Several retired senior military officers have thrown their weight behind former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), following his call for the declaration of a state of emergency to decisively confront the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging northern Nigeria.
Irabor, in his newly released book “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,” blamed the absence of political will for the country’s prolonged struggle against insurgency. He stressed that an emergency proclamation backed by the National Assembly would enable Nigeria to mobilise all elements of national power—economic, political, social, diplomatic, informational, and military—towards ending the war.
“The government had not yet mustered the political will and instruments to declare a war against Boko Haram,” Irabor wrote. “With an emergency proclamation, there will be greater and more focused attention to galvanise all elements of national power. Tactical operations alone rarely bring about the desired outcome in political situations.”
Despite the military’s past successes, Boko Haram’s attacks have intensified in recent weeks, including the takeover of Kirawa in Borno State and coordinated assaults on army bases. The humanitarian toll has worsened, with over 2.2 million Nigerians internally
displaced.‘Apt and Informed by Experience’ — Retired Officers Speak
Brigadier General Peter Aro (retd.) described Irabor’s call as “apt and deeply informed by experience.” He said a properly legislated emergency would bring coherence and urgency to military operations.
“It must be a genuine state of emergency, not business as usual,” Aro said. “Once politics steps aside and security takes full command, coordination improves and the chain of authority becomes clear.”
Supporting the call, Major General Dayo Olukoju (retd.) said the move should be complemented by a multilateral strategy that addresses terrorism’s root causes such as poverty, identity issues, and social neglect.
“We need to involve elites, traditional rulers, spiritual and community leaders. The roots of terrorism must be examined, not ignored,” he added.
Colonel Saka Folusho (retd.) agreed that a state of emergency could help but insisted that tackling the illicit arms trade and improving soldiers’ welfare were equally vital.
“If someone is paid ₦50,000 and lacks equipment, it weakens morale. The military must be well equipped to operate effectively,” he said.
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