The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has emphasized how terrorism has provided a shield for other criminal activities like political assassinations, kidnapping, armed robbery, and violent crimes. He made these remarks at the 3rd Counter-terrorism and Counter-insurgency Seminar, held in Abuja and organized by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Speaking through Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, Deputy Chief of Operations (Army), Lagbaja presented a paper titled, "Over a Decade of Terrorism, Insurgency, Counter-Terrorism, and Counter-Insurgency in Nigeria: An Appraisal." He noted that Nigeria continues to battle various forms of insurgencies across its six geo-political zones, with terrorists using violence to push their agendas.
Citing a 2023 report from Statista, Lagbaja highlighted that Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest terrorism threat levels worldwide. He pointed to the activities of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) in the North-East, initially focused on establishing a physical caliphate but now extending their operations into the digital realm.
Lagbaja also noted the involvement of other groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-East, which is pushing for a secessionist agenda. He expressed concern that terrorism in Nigeria has created a cover for other crimes, with armed robbers using it as an excuse to rob banks and politically motivated assassins operating under the guise of terrorist groups.
This ongoing security challenge, he stressed, has contributed to increased instability and violence across the country.
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