Boko Haram Resurgence: Air Marshal Abubakar Opens Up on Nigeria’s Growing Insecurity in the North East
After a brief period of relative peace, insecurity is once again escalating in Nigeria’s North East. The renewed wave of attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is causing fresh panic among residents of Borno and Yobe States. In recent weeks, these terrorist groups have launched bold and violent assaults, including direct attacks on military installations, killing soldiers, stealing arms, and even deploying drones in combat operations.
This troubling resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP violence has brought Nigeria's fragile security situation back into sharp focus. The North East, which had seen signs of improvement in 2023 due to intense military campaigns, is now experiencing a dangerous reversal.
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard Newspaper to mark the 61st anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, spoke at length about the challenges Nigeria faces in defeating insurgency once and for all. His comments shed light on both the military and non-military aspects of the conflict, underlining the complexity of Nigeria’s war against terrorism.
“Insurgencies Are Long-Term Issues” – Air Chief Warns of Complacency
Speaking candidly about the evolving nature of terrorism in Nigeria, Air Marshal Abubakar described insurgencies as “long-term issues.” He explained that the calm witnessed in 2023 was largely due to sustained military pressure which forced thousands of insurgents to surrender. However, while the Nigerian military shifted its focus to banditry and criminal gangs in the North West, terrorist groups in the North East took advantage of the shift to regroup.
“The impression was that the North East had stabilized, but clearly, the threat remains,” he stated.
This acknowledgment from Nigeria’s top air force officer points to a critical miscalculation: the assumption that Boko Haram and ISWAP had been fully neutralized. The resurgence shows that terrorism in the region is far from over.
Military Efforts Can Only Do So Much – Root Causes Must Be Addressed
While military operations have achieved significant victories, Air Marshal Abubakar warned that these efforts can only solve a small portion of the overall problem. He stated that:
“Military efforts alone can only address about 25 to 30 percent of the insecurity. The rest must come from non-kinetic strategies that address poverty, unemployment, and the lack of meaningful engagement—root causes of radicalization.”
This statement points to one of the most critical elements of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy: the need to tackle the social and economic conditions that make terrorism appealing to disenfranchised youth. Abubakar emphasized that even when military victories are recorded, “without the whole-of-society approach, those efforts can quickly unravel.”
This calls for a national consensus and community-based strategies involving local leaders, civil society groups, and state governments to tackle the root causes of extremism.
The Economic Cost of War: “Running the Air Force is Extremely Expensive”
Beyond the human toll, the financial burden of maintaining Nigeria’s air superiority is enormous. In the interview, the Air Chief revealed some staggering figures regarding the cost of air operations:
“A single missile fired from our Chinese-made UAV costs $150,000, and the bomb it carries costs around $95,000.”
These costs do not include maintenance, fueling, or training, which can push total mission expenses to between $10,000 and $30,000 per flight. This sheds light on how resource-intensive modern warfare has become, especially in asymmetrical battles like those Nigeria faces in the North East.
“Running the Air Force is extremely expensive,” he said bluntly.
For a country already grappling with economic challenges, including inflation, rising debt, and currency devaluation, the cost of fighting insurgency is almost unsustainable in the long term without major defense budget reforms or international support.
Terrorists Now Use Drones – Nigeria Must Modernize Air Surveillance
A deeply alarming revelation from Air Marshal Abubakar is that Boko Haram and ISWAP have started using modified commercial drones for combat operations. These are typically ordinary drones adapted for spying, surveillance, and even small-scale bombing runs.
This growing sophistication among terrorists has exposed major weaknesses in Nigeria’s air defense system.
“We need a comprehensive military radar coverage that can detect any unauthorized object in our airspace—low, mid, or high level. Unfortunately, we don’t have that yet,” Abubakar admitted.
Currently, Nigeria lacks a complete radar network capable of monitoring its entire airspace. Although some smaller counter-drone systems have been deployed in specific military locations, this is not enough to offer full protection against airborne threats.
Building the Future: AI, Technology, and Global Partnerships
To respond to these emerging threats, the Nigerian Air Force is taking steps to embrace advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and improved radar systems.
Abubakar revealed that NAF recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Bradford’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence. The goal is to train Nigerian personnel and expand local expertise in AI-powered defense solutions.
This move is part of a broader effort to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign technology and boost domestic capacity for innovation in defense.
Responding to Delays in Air Support: Coordination Still a Challenge
Addressing the widespread complaints about delays in air support during ground battles, particularly the recent terrorist ambush in Marte, Borno State, the Air Chief admitted that coordination between the military branches remains a challenge.
However, he noted that the situation is gradually improving. To strengthen synergy between the Air Force, Army, and Navy, the NAF has established a new Air-Ground Integration School, where personnel from all branches are trained together to enhance collaboration during real-time operations.
Recruitment Is Not the Problem – Proper Training Is
Touching on manpower challenges, Abubakar said that while recruitment into the Air Force has been approved, the real challenge is not in numbers, but in ensuring proper training, housing, and long-term welfare for recruits.
“Recruiting is easy; managing the consequences of mass enlistment is the difficult part. We must avoid bringing in individuals who cannot be properly trained or integrated,” he warned.
This statement speaks to the need for a sustainable approach to military expansion, where quality is prioritized over quantity.
Final Thoughts: Nigeria Must Wake Up to the New Face of Terrorism
The Nigerian government and citizens alike must understand that Boko Haram and ISWAP have not disappeared—they have adapted. Their use of drones, advanced weaponry, and social media propaganda requires a modern response. The war is no longer fought only on the ground—it is also in the skies and in cyberspace.
As Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar rightly emphasized, defeating terrorism in Nigeria will take more than just military strength. It will require national unity, economic development, strong institutions, community participation, and advanced technology.
