A security expert has said that joint and coordinated air strikes involving the United States and Nigeria have yet to achieve their intended objectives in degrading insurgent and terrorist networks operating in parts of the country.
The expert, Dr. Ibrahim Danjuma, a defence and security analyst, made the assertion on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a policy dialogue on counter-insurgency and regional security.
Danjuma said that while air power remained a critical component of modern warfare, available evidence suggested that air strikes alone had not significantly weakened the operational capacity of armed groups in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
According to him, insurgent groups have continued to adapt by dispersing their fighters, blending with civilian populations and relocating to difficult terrains, thereby reducing the overall impact of aerial bombardments.
“Air strikes can disrupt logistics and eliminate high-value targets, but they have not delivered decisive results in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts,” Danjuma said. “The expectation that air power, even with foreign technical support, would quickly neutralise these groups has not materialised.”
He noted that despite reported successes, including the destruction of camps and the killing of some commanders, attacks on civilians and security formations had persisted, indicating gaps in the overall strategy.
The analyst also raised concerns about intelligence limitations, arguing that inaccurate or outdated intelligence could lead to missed targets or unintended consequences, including civilian casualties, which he said often undermined public trust and cooperation.
Danjuma called for a more comprehensive approach that integrates air operations with improved ground intelligence, community engagement and socio-economic interventions.
“Without addressing the root causes such as poverty, unemployment and weak local governance, military action alone will not end insurgency,” he said.
He further urged the Federal Government to strengthen intelligence sharing among security agencies and enhance the capacity of ground troops to hold and stabilise areas after air operations.
Nigeria has, in recent years, intensified air operations against insurgent groups with support from international partners, including the United States, as part of efforts to restore peace in the North-East and other affected regions.
However, Danjuma stressed that sustained peace would require long-term investments in development and governance alongside military measures.