Dalena Reporters l December 26, 2025
A retired United States Army Captain, Bish Johnson, has cautioned that Nigeria’s longstanding security crisis cannot be solved through a single military strike, arguing that the nation’s multifaceted insecurity problem demands sustained, strategic and internally-led responses rather than isolated actions, especially in light of recent foreign military involvement. Johnson made the remarks during an interview on ARISE News following the announcement of United States airstrikes in northwest Nigeria targeting militant groups, which have sparked intense national and international debate.
Johnson emphasised that while precision strikes can disrupt armed groups temporarily, they are insufficient to resolve the deep-rooted causes of violence and banditry that plague Nigeria, including porous borders, weak security infrastructure, coordination challenges among agencies, and socio-economic drivers of extremism. He argued that lasting peace requires a comprehensive strategy that combines military, intelligence, community engagement, socio-economic development, and improved governance, rather than relying solely on episodic external military interventions.
His comments reflect a broader national conversation about the role of foreign military action in Nigeria’s security landscape, with critics warning that isolated strikes may neither deter insurgents nor address the complex tapestry of criminal networks, and could potentially inflame existing tensions if not paired with robust local security reforms and sustained government leadership.
The warning comes amid ongoing responses to the recent US-coordinated operation, and underscores the widely shared view among security analysts and observers that Nigeria’s security solutions must be long-term, multi-layered, and domestically driven to achieve meaningful impact.