By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Prof. Adewinmi Falode |
Prof. Adewunmi Falode the Director of Lagos State University’s Centre for Peace and Security Studies have emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria’s military to adopt a joint operational strategy to decisively defeat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.
The call was made during a recent symposium on the Israeli-Iran war, where military strategies were analyzed and linked to Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
Prof. Adewinmi Falode, Director of the Centre, highlighted the inefficiency of Nigeria’s current approach, where different military branches operate independently. "If the battle is in the desert and you don’t involve the Air Force, victory becomes nearly impossible," he stated.
The same applies to Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram airstrikes alone are insufficient without ground troops conducting mop-up operations. Falode cited instances where terrorists simply regroup after bombings because there was no sustained military presence to secure liberated areas.
The professor stressed that inter-agency cooperation is lacking in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. "When the Air Force bombs Sambisa Forest or Zamfara, insurgents hide, only to return once troops withdraw," he explained. For lasting success, ground forces must move in immediately after airstrikes, supported by civil defense and local security networks to hold recaptured territories. Without this synergy, Nigeria’s military gains remain temporary and ineffective.
Drawing parallels with the Israeli-Iran war, Falode noted that exclusive reliance on airstrikes (as seen when Iran bombed without ground troops) leads to unverified results. Similarly, Nigeria’s piecemeal operations allow terrorists to resurge. "America’s joint operations in past wars succeeded because all military arms worked together Nigeria must adopt this," he insisted.
Beyond military coordination, Falode advocated deploying Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local vigilantes to man liberated zones. "The Army cannot police communities forever once they leave, terrorists return," he warned. A sustained security presence is crucial to preventing insurgents from reclaiming territories.
The symposium concluded with a strong recommendation for Nigeria’s armed forces to prioritize joint operations and intelligence-sharing. As Boko Haram and bandits exploit security gaps, unified military action remains Nigeria’s best chance at lasting victory. Without it, the cycle of attack-retreat-return will continue, leaving the nation in perpetual conflict.