Former spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Sadiq Shehu, has urged Nigeria to focus on action in strengthening its armed forces rather than making declarations of war in its fight against Boko Haram.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, the security consultant responded to former General Irabo’s comments on declaring war, saying it would give legitimacy to insurgents instead of ending terrorism.
Shehu said, “By declaring war against a homegrown group, you are giving it legitimacy. Not only that, you are also giving it recognition in such a way that other countries can say, I support this group, I support the federal government. The armed forces are better off without a declaration of war than with one.”
He distinguished between a state of emergency and a declaration of war, noting that the two are often confused in public discourse. “A state of emergency gives the President extra powers to act without seeking legal clearance. In 2009, former President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. It was declared initially and then renewed as allowed by the constitution. It allowed the federal government to assume powers normally held by governors and gave the military room to operate effectively,” he said.
Shehu highlighted the risks of formally declaring war on insurgents, noting that international law, including the Geneva Conventions, would apply and issues such as war crimes oversight could complicate military operations. “Countries like Colombia and Ethiopia have fought insurgencies for decades without declaring war. They maintain flexibility while combating internal threats,” he added.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s current approach, Shehu said, “Successive governments, including the current one, are not taking the fight seriously. Since this insurgency started 15 years ago, our armed forces have grown very little. Recruitment is limited, resources are insufficient, and the whole-of-society approach is not being applied.”
He stressed that political hesitancy often hinders action: “When you declare a state of emergency, it affects sub-national governments. Not every politician is willing to take that risk. Former President Goodluck Jonathan did not suspend the governors of the affected states when he declared a state of emergency. Political consequences are real, but that should not stop action.”
He urged that Nigeria prioritise capacity and action over formal announcements. “Don’t declare war, don’t declare a state of emergency, but act. Mobilise the armed forces, build capacity, and take the fight seriously,” he said.
Expressing concerns over the minimal growth of Nigeria’s armed forces since the insurgency began 15 years ago, he noted that while there are increasing calls for a state of emergency, including from the retired Chief of Defence Staff, “since we started this war 15 years ago, how big has our armed forces grown? It’s very little… what would a state of emergency look like?”
He stressed that beyond verbal declarations, the focus should be on tangible actions to strengthen security capacity rather than symbolic pronouncements.
Nancy Mbamalu
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