Nigeria Grapples with Escalating Terror Attacks: Senate Urges Forest Security Bill and Robust Counterterrorism Measures

Overview of Recent Terror Attacks

Nigeria is facing a renewed surge of violence from Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed bandits, claiming over 300 lives across Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Borno, and Benue states between April and May 2025. The attacks, marked by coordinated assaults, roadside bombs, and abductions, have heightened fears among communities and exposed persistent weaknesses in the nation’s security framework. The Senate, responding to the crisis on May 15, 2025, urged President Bola Tinubu to sign the Nigerian Forest Security Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, into law and mandate National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to establish armed Forest Guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests, which serve as hideouts for terrorists and bandits.

Regional Breakdown of Fatalities (April–May 2025)

• Zamfara State: Over 100 civilians were killed in coordinated bandit attacks on April 22 and 24 in Bukkuyum and Anka local government areas. Bandits, often linked to illegal mining and ransom-driven abductions, have exploited weak governance and porous borders, with reports of foreign involvement, including Chinese actors in gold mining.
• Plateau State: On April 2, inter-communal clashes claimed 48 lives, followed by an April 13 attack in Zike by suspected herders, killing 40. A recent assault on May 14 in Wereng Camp, Riyom, left nine dead, with houses burned and residents displaced, highlighting a decade-long pattern of violence.
• Benue State: Suspected herders killed 56 people on April 18, underscoring ongoing farmer-herder conflicts fueled by resource competition and ethnic tensions.
• Borno State: Boko Haram and ISWAP intensified attacks, with an April 12 roadside bomb on the Damboa-Maiduguri highway killing eight bus passengers, an April 28 truck bombing between Rann and Gamboru claiming 26 lives, and an April 30 ISWAP attack in Kwaple village near Chibok killing 15 civilians. Military bases were also targeted, with four bases attacked in 24 hours, raising concerns about insurgent capabilities.
• Sokoto State: While specific fatality figures are limited, bandit-related kidnappings and attacks persist, with troops neutralizing several terrorists. The emergence of the Lakurawa group, initially aligned with the government but now linked to Mali and Niger factions, complicates the security landscape.

Senate’s Call for Action

The Senate’s urgency stems from incidents like the May 15 abduction of Oba James Ogunyanda, a traditional ruler in Kogi State, and ongoing attacks in Benue. The Nigerian Forest Security Service Bill, passed by the National Assembly, aims to establish a dedicated force to combat forest-based criminality. Senator Sunday Karimi, sponsoring the motion, aligned the bill with Tinubu’s directive for armed Forest Guards, overseen by the NSA and Ministry of Environment, to employ thousands of youths and flush out criminals. The Senate also called for immediate security interventions in affected regions, emphasizing the bill’s potential to curb kidnapping and terrorism.

Military and Expert Perspectives

Retired military officers and security analysts have offered critical insights into the crisis, attributing the surge to intelligence failures, outdated strategies, and external support for insurgents. Key recommendations include:

• Brig. Gen. Idris Bello (retd): Advocates for a one-million-strong military to cover vast areas, intensive retraining in counterinsurgency, and a Standing Committee to monitor NGOs suspected of financing terrorists, citing insurgents found with US dollars.
• Maj. Bone Efoziem (retd): Highlights poor coordination among security agencies and sophisticated insurgent drones, suggesting military-to-military border cooperation with Sahel neighbors and diplomatic efforts to trace drone sources. He also recommends reinforcing border posts with artillery support.
• Anonymous Maj. Gen. (retd): Proposes state-controlled policing for community-focused security, socioeconomic interventions like cash transfers and infrastructure investment, and dialogue to resolve farmer-herder conflicts.
• Brig. Gen. (retd, abroad): Stresses comprehensive rehabilitation and monitoring of repentant Boko Haram fighters, noting skepticism about their reintegration due to potential recidivism.
• Maj. Gen. (retd, abroad): Calls for identifying terror sponsors, disrupting their financial networks, and sustaining government commitment through intelligence and diplomacy.
• Maj. Olorunbe: Addresses soldier fatigue, urging modernization of weaponry, better training, and improved welfare to boost morale.
• Lt. Col. Gbolawole Majekodunmi (retd): Emphasizes intelligence on insurgent logistics, local language training for troops, and evacuating civilians before operations to minimize casualties.
• Col. Musa Abdulraman (retd): Urges emulating the late Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja’s successes, which included neutralizing key bandit leaders and securing 160,000 insurgent surrenders, through strategic community engagement.
• Dr. Hashim Saludeen (security analyst): Advocates uncovering terror financing pipelines, leveraging repentant fighters’ testimonies, and countering insurgents’ use of technology like drones.
• Okechukwu Nwagunma (RULAAC): Links violence to poverty, unemployment, and corruption, proposing enhanced military presence, community trust-building, and regional cooperation via the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
• Dickson Osagie (security consultant): Recommends community policing, skills acquisition programs, abolishing the almajiri system, and strengthening border controls with technology.

