Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the prolonged fight against Boko Haram, noting that the insurgency has now lasted longer than Nigeria’s 1967–1970 Civil War.
Obasanjo made the remark while assessing the country’s security challenges, stressing that it was troubling that a conflict involving a non-state armed group had outlasted a full-scale war between the Nigerian government and the defunct Biafra Republic.
According to him, the duration of the insurgency reflects deeper issues within the nation’s security architecture and governance, requiring urgent and comprehensive reforms.
He explained that while the civil war ended in less than three years despite its magnitude and the level of military mobilisation, Nigeria has battled Boko Haram for more than a decade with no clear end in sight.
The former president, who has been vocal about national unity and security, warned that the protracted conflict continues to undermine development, displace communities, and stretch the country’s military resources.
He emphasised the need for a multidimensional approach that goes beyond military action, including addressing poverty, unemployment, and other root causes that fuel extremism.
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Obasanjo also called for stronger regional cooperation with neighbouring countries, as well as better intelligence gathering and community engagement to curb the spread of terror groups in the Northeast.
The Boko Haram insurgency, which began in 2009, has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and beyond, disrupting social and economic life in affected regions.
As the conflict persists, Obasanjo urged leaders at all levels to demonstrate the political will and commitment necessary to restore lasting peace and stability in the country.
