Despite military efforts to weaken ISWAP and Boko Haram, recent attacks show ongoing vulnerabilities.
Vanguard reported that General Ishola Williams (retired), former Chief of Training, Operations, and Plans at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), analyzed the situation, identifying potential loopholes used by bombers and why insurgency continues in Borno State.
Williams suggests Boko Haram may be shifting strategy following their alleged defeat, noting that Nigeria has not truly won the war against them. He points out that insurgents exploit weaknesses in the intelligence system, resuming attacks after periods of inactivity. He notes that Boko Haram and ISWAP do not operate the same way in Chad, Cameroon, or Niger, implying these regions have better intelligence systems. He recalls how Boko Haram’s late leader directed fighters to avoid Chad, focusing attacks on Nigeria. This fear of the Chadian army, contrasted with the lack of fear for the Nigerian army, highlights the need for tactical changes.
He said, “I don’t think we have ever won the war on Boko Haram. What we see is the recycling of insurgency. They take a break; after some time, when they see some weaknesses in the intelligence system, they return with their attacks. There is something people haven’t bothered to notice. Boko Haram and ISWAP don’t do what they do in Nigeria in Chad, Cameroon, or in Niger. Why? Is it because their intelligence system is better than our own? And Boko Haram leader, before he died, told Chadians to stop attacking them and that they were not interested in attacking Chad.”
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim echoes this sentiment, urging the military to adapt its strategies. Williams criticizes continued investment in sophisticated but unnecessary equipment, advocating for a change in operational approach and the use of appropriate equipment and structures to effectively combat insurgency.