Opinion
War Against Insurgency
Insurgency refers to armed aggression by groups of rebels fighting against the government of their own country. Issues involved in insurgency movements usually have to do with separatist agitations arising from political marginalisation, religious proselytism pursued through armed aggression; land-grabbing banditry and foreign-sponsored expansionist proclivity for economic, religious or political purposes. There is also neocolonialist aspect of insurgency, arising from genetic propensity to lord and rule over other groups, as a civilising mission. Historically, there are wandering and marauding races, with an irresistible urge to expand and conquer others.
It was quite instructive that the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, named “Islamic Groups Behind Boko Haram, Terrorism in Nigeria” – The Tide 15/12/2021. Monguno identified Jama’at Nasr al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), Islamic and Muslim Support Group; and Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) as organisations behind terrorism in Nigeria and other regions in Africa. Coming from such an eminent public notary, Monguno’s revelation was a confirmation of what many Nigeria’s knew before now.
What retired Major General Babagana Monguno did not say, though relevant, is the position of a global body of Islamic brotherhood, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), on the activities of the named Islamic groups. Considering the huge expense involved in insurgency movements, there is a need to ask about the key motives and goals of the groups behind banditry and terrorism in Nigeria and Africa! What goals do the aggressive groups want to achieve, that can warrant such devotion and commitment? And funding!
As a sovereign and independent nation, whose constitution guarantees freedom of worship, conscience, conviction and associations; is it not an act of aggression that groups of insurgents should hold Nigeria hostage? Over what grouse, to warrant President Muhammadu Buhari to say that: “We’re In Final Phase of War Against Insurgency”? – The Tide, Friday 24/12/2021. Hiding under the nomenclature of banditry, aggressive groups had taken up arms against Nigeria, warranting the launching of a final phase of war against insurgency.
President Buhari, addressing troops at the Air Force Base in Maiduguri, said that “the entire nation remains grateful for the gallantry displayed in ensuring gradual return of peace to the North-East…” The President went on to say: “I urge you also to stay focused to achieve our strategic end-state which is the defeat of all adversaries and restoration of an economically viable North-East Geopolitical Zone …” Obviously groups of insurgents are adversaries who deserve to be treated measure for measure, and in the language they understand.
Nigerians were told that “Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkushu and other personnel of 25 and 28 Task Force Brigades, died on November 13, 2021. Other personnel had also died in other operational areas across the country. Such tragic deaths of members of the nation’s armed forces are sad prices being paid, albeit quite involuntarily, in a war against insurgency. What many Nigerians have wondered about is the classification of IPOB as a terrorist group, while other groups of insurgents are being described as bandits. While the demand of one group is clearly stated in the open, other groups such as those mentioned by Babagana Monguno, have not made a clear declaration of what they want to achieve.
There is yet another aspect of the insurgency issue which many Nigerians are not comfortable about, which is the visible presence of aggressive security personnel in South-Eastern Nigeria, than there are in Boko Haram zones. There had been denials that the Boko Haram and ISWAP species of bandits were being treated with kid-gloves, but many observers are not quite impressed with the antics of the war against insurgency. Someone was also quick to say that naming and shaming sponsors of insurgency-related insecurity in the country is not the priority of the Federal Government. Then what is?
The Burning Grass, a humorous book written by late Cyprian Ekwensi, and published 1962, introduced us to the phenomenon of “Sokugo” or the Wandering disease, whereby Maisunsaye as a fictional character, would embark on wandering from one desert zone to another. Thus, the Boko Haram phenomenon and life style can be a reminder that the wandering disease, as an inexplicable propensity, is not merely a fiction. Whatever that may give rise to “Sokugo” or the wandering disease, its victims, like Maisonsaye, are known to be wanderers, with no settled habitation. Looking for what?
Another issue arising from the war against insurgency is the fact that the Boko Haram and ISWAP variants of insurgents are not always Nigerian citizens. There had been a suggestion in some quarters long ago that the Fulani Ethnic Nationality Movement (FUNAM) had a standing agendum of providing a homeland settlement for all Fulani stock in West Africa. Nigeria featured as being a homeland handed to the Fulani by British colonial administrators. One Badu Salisu Ahmadu, was audacious enough to reveal in 2018 that there was a “Fulani Strike Force ready to claim Nigeria.
For the purposes of mutual trust, security and peaceful co-existence, the Federal Government of Nigeria should rise up to the issue of insurgency and seek to address the demands at stake. A large number of Nigerians believe that former President, retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, did not mean a joke when he alerted Nigerians about Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda, not long ago. Several other individuals and groups have also pointed out the possibility of Boko Haram insurgency being a part of a coordinated plan to enact the Afghanistan tale in Nigeria. Mention of a religious war had also been made.
Another angle from which some observers view the issue of insurgency in Nigeria is that religion and banditry-related insecurity are mere Smoke-screen applied to divert attention away from something else. Thus, hiding under religion and politics, some clandestine economic agenda are being perfected, without the Kingpins allowing themselves to be identified. That Clandestine agendum devolves around Nigeria’s political economy, of which oil and gas resources are the driving power. It is a complex issue involving local and foreign interests, but all said and done, the stakes are quite high.
Late Ken Saro-Wiwa would say that high fences make good neighbours. That local idiom implies that peace and good neighbourliness are fostered where people’s privacies, rights and boundaries are respected. Unfortunately, wandering tribes of humanity, fired by ambition, vanity and “Sokugo” disease, would not allow those they consider weak and vulnerable, have peace. What are the issues at stake in the War against insurgency? Let us face them boldly and with justice!
By: Bright Amirize
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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