No Insurgent Group More Powerful Than Nigerian Armed Forces, Says Gen. Ijioma (retd)

Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma (retd), a former Director of Military Operations in the Northeast, has strongly asserted that no insurgent group operating in Nigeria possesses superior power to the nation’s Armed Forces. He contended that if such a force existed, it would have long since overthrown the government, attributing the persistence of insecurity to systemic leadership failures rather than the overwhelming strength of non-state actors.

Speaking in an interview published on Monday, June 30, 2025, Gen. Ijioma, who led troops in the bombardment of Sambisa Forest and the recapture of local government areas from Boko Haram, argued that insurgent groups lack critical military capabilities.

“Do you think that there is a force now operating in Nigeria that is more powerful than the armed forces of Nigeria? If we have such force, I must tell you unequivocally that they could have toppled the government and taken over the government as it happened in Afghanistan,” Gen. Ijioma stated. “So, there is no force yet that has the capacity for violence to topple the Nigerian government.”

He emphasized that insurgents do not possess air power, fire targets, or other advanced platforms that are exclusive to the government. According to the retired general, if the government were truly committed to eliminating these elements, they would swiftly become a thing of the past.

Gen. Ijioma squarely placed the blame for Nigeria’s lingering insecurity on “poor leadership” across all levels and institutions. He questioned why Nigerian military personnel consistently perform excellently in international peacekeeping operations but face different challenges domestically, suggesting that the “Nigerian environment is anti-progress” due to leadership shortcomings.

“Every problem we’re having is poor leadership. When you get the leaders who actually have Nigeria at heart, things will change,” he stressed. He further highlighted issues such as perceived preferential treatment in leadership, which he believes erodes the patriotism and willingness to serve among security personnel.

Gen. Ijioma was among 38 senior officers compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Army in 2016. However, the National Industrial Court later nullified his retirement, ordering his reinstatement, a judgment which the army has reportedly not yet complied with. His recent remarks provide a critical insider’s perspective on Nigeria’s ongoing battle against various forms of insurgency and banditry.