastructure. The most recent reform in the series relates to taxes. The administration is implementing a sweeping and unprecedented tax overhaul to empower citizens and change the economy.

Asymmetrical tactics and the complexity of the battle

Despite the Nigerian military’s strong response, insurgents have remained resilient and are still attacking people. According to reports, Boko Haram terrorists and their offshoot group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) killed 40 farmers in Borno State on January 12, 2025, causing global outrage (Kingimi, 2025). Since the beginning of the year, Boko Haram and ISWAP have increased their attacks in Borno. In early January, they attempted an ambush on a military patrol, killing six troops, while 34 of their associates lost their lives in the encounter.

The asymmetric character of the conflict exacerbates the issue, despite the government’s strong commitment and significant financial investment to defeat the militants and put an end to regional insecurity. There are no frontlines and the militants blend in with the civilian population, making them unidentifiable. They use motorcycles, hit-and-run strategies, improvised bombs, and AK-47 rifles to attack their victims in an unsafe setting. Smaller Boko Haram subgroups make it more difficult to identify the precise armed units behind attacks, making it difficult to respond to threats against civilians.

Nigeria’s military has carried out incorrect airstrikes to eliminate militants, which has frequently resulted in civilian losses due to the difficulty in differentiating between militants and civilians. At least 20 people were murdered and numerous more were injured when a military aircraft bombed Tungar Kara in the Maradun district of Zamfara State, less than three weeks after a military airstrike in Sokoto State killed ten civilians in the Gidan Bidan Bisa and Rumtuwa area (Jamiu, 2025). Instead of killing militants, the airstrike killed civilians, members of the state-backed security group Askarawa, and local vigilantes known as Yansakai. When the fighter jet shelled the region, it mistakenly targeted the residents, mistaking them for terrorists, while the terrorists had already escaped (Jamiu, 2025). The President demanded a comprehensive investigation to determine the facts of the incident in the wake of the tragedies.

Realizing the agenda’s security component

Economic reforms and social projects

As 2025 begins, insecurity has taken center stage in news reports and public conversations. Social and economic changes are two measures by the government to eradicate insecurity. To address the underlying causes of violence, particularly poverty, youth unemployment, and climate change, social initiatives and economic changes are still essential. To handle today’s socioeconomic issues, the federal government and state authorities should coordinate their efforts and create a shared plan.

The underlying origins of violent ideologies

The government should address the core causes of violent ideology; this calls for different approaches. The creation of community-based information centers would enable security agencies to obtain intelligence more quickly. By providing local people with the resources and capabilities they need to work with security personnel, we can increase the efficacy of counterterrorism measures (Akingbohungbe, 2024). Comprehensive education and awareness initiatives that target vulnerable populations, especially the youth, must be implemented in tandem with efforts to combat terrorism. The government must encourage young people to think critically and reject the false information and radical ideas propagated by terrorist organizations. It should prioritize long-term fixes that tackle the underlying causes of insecurity by including security studies in the national curriculum at all educational levels, from elementary to university. By doing this, Nigeria can cultivate a generation of knowledgeable and involved citizens who actively support national security initiatives by fostering a sense of civic duty and security consciousness in young people.

Funding and coordination of the armed forces

The security sector also requires immediate government change. Improving operational efficacy and responsiveness requires investments in infrastructure and technology and proper security operative training and equipment. Due to the asymmetric nature of the fight, troops require specialized training in asymmetric warfare. The security agencies need a proactive strategy, intelligence-gathering skills, and strategic alliances. Combined efforts and alignment of the roles and duties of the various security sectors are urgently needed. For the best possible resource allocation and strategic deployment of people and assets, security agencies must effectively coordinate with one another. Furthermore, strict procedures must be adopted to stop official support or cooperation in terrorist actions. In the fight against terrorism, scrutiny of officials—including rigorous screening of new recruitment into the armed services and strong supervision procedures—can prevent corruption and guarantee accountability.
Working together with communities

The DHQ has charged some residents with working with militants. To counteract the rising insecurity, analysts have urged residents and security services to work together in the community to address the prevalence of insecurity in the area (Obianeri, 2025).  This can be accomplished by encouraging proactiveness through efficient cooperation and shared accountability. Criminal elements should be aggressively identified and reported to security agencies by communities.

National youth discussion

Following the nationwide demonstrations in August 2024, the federal administration suggested a national conversation with young people. The administration should invite representatives of violent organizations to participate in the national dialogue so they can voice their concerns. Speaking with resentful groups may be essential to comprehending their complaints and driving forces.

Some state governments have initiated peace agreements and some factions have surrendered their weapons. They have also begged for forgiveness from the authorities and their victims, and are now known as repentant bandits. Renouncing violence and embracing peaceful cooperation should be prerequisites for reintegrating ex-insurgents into society.

Sub-regional collaboration

Dismantling transnational criminal networks implicated in terrorism requires increased cooperation with international partners and neighboring nations, abductions as well as other illegal actions. The Nigerian president claimed that instability and encroaching terrorism were impeding the region’s growth and development when he initially took office as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in July 2023. He suggested creating an ECOWAS Standby Force to improve regional security when he was reelected in 2024. To achieve security in Nigeria, the government should deploy more police and military personnel in high-risk locations using the Early Warning System of the Economic Community of West African States.

Accountability concerns

Nigerian people are at risk of atrocity crimes due to attacks by armed bandit groups, as well as increased brutality by Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa. Investigations must be conducted into all attacks against civilians, and those responsible for atrocity crimes and human rights abuses must be held accountable. After completing a preliminary investigation into the situation in Nigeria, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) declared on December 11, 2020, that there is a good reason to suspect that Boko Haram and Nigerian security forces have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC’s Deputy Prosecutor and national officials visited Abuja in March 2024 to examine the progress made in holding Boko Haram and its affiliates responsible for alleged atrocities. The ICC, hybrid tribunals, or national courts may try militants who have been indicted (Archibong & Lloyd, 2021).

CONCLUSION 

A comprehensive and multidimensional strategy that includes long-term investments in socioeconomic development and education, community involvement, strategic cooperation among security agencies, and efficient government is needed to address Nigeria’s insecurity problem. Nigeria can overcome its security issues and become a symbol of stability and advancement in Africa by adopting these values and cooperating to achieve a common vision of security and prosperity. It is not beneficial at this time to politicize insecurity more than to look for solutions collectively. The government, citizens, opposition parties, non-governmental organizations, religious and opinion leaders, and Nigeria’s friends must unite and work as a team to end the prevailing insecurity.

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