Terrorism in Nigeria - Boko Haram, Bandits and Broken Local Government

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Nigeria is facing a dangerous escalation of terrorism and mass kidnappings, with armed groups exploiting weak governance, porous borders, and ungoverned spaces. In this in depth conversation, security and conflict expert Murtala Abdullahi, who specializes in the Lake Chad region, examines how terror networks, including Boko Haram factions and criminal bandit groups, are expanding their reach across Nigeria.

The discussion explores the takeover of national parks and forest reserves as safe havens for militants, the collapse of effective local government authority, and evolving trends in mass abductions for ransom. Beyond Nigeria’s borders, the conversation analyzes the regional spillover, warning of growing instability in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Benin Republic as extremist groups push further into coastal West Africa.

This episode breaks down what the data shows, why existing security strategies are failing, and what the rising wave of violence means for Nigeria and the wider region if urgent reforms are not undertaken