Critical Analysis of the Security Crisis

The resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP, alongside banditry, reflects a complex interplay of factors:

• Intelligence and Coordination Failures: Experts highlight poor intelligence gathering and lack of inter-agency synergy, evidenced by simultaneous attacks on military bases, as noted in X posts claiming Boko Haram seized trillion-naira worth of arms.
• Sophisticated Insurgent Tactics: ISWAP’s use of drones and coordinated assaults, as reported on X, suggests external support, possibly from Sahel-based groups or illicit arms markets.
• Socioeconomic Drivers: Poverty, unemployment, and government neglect fuel recruitment, with vulnerable youths joining extremist groups, as RULAAC noted.
• Porous Borders: The Sahel region, particularly Niger and Mali, facilitates arms and fighter inflows, exacerbated by strained diplomatic ties.
• Rehabilitation Challenges: Over 160,000 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered since 2021, but inadequate monitoring raises concerns about recidivism, as retired generals warned.

Government Response and Challenges

President Tinubu’s administration, through NSA Ribadu, has implemented the “Nuhu Ribadu Formula,” emphasizing intelligence-driven operations, agency coordination, and community engagement. Notable successes include neutralizing 715 terrorists and rescuing 465 kidnap victims in 2024, alongside securing highways like Abuja-Kaduna. However, recent attacks, including ISWAP’s assault on four military bases in Borno within 24 hours, indicate persistent challenges. Tinubu’s April 24, 2025, meeting with security chiefs demanded an overhaul of strategies, with Ribadu noting active presidential oversight. The approval of armed Forest Guards on May 14, 2025, aims to secure forested hideouts, but implementation delays and resource constraints remain concerns.

Public and Political Sentiment

X posts reflect public frustration and alarm, with users like @EmekaGift100 citing Senator Yusuf’s claim that Boko Haram has overpowered the military, while @MalcolmInfiniti criticized the reintegration of repentant fighters. Conversely, @DejiAdesogan and @ZagazOlaMakama highlighted military successes, such as neutralizing terrorists in Malam Fatori and Izge, Borno. The Senate’s motion, backed by figures like Abba Moro and Oyelola Ashiru, underscores bipartisan urgency, though public trust remains strained due to recurring violence.

Recommendations for a Holistic Approach

To address Nigeria’s security crisis, a multi-pronged strategy is essential:

1. Enhanced Intelligence and Technology: Invest in advanced surveillance, drone countermeasures, and real-time intelligence sharing, as suggested by Majekodunmi and Saludeen.
2. Military Modernization: Expand the armed forces, modernize equipment, and address soldier fatigue through welfare improvements, as Bello and Olorunbe proposed.
3. Regional Cooperation: Strengthen MNJTF operations and diplomatic ties with Sahel neighbors to curb arms flows, as Efoziem and Osagie recommended.
4. Socioeconomic Interventions: Implement job creation, education, and infrastructure programs to reduce youth vulnerability, as advocated by RULAAC and the anonymous Major General.
5. Community Engagement: Foster trust through localized policing and dialogue between herders and farmers, as suggested by the retired Major General and Osagie.
6. Robust Reintegration: Enhance monitoring of repentant fighters with transparent rehabilitation programs, as the abroad-based Brigadier General emphasized.
7. Counter-Financing Efforts: Establish a task force to trace terror financing, targeting NGOs and illicit markets, as Bello and Saludeen urged.
8. Legislative Action: Expedite the Forest Security Bill’s assent and ensure adequate funding for Forest Guards, aligning with Senate resolutions.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s fresh wave of terror, claiming over 300 lives in a month, underscores the urgency of comprehensive security reforms. The Senate’s push for the Nigerian Forest Security Service Bill and Forest Guards reflects a proactive step, but success hinges on addressing intelligence gaps, modernizing the military, and tackling socioeconomic root causes. While Tinubu and Ribadu’s efforts show promise, the scale of Boko Haram, ISWAP, and banditry demands sustained political will, regional collaboration, and public trust to restore safety and stability across Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Borno, Benue, and beyond.