Nigeria is teetering on the edge of a full-blown security collapse as heavily armed foreign militants continue to flood the country’s porous borders, security experts and intelligence officials are warning with increasing urgency.
In what has been described as a “silent invasion,” seasoned fighters — many expelled from the conflict-ravaged Central African Republic — are entering Nigeria in significant numbers.
These fighters, battle-hardened in the brutal terrains of Libya and indoctrinated with extremist ideologies, are not mere bandits but trained insurgents skilled in guerrilla warfare.
“They are moving methodically southward, establishing operational bases across Nigeria and neighboring countries such as Niger Republic, Mali, Cameroon, and, most recently, Benin Republic,” a senior intelligence official disclosed under anonymity. “This is an organized and strategic occupation. Nigeria is alarmingly unprepared.”
The gravity of the threat is reflected in a string of recent high-profile kidnappings and killings. Along the notorious Abuja-Kaduna highway, a relative of an NYSC official was abducted and later murdered despite ransom payments.
Similarly, in February, Dr. Kunle Adeniji, a national director of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was kidnapped in Abuja with his family. Despite a ransom being paid, Dr. Adeniji was killed.
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“We are witnessing a terrifying new reality where ransom no longer guarantees survival,” said human rights advocate Aisha Bello. “The terrorists now operate with absolute impunity.”
Security concerns deepened after militants attacked a military base in neighboring Benin Republic, killing soldiers and looting weapons — arms that intelligence officials fear could soon be used to escalate violence inside Nigeria.
Reports have also surfaced about an extremist group known as Mahmuda establishing a presence near Baruten in Kwara State, dangerously close to major Nigerian urban centers.
Security analysts warn that Nigeria’s crisis is not merely external. Insiders allege that some political and religious figures are providing cover for these militants, either out of ethnic loyalty or ideological sympathy.
“Some elements within the security establishment prioritize tribal or religious affiliations over national duty,” said a former senior intelligence officer. “This betrayal is magnifying the threat.”
A former state governor, previously accused of enabling extremist violence during his tenure, is reportedly positioning himself for a national leadership role, raising alarm about deeper complicity at the highest levels of government.
Meanwhile, amid the worsening situation, many Nigerians continue to place overwhelming reliance on prayers as their main defense — a posture security experts deem dangerously insufficient.
“If prayer alone could protect nations, Israel and Saudi Arabia wouldn’t spend billions on military technology,” observed security analyst Abdul Musa. “Faith must be fortified with strategy, technology, and national willpower.”
Political analyst Chidi Okeke described the situation in stark terms: “This is not isolated violence or random banditry. It’s a sustained, low-intensity war aimed at destabilizing and eventually carving out control of Nigerian territory.”
The militants’ brazenness is growing. Farmers, travelers, and urban residents alike are increasingly becoming victims, with fears mounting that major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt could soon be within reach of militant operations.
“National survival is at stake,” warned a retired army general. “We must act with unity, urgency, and unwavering will. Delay will only mean handing over a broken, bleeding nation to future generations.”