Key points

• Terror persists despite reforms and increased funding.

• Overstretched troops struggle to match better-armed insurgents.

• The fight against terror needs manpower and honest reform.

A northern governor has admitted that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and banditry may not end soon, even though President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, are working hard to end the crisis.

The governor spoke during a private conversation, not an official interview. In a calm but serious tone, he shared deep worries about the state of insecurity and the heavy pressure on the military.

“This thing may not end soon,” he said. “The troops are trying, but they are overstretched. Many have been in the battlefront for too long. They are exhausted. And the people they are facing have heavy weapons too.”

Tinubu, Ribadu praised for commitment

Before explaining the problems, the governor gave credit to President Tinubu and NSA Ribadu for their continued efforts.

“To be fair to President Bola Tinubu, he has done a lot and continues to do more in this fight. Anything the military requests, he approves. He funds them and wants this thing to end,” he said.

He said the National Security Adviser’s office has been a strong source of support.

“The help we are getting now is from the office of the NSA. Himself and the President are doing their best,” he added.

However, despite these efforts, attacks and kidnappings continue in many northern states — from Borno and Zamfara to Sokoto — and now threaten to spread into Kwara State in the North Central region.

Troops tired and overstretched

The governor said one major problem is that Nigeria’s soldiers and police are too few to cover all the areas facing attacks.

“The Armed Forces are doing their best, but they are stretched thin,” he said.

He also pointed out that local vigilantes and forest guards who support the military are poorly armed.

“How do you expect forest guards or vigilantes with pump-action rifles to face insurgents carrying AK-47s?” he asked.

He called for more recruitment into the military and police, saying that this is one of the only realistic ways to improve the situation.

But he added that training new recruits takes time. “It will take at least one year and six months before they are fully ready for deployment,” he explained.

‘We know where the bandits are’

The governor agreed with Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, who once said that the government knows where the bandits are hiding.

“It is true. We know where they are. They can be wiped out, but you need more troops and better weapons to do that,” he said.

He added that many of the criminals are not outsiders but people from the same communities they attack.

“Their families and relatives are known within the communities, which makes the fight more complicated,” he said.

The money problem

The governor also revealed a disturbing reality — that the conflict has become a source of income for some people.

“Every security agent deployed to battle insurgency gets some money daily — in some states, about N5,000.

When people start earning from conflict, it changes incentives. Some would not want it to end,” he said.

He said another issue is that some planned military operations are suddenly postponed without clear reasons.

“Meanwhile, villagers flee, kidnappers collect ransoms, and bandits regroup. It’s frustrating because while we wait, our people suffer,” he said sadly.

State police as a possible solution

The governor said state police could help reduce insecurity, even though some Nigerians are against the idea.

“Some are against it, but it appears that is what will help,” he said.

“If the Federal Police are better funded and their numbers increased, they can fight this fight and state police may not be needed.

But as it stands, the Military and Police are overstretched, stressed, and tired.”

A long and painful war

The governor’s comments show how complex Nigeria’s security crisis has become. Despite President Tinubu’s funding, Ribadu’s coordination, and the military’s sacrifices, bandits and terrorists continue to adapt, taking advantage of weaknesses in the system.

“This thing may not end soon,” the governor repeated. His words carried a heavy sense of frustration and worry.

He warned that Nigeria must act fast — not only by buying weapons, but by fixing the deeper issues of poor manpower, corruption, and weak motivation among security forces.

The conversation ended on a somber note. “Our soldiers are brave,” he said. “But bravery alone cannot win this kind of war.”

Though this newspaper has decided not to reveal the governor’s identity — since the conversation was not a formal interview — his words reflect what many officials feel but rarely say in public.

The truth is painful: Nigeria’s war against insurgency is far from over, and unless strong reforms follow, it may drag on for years.