We Can’t Bomb Terror Out Of Nigeria – Air Marshal Abubakar

Following a phase of relative tranquility in the North East of Nigeria, a revival of attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has rekindled fears throughout Borno and Yobe states. In recent weeks, these militant groups have executed a series of lethal assaults, including bold raids on military bases, resulting in the deaths of soldiers, theft of weapons, and, in some cases, the use of drones in their operations.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, discussed the challenges facing Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts. The Air Chief underscored the cyclical nature of insurgencies and the significant cost of maintaining air dominance in an increasingly intricate battle environment.

“Insurgencies are long-term issues,” he said, noting that the temporary reduction in violence stemmed from intensified military operations in 2023, which prompted mass surrenders. However, as attention shifted to banditry in the North West, insurgents in the North East reorganized. “The impression was that the North East had stabilized, but clearly, the threat remains,” Abubakar stated.

He explained that military efforts alone can address only about 25 to 30 percent of the insecurity. The remainder, he emphasized, requires non-kinetic approaches tackling poverty, unemployment, and lack of meaningful engagement, which are root causes of radicalization. “Even when the military achieves success, without the whole-of-society approach, those efforts can quickly unravel,” he cautioned.

He also stressed the importance of enhanced civil-military relations, revealing that the NAF has started working with state governments to implement community outreach programs, such as free healthcare and educational initiatives.

Regarding the financial burden of air operations, Abubakar disclosed staggering costs. “A single missile fired from our Chinese-made UAV costs $150,000, and the bomb it carries costs around $95,000,” he revealed. These figures exclude maintenance, fueling, or training, which can elevate operational costs to between $10,000 and $30,000 per flight. “Running the Air Force is extremely expensive,” he said.

With terrorists now using drones against Nigerian forces, concerns have grown about the NAF’s ability to counter such threats. Abubakar acknowledged that adversaries are becoming more advanced, adapting commercial drones for combat. He highlighted a pressing need for investment in radar coverage and artificial intelligence. Nigeria currently lacks a comprehensive military radar network, which limits monitoring of low- and mid-level airspace critical for drone detection.

“We need a comprehensive military radar coverage that can detect any unauthorized object in our airspace; low, mid, or high level. Unfortunately, we don’t have that yet,” he said. However, he noted that smaller counter-drone systems have been deployed in some military locations.

The Air Chief also shared that the NAF is partnering with international institutions to develop local expertise in emerging technologies. A recent Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the University of Bradford’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence to train Nigerian personnel and advance research into AI-driven defense solutions.

Addressing concerns about delays in providing air support during ground attacks, such as the recent terrorist ambush in Marte, Borno State, the Air Marshal identified coordination as a persistent challenge. He noted that synergy among services is improving but admitted more progress is needed. To address this, the NAF has established an Air-Ground Integration School to train personnel from other services for seamless operational collaboration.

On manpower, Abubakar stated that while recruitment has been authorized, the true challenge lies in ensuring sufficient training, housing, and long-term administration. “Recruiting is easy; managing the consequences of mass enlistment is the difficult part. We must avoid bringing in individuals who cannot be properly trained or integrated,” he cautioned.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli