Nigeria's persistent struggle with terrorism, banditry, and widespread violence cannot be resolved through military might alone, a leading legal expert has declared. The solution must be firmly rooted in robust legal systems, efficient justice delivery, and accountable governance.
A Multidimensional Threat Demands a Multidimensional Response
This powerful assertion was made by Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, during a public lecture at the 40th convocation ceremony of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. The event, held on 18 December 2025 at the institution's Assembly Hall, North Campus, saw Akinboro address graduands, faculty, and guests.
Speaking on the theme “Legal Framework and Strategies for Addressing Terrorism, Banditry and Insurgency in Nigeria – A Multidimensional Approach,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria provided a critical examination of the nation's security challenges. He stated that the unending cycle of violence highlights significant failures in legal enforcement, institutional coordination, and the administration of justice.
Akinboro noted that despite continuous military campaigns against groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), violent insecurity has metastasized. It now encompasses rampant banditry, kidnapping for ransom, deadly clashes between farmers and herders, and sophisticated cross-border criminal networks. This spread, he argued, proves that terrorism in Nigeria is a complex, multidimensional threat that cannot be defeated on the battlefield alone.
The Central Role of Law and Justice in National Security
“The use of force is necessary, but it is not sufficient. Without law, justice and accountable institutions, military victories will remain temporary and fragile,” Akinboro warned. He identified the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 as Nigeria's foremost legal instrument against terror, praising its comprehensive definitions of offences, criminalisation of financing, and mechanisms for inter-agency coordination.
However, he cautioned that the law's potential is severely undermined by poor enforcement, unjustifiably delayed prosecutions, and human rights abuses that erode public confidence. Terrorism thrives where justice is weak, he emphasised, adding that the failure to properly investigate and prosecute offenders only emboldens criminal networks and fuels radicalisation.
An effective strategy, according to Akinboro, must guarantee credible investigations, speedy trials, and proportionate punishments that serve as a genuine deterrent. He also spotlighted the critical importance of leveraging financial intelligence and cybercrime laws to dismantle the economic lifelines of terrorist organisations, stating that disrupting money flows is as vital as confronting fighters.
Addressing Root Causes and Structural Flaws
Moving beyond the courtroom, Akinboro connected the dots between insecurity and socioeconomic despair. He identified poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion as fundamental drivers of extremism, warning that sustainable peace will remain out of reach unless the government tackles these root causes through inclusive development and targeted social policies.
On structural reforms, the SAN critiqued Nigeria's overly centralised security architecture, arguing it hampers effective grassroots enforcement. He advocated for properly regulated, decentralised, and community-based policing initiatives to improve local intelligence gathering and threat response.
In his concluding remarks, Akinboro reiterated that Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts must be holistic, integrating military action with the rule of law, justice delivery, and socioeconomic development. “Without placing law and justice at the centre of security policy, terrorism and banditry will continue to undermine national stability,” he concluded.
The Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, thanked Akinboro for the insightful lecture. The convocation ceremonies were scheduled to continue the following day, Friday.
