From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said that the resurgence of terrorist attacks in some parts of the country is a result of the absence of a holistic and non-kinetic strategy to address the root cause.
He said that until we embraced a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to the insecurity ravaging the country, military operations and long-term peace would remain difficult to achieve.
He has therefore called for a collaborative effort across all sectors of government, traditional institutions, civil society, and the media to rebuild trust and restore lasting peace in the country.
Abubakar made this known at a media parley with journalists in Abuja.
Responding to questions over the resurgence of terrorist attacks on military locations and villages in some states in the North East, the NAF chief maintained that the war against insurgency cannot be won by the military alone.
“Yes, we have noticed that quite a few Nigerians have lost their lives recently. It’s a complex environment. And the truth is, insurgencies are not solved by the military alone. They take a very long time to address, and the solution lies largely outside kinetic operations.”
The NAF chief, while noting that only 25 per cent of internal security issues can be resolved through the use of force, said 70-75 per cent depend on non-kinetic measures such as governance, education, economic development, and deradicalisation programmes.
“This is based on global research across several conflict zones. Without addressing the root causes of poverty, marginalisation, and unemployment, we will continue to see a resurgence in violence, even after military victories.”
He said what is happening in the North East showed how temporary gains could be lost if civilian governance structures fail to follow up with necessary interventions after a successful military operation.
According to him, “In 2023, the Northeast theatre was relatively quiet, and we redeployed more resources to the Northwest. But now, the Northeast is showing signs of resurgence again. That tells you the problem is deeper than firepower.”
As part of its non-kinetic approach, he said NAF has embarked on medical outreach, educational interventions, and quick-impact projects in communities across affected regions as part of its civil-military relations programme.
“But we can only do so much. This is why we have been engaging with state governors and community leaders to emphasise that sustainable peace requires more than airstrikes.”