Why military alone can’t defeat terrorism – Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has emphasized that Nigeria cannot rely solely on military operations and law enforcement to end violent extremism and terrorism in the North-West.

Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day regional summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Kaduna, the governor highlighted the deeper social and economic roots of insecurity in the region.

According to him, challenges such as poverty, inequality, exclusion, poor governance, and limited opportunities for young people continue to fuel violent extremism.

Recall that the Nigerian government has factored in these root causes, splitting its counterterrorism operations into two kinetic and non-kinetic.

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The summit jointly organised by PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) and the PAVE Network, in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), brought together security officials, policymakers and civil society actors. It is supported by NEYIF and funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

Represented by his Commissioner for Internal Security, Sule Shuaibu, Governor Sani described violent extremism as one of the gravest threats to human security and national development. He said it has displaced families, eroded livelihoods, disrupted education and destroyed public trust.

“We must adopt a holistic and coordinated response,” he said, emphasising inclusivity, justice and respect for human rights.

The National Counter Terrorism Centre Coordinator, Adamu Laka, echoed Governor Sani’s view, calling for a community-driven and intelligence-led approach.

Mr Laka cited porous borders, climate-induced conflicts, and weak governance as factors fueling insecurity.

Meanwhile, PAVE Steering Committee Chair, Jaiye Gaskiya, insisted that restoring full autonomy to local governments was crucial, arguing that grassroots governance is the most accountable and responsive to citizens’ needs.

These concerns raised by the governor and Mr Laka have been capitalised upon by terror kingpins such Bello Turji who claimed to be fighting against the marginalisation and ill-treatment of the Fulanis.

The first generation of bandits, known as Kungiyar Gayu, also exploited the Fulani grievances. They claimed to have picked arms to stop cattle rustling. But the movement later lost its focus, engaging in thefts they set out to curb.

This led to confrontations between them and the outlawed Yansakai vigilantes who did not only target the criminal bandits, but also the innocent Fulanis, a situation that triggered more Fulanis to pick arms and turn the burgeoning banditry industry into a sustained enterprise.