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Shekau’s Capture and Implication for National Security

Published

8 years ago

July 28, 2017

If I had any doubt that it is end game for Boko Haram madman, Abubakar Shekau, it has disappeared with the vow of a 37-year-old Islamic cleric, Ali Ahmad to trek the whole 844 kilometers from Maiduguri to Abuja. Recent history teaches us that people make such declarations when they sense a definite outcome. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had a few days ago handed a 40-day deadline to the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, to capture Shekau.

The directive came at a time when remnant of the terror group made a renewed desperate push to revive their terror attacks. Only that previous claims of attacks on soft targets have now been proven beyond reasonable doubt. There is equally the desperation on the part of the group to claim or accept responsibility for any violence that they can lay claim to. If it were possible, Boko Haram will claim responsibility for the spate of flooding that has ravaged some cities.

Shekau’s capture, which is now certain, will have ramifications for national security. It must first be noted that the emphasis is on “capture” and not killed. There have been several instances of kills that were soon made doubtful once “another” Shekau make video appearances of releases audio messages. This has prompted speculations of the use of body-doubles by the evil terrorists or suggestions that “Shekau” has become like a title for Boko Haram, which a subsequent successor inherits once the previous occupant gets killed. There have also been talks that the Boko Haram leader trick fighters who bear physical resemblance with him into taking the fall each time the Army closes in.

The equally notorious leader of ISIS, Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi, left the world in similar uncertainty as it remains unclear if he died in a Russian airstrike as reported. It therefore becomes crucial that a terrorist as evil as Shekau is captured alive for humanity to get closure that the piece of thrash has been subtracted from circulation. It does not matter if it is another make-believe Shekau that is captured since, like the peeling of an onion to reveal another layer, the capture of any Shekau is one step closer to moving to another phase of the anti-terror operation in the north-east of Nigeria.

For a start, Shekau’s capture will signal an end to the brutal existence of his faction of Boko Haram, which has so far outdone even the repulsive ISIS in brutal barbarism. The Al-Barnawi faction is child’s play compared to the deranged criminality committed by Shekau and those that pledged loyalty to him. As have been seen with the Islamic State, taking its entrenched leader out of circulation would produce degree of infighting led by possible successors who would then undermine and decimate each other and consequently make the job of the military easier. There is however the outside chance that factions would simply break away and pursue a milder form of the madness they have learnt from Shekau, which means there would then be more groups to contend albeit less violent.

Secondly, capturing Shekau would provide a treasure throve of information that would be useful in dismantling his group’s various cells. He should be able to reveal cells that may not be sufficiently known to law enforcement and security. A bundled plus to this is that more of his straggling fighters should become more amenable to surrendering once the demagogue they look unto for inspiration to murder people is busy singing tunes in captivity. The military must put in place contingency plans for managing a possible uptick in the number of Boko Haram fighters that would rush to surrender once their supremo is nabbed.

This implies that the Americans might have made a mistake by killing al-Qaeda’s Osama bin Laden. Had the goal been taking him into custody as directed in Shekau’s case perhaps they would unravel other facts around his network and possibly get indications on how to tackle ISIS. What if Shekau is able to tell Nigerians the very neighbors that have allowed him free passage to enjoy his life outside Sambisa forest?

The military must prepare for an onslaught of propaganda. Shekau survived this long in the wild not because he is one deft military strategist but because he has allegedly been and is still the beneficiary of support and backing from persons that are highly placed politically, reportedly some of them are serving state officials. The strategy used for dispatching Muhammed Yusuf, Boko Haram’s founder while in police custody will not work under an Army that follows international best practices in its rules of engagement. It must therefore be expected that there will be spirited efforts to discredit not just the revelations Shekau would have to make but there will also be concerted propaganda to discredit the military so that those that would be indicted by the terrorist’s confessions would have excuses to exonerate themselves.

The alternative is for many Nigerian politicians to run away from the country if Shekau is eventually captured alive and made to call the names of his sponsors, partners and the many Boko Haram members that openly blend with government without the people knowing.
The military would therefore do well to begin building fact sheets at this point. Not just of the atrocities committed by Shekau and his Boko Haram killers but they should similarly build up details about persons that intelligence gathering has placed in the same circle as the terrorists, who for now cannot be held to account either for lack of overwhelming evidence or because of political sensitivity. Shekau’s capture will unravel whatever cover such persons had wrongly thought they had. The media must be brought in as partners for national interest in this regard since there is the danger that evil Abubakar Shekau would be reported into becoming a celebrity as experienced in the case of notorious kidnapper, Evans, who was nauseatingly referred to as “billionaire kidnapper”. If national interest matters to us, a captured Shekau must not be allowed to write this story.
Shekau may be the most virulent of the terrorists tormenting Nigeria and his capture requires that the authorities promptly channel attention to the other warlords that are either warring against the nation or are calling their followers to take up arms.

There is Al-Barnawi of the other equally toxic Boko Haram faction, there is the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) is waiting in the wings to replace Boko Haram, separatist groups like IPOB and MASSOB in the southeast and militants in the Niger-Delta. Neither the operation leading to Shekau’s capture nor the euphoria that will come with success should be allowed to distract from the danger that these other terrorists constitute to the land. Where possible simultaneous plans should be put in place for immediate implementation towards countering the threats posed by such.

Once these and other implications of Shekau’s capture for national security are appropriately assessed and addressed, more Nigerians would likely announce the distances they will trek to show appreciation that this blot on national life is finally being wiped off. The entire world has been quaking since Buratai gave that order and without any conspiracy the end of Shekau will reveal more than necessary in the days ahead.

Philip Agbese , a human rights researcher with the Global Amnesty Watch sent in this piece from the United Kingdom.

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Kwara: BDC operator jailed for rejecting Naira, operating without licence

Published

3 days ago

January 22, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A 46-year-old Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Muhammed Inuwa, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment for refusing to accept the Naira as legal tender and for operating without a valid licence.

Inuwa was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after the court found him guilty of a two-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, MUHAMMED INUWA, on or about the 25th Day of July, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, refused to accept Naira (Nigeria legal tender) by accepting the sum of $100 Dollar (One Hundred Dollar) as a means of payment of purchase of a Jallabiya (a loose fitting traditional garment) and a Wrist Watch and thereby committed an them contrary to and punishable under Section 20 (5) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

Similarly, the second count of the charge reads: “That you, MUHAMMED INUWA, sometime between the months of July 2024 to December 2024 in Lokoja, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did carry on other financial business to wit: Bureau De Change Business, without a valid license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria contrary to Section 57 (5) of the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5) (b) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Innocent Mbachie, called the investigating officer, Babatunde Olotu, to review the facts of the case and outline the circumstances surrounding the defendant’s arrest. Mbachie thereafter urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant in line with his plea bargain agreement dated January 15, 2026.

In his judgment, Justice Awogboro found the defendant guilty as charged and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, with an option of a fine of ₦250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) on each count.

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Students’ Protest: Kwara Poly Shut Over NYSC Camp Location

Published

3 days ago

January 22, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has been shut down following an unrest that broke out on the campus over the use of the institution as a temporary orientation camp for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The Polytechnic management said the decision to shut the institution was based on the directive of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to safeguard lives and property after the students protested a management-approved short break in order to allow smooth conduct of the NYSC orientation exercise.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Registrar, AbdulHafis Amin, the management explained that the state government had earlier designated the Polytechnic as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in Kwara State.

According to the statement, previous orientation exercises did not disrupt academic activities because students were either on break or had not fully resumed. However, the current NYSC exercise coincided with full academic activities, prompting management to approve a three-week break for the students, effective Monday, January 19, 2026.

