Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, the extremist group was better armed than the Nigerian military. He described the crisis as one of the darkest and most complex chapters in the nation’s history, stressing that external forces played a major role in fuelling the violence. Jonathan spoke on Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Abuja during the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book written by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd).
The former president explained that while Nigeria had previously faced security challenges such as militancy in the Niger Delta and outbreaks of ethno-religious violence, Boko Haram was in a different category. Its extremist ideology, foreign backing, and access to advanced weaponry made it a far greater threat.
He also recalled that the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls remained one of the most painful moments of his administration, a tragedy that left an unforgettable scar on the nation. Drawing from his experience with Niger Delta militants, Jonathan stressed that dialogue and community development must complement military action. He argued that while force was necessary, peace could not be achieved without addressing poverty, unemployment, and social injustice that make young people vulnerable to extremist recruitment.
Jonathan praised Gen. Irabor for documenting his insights, saying the book would help future leaders understand the true complexity of insurgency in Nigeria and avoid repeating past mistakes. The event was attended by several dignitaries including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, former National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, service chiefs, ministers, diplomats, and traditional rulers.
