Security analyst Bulama Bukarti has urged the Federal Government not to treat the killing of top terrorist commanders as the end of Nigeria’s insurgency, despite praising recent gains by security agencies.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Bukarti commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Nuhu Ribadu, the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for operations that have resulted in the deaths of several Boko Haram, ISWAP and other extremist group commanders.
He, however, cautioned that terrorist organisations have repeatedly shown the ability to replace fallen leaders and reorganise. Citing the death of former Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, Bukarti noted that many expected the insurgency to end, but the group’s activities continued.
According to him, eliminating senior commanders is a significant operational success but should not be seen as proof that the broader security challenge has been resolved. He called for sustained military pressure, stronger intelligence gathering, enhanced surveillance and closer collaboration with local communities.
Bukarti also urged the government to dismantle the financial, logistical and ideological networks sustaining insurgent groups, arguing that combining military operations with broader counterterrorism strategies is essential to achieving lasting peace and stability.