“The decision was taken to properly manage the situation and prevent any breakdown of law and order during the orientation camp,” the statement said.

Management, however, noted that some students opposed the break, arguing that they had just returned from the Christmas and New Year holidays. The disagreement reportedly escalated, leading to tension at the institution’s main gate and the intervention of the police.

While the police were invited to restore order, the Polytechnic management alleged that some officers exceeded their brief by firing tear gas into the campus, including student hostels.

“Unfortunately, tear gas canisters were thrown into the Polytechnic premises, affecting students and staff, including our Chief Security Officer who sustained injuries,” the statement added.

Following the incident, Governor AbdulRazaq ordered the immediate closure of the Polytechnic to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of the campus community.

The management appealed to students, staff and other stakeholders to remain calm, assuring that discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities to resolve the matter quickly.

“We call on all members of the Polytechnic community to remain calm and cooperative as efforts are being made to address the situation amicably,” the Acting Registrar said.

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Kwarapoly Authorities Slammed Over Disruption Of NYSC Camp Operations

Published

3 days ago

January 22, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The actions of officials of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, in disrupting access to facilities being used for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp have continued to attract widespread public condemnation.

It would be recalled that the Kwara State Government had approved the temporary use of part of the polytechnic campus as the NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state. The facility, which had been abandoned for several years, and later renovated by the state government, has now been used for the orientation exercise on more than three occasions.

Tension reportedly erupted on Tuesday when access to the facility was blocked following a protest involving students who were said to be unaware of the broader circumstances surrounding the camp’s continued use, resulting in temporary disruption of camping activities.

Allegations are rife in some quarters that some senior officials of the institution, including the Rector and the Chief Security Officer, are opposed to the state government’s directive to release the facility for the orientation course. Although the institution had initially remained silent, it later issued a press release explaining its position.

In the statement dated 20 January 2026 and signed by the Acting Registrar, AbdulHafis Amin, the management of Kwara State Polytechnic said the institution was designated as a temporary NYSC camp because of security concerns in the state. The management noted that during the first and second orientation exercises at the facility, students were either on break or had not fully resumed. However, it stated that students were fully in session during the current exercise.

To manage the situation and prevent a breakdown of law and order, the management said it granted students a three-week break effective Monday, 19 January 2026, to facilitate the smooth conduct of the orientation course. It added that some students reacted negatively to the directive, leading to tension that required police intervention.

According to the release, the police initially attempted to disperse the crowd at the main gate of the polytechnic, but some officers allegedly threw tear gas canisters into the campus, including student hostels. The action reportedly affected several students and staff, including the institution’s Chief Security Officer who was said to have sustained injuries.

The statement further disclosed that the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, subsequently directed the closure of the polytechnic to ensure the safety of lives and property. The management appealed to students, staff and stakeholders to remain calm as discussions continue with relevant authorities to resolve the matter.

However, the management’s explanation has continued to draw criticism from members of the public and civil society groups. Some stakeholders described the press release as belated and an afterthought aimed at damage control.

Critics argued that the three-week orientation course would not have significantly disrupted academic activities, noting that students’ engagement areas are located far from the NYSC camp venue and that clear demarcations exist between both facilities.

They also stressed that the Governor, as the chief security officer of the state, issued the directive in the interest of public safety and that it should have been complied with fully by the institution’s principal officers.

Stakeholders further criticised what they described as an attempt to undermine a proactive security measure taken to protect young Nigerian graduates. They argued that rather than support the government’s effort to safeguard corps members, the actions of the institution’s leadership created avoidable tension and risk.

Civil society groups have, therefore, called on the polytechnic management to align with the state government’s decision and prioritise the welfare and safety of corps members, noting that the NYSC scheme remains a national asset that should not be politicized or subjected to internal institutional disputes.

They also urged the Kwara State Government to engage the institution’s leadership decisively to prevent a recurrence and ensure that future orientation exercises are not disrupted..