…Former Vice President warns terrorists are adapting faster than government responses
….Calls for intelligence-driven, community-based security architecture
By Our Correspondent
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework, warning that the country’s current security architecture is failing to keep pace with the rapidly evolving tactics of terrorist groups, bandits, and kidnappers.
Atiku made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, amid growing concerns over the spread of insecurity across different regions of the country.
The former Vice President, who was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 general election, said the increasing incidence of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping beyond the northern region highlights the urgent need for far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s security system.
According to him, terrorist groups have continued to refine their methods and exploit weaknesses in the country’s security structure, while government responses have largely remained predictable and ineffective.
“The terrorists are learning from every attack. They study their successes and failures. They refine their tactics. They identify vulnerabilities. They adapt and strike again,” Atiku stated.
He lamented that a familiar cycle has emerged in the country’s response to violent attacks, where tragedies are followed by public outrage, official condolences, and the establishment of committees, without sufficient efforts to prevent future occurrences.
Citing incidents ranging from the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to recent attacks in Oyo State and other parts of the country, Atiku said Nigeria has failed to systematically learn from previous security breaches.
He stressed that the nation’s counterterrorism efforts must move beyond reactive measures and embrace proactive, intelligence-led strategies capable of anticipating threats before they materialise.
The former Vice President described the current national counterterrorism policy as inadequate for addressing the scale and complexity of today’s security challenges.
He therefore urged the Federal Government to immediately commence a comprehensive review of the policy, drawing heavily from Nigeria’s own experiences rather than relying predominantly on foreign security templates.
According to him, affected communities possess valuable knowledge and insights that should inform future security planning and policy formulation.
Atiku argued that lessons from past attacks, particularly the Chibok abduction and similar incidents, should have been used to develop early warning systems capable of preventing subsequent tragedies.
As part of the proposed reforms, he advocated the establishment of a terrorism violence peer review mechanism that would enable communities, local leaders, security agencies, and other stakeholders to share experiences and contribute to the development of effective security responses.
He noted that such a platform would significantly improve intelligence gathering, strengthen early warning systems, and foster collaboration between citizens and security agencies.
The former Vice President further recommended a multi-layered counterterrorism strategy built around intelligence gathering, technology deployment, community participation, and the disruption of terrorist financing networks.
He maintained that military operations alone cannot guarantee victory against terrorism, no matter how intensive such deployments may be.
While acknowledging the importance of kinetic military operations, Atiku said greater attention must be devoted to identifying and dismantling the financial and logistical networks that sustain terrorist organisations.
He called on the government to aggressively target individuals and groups involved in funding, arming, transporting, and providing shelter to criminal elements across the country.
According to him, successful counterterrorism campaigns around the world have largely depended on intelligence superiority rather than military force alone.
He therefore urged substantial investment in modern surveillance technologies, aerial monitoring systems, communication interception capabilities, and data-driven threat analysis tools.
Atiku also emphasised the need to strengthen community intelligence programmes, arguing that local residents are often the first to notice suspicious movements and activities before security agencies become aware of them.
He proposed the creation of specialised counterterrorism fusion centres in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing among the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), immigration authorities, customs officials, local vigilantes, and community leaders.
The former Vice President equally raised concerns over Nigeria’s porous borders, describing them as major routes for the movement of terrorists, illegal arms, and transnational criminal networks.
“A nation that cannot effectively monitor who enters and exits its territory will continue to face serious security vulnerabilities,” he warned.
His remarks come at a time when security concerns remain high across several parts of the country, with citizens and stakeholders increasingly demanding more effective and sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
