RismadarVoice Reporters
January 9, 2026
A historian and international studies scholar, Dr Gadimoh Nicholas, has warned that military force alone is insufficient to resolve Nigeria’s protracted insurgency, stressing the need for long-term strategies that address deep-rooted socio-economic and governance challenges.
Speaking on Thursday, Gadimoh, who was trained at the Nigerian Defence Academy, said United States support in areas such as military training, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism operations could help weaken insurgent strongholds across northern Nigeria.
However, he cautioned that sustainable peace would require more than external military assistance.
“Nigeria’s security challenges are compounded by poverty, weak governance and limited access to education, which have made parts of the North vulnerable to extremist recruitment,” he said. “While the U.S. technological advantage and counterterrorism expertise can provide a vital boost, the Nigerian military and government must take the lead to ensure stability is sustained after any intervention.”
The scholar emphasized the need to strike a balance between immediate security responses and long-term solutions, noting that a purely military approach cannot address the underlying causes of violence.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening governance, promoting economic development and fostering community reconciliation as key steps towards tackling the roots of extremism and banditry.
Nigeria has battled the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter factions for more than a decade, with the conflict claiming thousands of lives, displacing millions, particularly in the North-East.
Since the group’s emergence in 2009, repeated attacks on civilians, security forces and critical infrastructure have led to widespread displacement, the disruption of livelihoods in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
