Former IGP Mike Okiro Blames Government for Boko Haram's Rise
Former Inspector-General of Police Sir Mike Mbama Okiro has stated unequivocally that the disbandment of the Police Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) he established during his tenure created the conditions for the Boko Haram insurgency to flourish. Okiro, who served as IGP from June 1, 2007 to July 24, 2009, made these claims during an interview with Sunday Sun, pointing to a series of government decisions after his retirement as critical failures.
Creation of the Anti-Terrorist Squad
Okiro revealed that within months of his appointment, he founded the ATS and sent its members for specialized training in Israel, Egypt, Sudan, and South Africa—nations chosen for their established counter-terrorism expertise. He also established an ATS Training School in Rivers State to reduce the cost of overseas training. However, the squad faced immediate public scrutiny. Two newspapers published editorials questioning its purpose, alleging that Okiro had created the unit to target a specific religious group under the guise of counter-terrorism.
"I explained that what I created was for all Nigerians and not for a particular religion or ethnic group because if a bomb is thrown anywhere, anyone within the killing radius of that bomb—whether he's a Christian, Muslim, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba—will be killed," Okiro said.
Government Withheld Funding and Support
The backlash had practical consequences. The government withheld approval for budget lines that would have provided the ATS with communications equipment and vehicles. When Okiro deployed units to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Maiduguri, some state governors requested their withdrawal, and he complied. The lack of funding and political will crippled the squad's effectiveness.
Boko Haram's First Major Attack After Okiro's Retirement
Okiro retired on July 24, 2009. Within weeks, in August 2009, Boko Haram launched its first major attack in Maiduguri, during which its founder Mohammed Yusuf was killed. The group has since spread across Nigeria and into the Lake Chad Basin. Okiro noted that he had been monitoring Yusuf personally before leaving office: "I monitored him from Yobe to Maiduguri. I arrested him a couple of times. If the government had taken action then, the story would have been different."
"Boko Haram couldn't have really happened if the government hadn't stopped what I started," Okiro asserted. He added, "If the government had insisted on the ATS and equipped it, the story would have been different today. It is late now. They have spread all over Nigeria." He also lamented that the ATS Training School in Rivers State appears to no longer be operational, calling its closure "very unfortunate."
Recent Developments: Boko Haram Using AI
Meanwhile, a study cited by The New York Times on July 10, 2026, revealed that Boko Haram fighters are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to support their operations. Researchers found that insurgents used AI-powered chatbots for guidance on battlefield tactics, weapons upgrades, and explosive devices. Analysts warn that while AI may not revolutionize terrorism immediately, it could strengthen lower-level operatives and accelerate the spread of technical knowledge among extremist groups.
Boko Haram Kidnaps Pastor's Family
In a separate incident, suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists stopped a commercial vehicle near Kareto village and forced a pastor's wife and her three children off the bus. The family, targeted because of their religious identity, was traveling to Damasak, where Pastor Moses Guguma leads a COCIN Church. The abducted woman had been discharged from a Maiduguri hospital only days before the attack and was still recovering.
