The Nigerian military's ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the northeast have come under scrutiny as reports emerge of Boko Haram insurgents regrouping and reclaiming portions of the Sambisa Forest, their long-established stronghold.
Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in coordinated attacks across multiple communities in Borno State, including Marte, Rann, and Gajiram, raising fresh concerns about the effectiveness of current military strategies despite years of sustained efforts to eliminate the threat.
Renewed Insurgent Activities Spark Concern
In Marte, near the Lake Chad region, insurgents executed a brazen ambush on a military convoy earlier this month, reportedly causing significant casualties and damaging military assets. Simultaneously, Rann, a town with proximity to the Cameroon border, suffered raids that left homes looted and residents displaced.
Gajiram in Nganzai Local Government Area also experienced attacks on military formations, with residents reporting prolonged gunfire exchanges and explosions that heightened panic among local populations.
These incidents demonstrate Boko Haram's persistent capability to launch well-coordinated strikes despite the military's intensified air and ground operations in the region.
Expert Analysis on Military Strategy
Retired Nigerian Army officer, Captain Abdullahi Adamu Bakoji, while commending the military's courage, has raised significant concerns about the sustainability of current tactical approaches.
"The current offensive of attacking Sambisa forest, killing a few hundreds of Boko Haram fighters while the rest run away, and the boots return to camp—this will give them room to return to the forest," Bakoji warned in an interview.
The security expert explained that insurgents have adapted their tactics, developing methods to evade military operations, including hiding in dugouts to escape aerial bombardment. He emphasized the need for more sophisticated weaponry and advanced intelligence-gathering capabilities for the Nigerian armed forces.
Call for Permanent Security Presence
Bakoji advocated for a fundamental shift in strategy, emphasizing the critical importance of establishing a permanent military presence in Sambisa Forest and other vulnerable zones.
"The government must, after the victory, create as many military bases as possible to prevent Boko Haram and related elements from taking refuge in the forest," he stated, highlighting that temporary offensives without sustained occupation allow surviving fighters to regroup and reclaim lost territory.
Security analysts have noted that while the Nigerian military has achieved significant gains—liberating towns, rescuing captives, and dismantling terrorist cells—the insurgency has proven difficult to completely eliminate due to Boko Haram's adaptability and exploitation of ungoverned spaces.
As the military continues its operations, the government faces mounting pressure to develop more comprehensive and sustainable approaches to addressing the persistent security challenges in Nigeria's northeast region.
