Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, has said Nigeria could have curtailed the Boko Haram insurgency in its early stages if the Police Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) established during his tenure had been sustained rather than disbanded.
Okiro made the remarks in an interview with Sunday Sun, as reported by The Sun News on Sunday, July 26, 2026, where he reflected on his time as Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria’s security challenges and the country’s preparedness to combat terrorism.
The retired police chief, who served as Inspector-General from June 1, 2007, to July 24, 2009, argued that dismantling the specialised anti-terrorism unit shortly after he left office weakened Nigeria’s capacity to respond proactively to emerging terrorist threats.
According to him, the decision contributed to the eventual expansion of Boko Haram across different parts of the country.
Speaking about the establishment of the unit, Okiro said he moved quickly after assuming office to strengthen the police force’s counter-terrorism capabilities.
“I remember when I was appointed IG in June 2007. By November, I had already stabilised and created the Police Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). I got them trained in Israel, Egypt, Sudan and South Africa,” he said.
Okiro explained that the selected countries had considerable experience in combating terrorism and were chosen to provide specialised training for members of the newly established squad.
According to him, officers of the ATS received practical instruction on counter-terrorism operations, intelligence gathering and the methods employed by security agencies in those countries to respond to terrorist threats.
He said the objective was to equip Nigerian police personnel with the knowledge and operational skills needed to confront emerging security challenges before they escalated.
Despite those efforts, Okiro said the initiative faced criticism from some quarters within Nigeria.
He attributed the resistance to ethnic, religious and tribal divisions, as well as nepotism, which he argued have continued to undermine national development and effective policymaking.
According to the former IGP, some critics accused him of creating the Anti-Terrorist Squad to target adherents of a particular religion rather than to protect the country from terrorism.
He also recalled that two newspapers published editorials claiming there was no terrorism in Nigeria at the time and alleging that the creation of the ATS was intended to portray the country negatively before the international community.
Okiro said he responded to the criticism by convening a press conference to explain the purpose of the squad and defend both its mandate and his personal integrity.
During the briefing, he emphasized that the ATS was established solely to safeguard Nigerians irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or regional background.
He argued that terrorist attacks do not discriminate among victims, stressing that anyone caught in the vicinity of an explosion or violent attack could be affected.
According to him, Christians, Muslims and Nigerians from every ethnic group—including Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and others—face the same risks when terrorism occurs.
Okiro maintained that the squad was therefore designed to protect all citizens equally and not to target any particular community.
The retired police chief further disclosed that despite the controversy surrounding the initiative, he proceeded with deploying the Anti-Terrorist Squad even though some critical requests did not receive government approval.
He said key budgetary proposals for communication equipment, operational vehicles and other essential logistics were not approved, limiting the resources available to the unit.
Nevertheless, he insisted that the ATS was deployed because of the urgent need to prepare the police force for emerging security threats.
Beyond discussing the creation of the anti-terrorism unit, Okiro also reflected on other aspects of his public service career during the interview.
He spoke about how he joined the Nigeria Police Force and recounted an incident during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State in which he said he prevented an angry crowd, including members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), from attacking a son of the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
The former Inspector-General also shared his views on Nigeria’s current security challenges and broader issues relating to policing, governance and the 2027 general election.
He reiterated his belief that consistent investment in security institutions, specialised training and long-term strategic planning are essential to effectively combating terrorism and other forms of violent crime.
According to Okiro, counter-terrorism requires continuity in policy implementation, warning that dismantling specialized security structures can undermine years of preparation and reduce the country’s ability to respond to evolving threats.
His remarks contribute to the ongoing national debate on security sector reforms and the measures needed to strengthen Nigeria’s response to terrorism.
They also underscore the broader discussion about the importance of sustaining institutional initiatives beyond the tenure of individual public officials to ensure long-term national security objectives are achieved.
