CHALLENGES OF MILITARY OPERATION IN NIGERIA’S NORTH EAST GEO POLITICAL ZONE: TOWARD EVOLVING ALTERNATIVE COUNTER INSURGENCY FRAMEWORK

Abstract

This research work examines the challenges of Military Operations in the Nigeria’s North East geopolitical zone from 2009 to 2023. Agency theory serves as the theoretical framework, predominantly employing a secondary method of data collection. The study explores various strategies employed by the military over time, such as the "stick and carrot" approach, enemy-centric approach, population-centric approach, and "weed and seed" strategy, yielding moderate success the study reveals that the challenges afflicting the military operations in the north-east region are manifold. Chief among them are the nature of military training and orientation, the political economy of the conflict, the lack of modern technology, and international politics, among others. The paper recommends a re-orientation of soldiers engaged in internal security operations, as well as a similar re-orientation of the general populace. The military should undergo specialized training for internal operations prior to engagement, and ongoing re-training to effectively address the sophisticated global threats of today. This necessitates concrete domestic legislation to govern the military's internal operations. The military should be granted legal status and cease to function solely as a set of guidelines. This status must empower the military to employ maximum force against individuals who pose a threat to national security, while adhering to established legal and ethical norms.