Nigeria, IOM Seek Greater Collaboration Against Irregular Migration

By: Michael Mike

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said Nigeria is poised to forge better collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in tackling migration crisis,

This is as she attributed the spate of illegal migration of Nigerians to the country’s huge demography explaining that over 70 per cent of the nation’s population was under 40 and they needed employment.

The Minister expressed the willingness of the federal government when the Deputy Director-General (Operations) for the International Organisation for Migration, Ms. Ugochi Florence Daniels, paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Abuja.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that Diaspora is one of the major planks of the President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy approach comprising Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development, otherwise christened 4-Ds.

She highlighted the government’s focus on citizen diplomacy following its concern about the welfare of the over 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora, noting that Nigeria’s very vibrant diaspora plays very important role in the nation’s economy by driving development.

The minister while highlighting the contributions of millions of Nigerian migrants in diaspora, equally emphasised the need for IOM to promote positive narratives on migration, stating that the country has sustained campaign to dispel the myth about greener pastures which according to her was the driver of irregular migration.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, therefore, acknowledged the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and IOM in addressing concerns relating to vulnerable migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

She applauded IOM’s strategic direction to save lives and protect people on the move, drive solutions to displacement and facilitate pathways for regular migration.

The minister further acknowledged the recent assistance by IOM in responding to the severe displacement due to flooding in some parts of the country especially Niger State where it deployed a rapid response team to support data collection, conduct initial damage assessment and provide emergency shelter kits and non-food items packages to support up 1000 most vulnerable families.

In view of the financial challenges currently facing the Organisation, the minister highlighted the need to initiate and execute programmes that address existential needs of persons of concern to IOM, in line with national priorities.

Disclosing that the government was taking necessary measures to fulfil its financial obligation to IOM, she urged the Organisation to ensure harmonisation of activities with Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other International Organisations. She, then, urged that the body leverages its global status to engender novel financial partnership from non-traditional donors.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further said that as part of the UN80 Reform Initiative, Nigeria was willing to host International Organisations/UN Operations that are relocating from Geneva or New York.

Currently, IOM Nigeria is implementing a programme titled: “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria” (PBMM), funded by the European Union to assist Government in the areas of Managing Irregular Migration through Immigration and Border Management, Migration Data, Policy and Labour Migration and Diaspora Mobilisation.

Earlier, the Deputy Director General of IOM, Ugochi Florence Daniels reassured the Organisation’s commitment to the government and people of Nigeria.

She said that Nigeria was number one in returns as no fewer than 70,000 irregular migrants had been returned to the country by the IOM while about 27,000 were reintegrated in the society through its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (AVRR).

Daniels said the Organisation was dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for all migrants and accelerating the transformative initiatives to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

“We have a very comprehensive intervention in Nigeria. We count on your continued support for the work of IOM in Nigeria,” she said.

Nigeria, IOM Seek Greater Collaboration Against Irregular Migration

Ribadu and the fall of Ansaru

By Senator Iroegbu

Nigeria’s security landscape has begun to shift. Terrorists are surrendering, warlords are falling, oil production is recovering, and communities once silenced by fear are slowly reclaiming public space. The latest and perhaps most consequential breakthrough is the capture of two of the most notorious terrorist kingpins in northern Nigeria. The resilience and determination of the Nigerian people in the face of such challenges are genuinely inspiring.

After months of painstaking intelligence work, Nigerian security forces apprehended Mahmud Muhammad Usman, the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Malam Mahmuda)—the mastermind of the Mahmuda terrorist group that had long tormented Borgu, a geo-cultural region stretching across Niger, Kebbi, northern Kwara, and spilling into the Benin Republic. Their arrest has effectively dismantled the command structure of the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru group, notorious for kidnappings, assassinations, and extremist propaganda. For years, Ansaru posed a unique threat—blending local grievances with global jihadist networks, staging ambushes on highways, and attacking security convoys with deadly precision.

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu deserves enormous credit for steering this operation with quiet resolve. Working in concert with the armed forces and intelligence agencies, Ribadu helped deliver what is already being described as one of Nigeria’s most consequential counter-terrorism successes. In a climate where victories against terror too often feel fleeting, the neutralisation of Ansaru’s leadership stands as a rare and decisive breakthrough. Public affairs analyst Farooq Kperogi aptly described it as “a visible, heartening crack in the wall of impunity that these blood-sucking monsters of depravity had built for themselves.”

Of course, terror will not vanish overnight. Ansaru’s lieutenants remain scattered, and other criminal syndicates continue to plague highways, villages, and farmlands. But the symbolism of this victory is profound: Nigeria has shown that with patience, intelligence, and coordination, even the most entrenched terror networks can be cut down.

This progress builds on broader gains since mid-2023. According to official data, between May 2023 and early 2025, security forces neutralised more than 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals, while over 124,000 insurgents and their families surrendered. More than 11,000 hostages were freed and 3,843 illegal refineries dismantled, choking off vital lifelines of both terror and economic sabotage.

In the North West, the phenomenon of mass abductions has declined sharply, aided by the elimination of notorious bandit warlords like Ali Kachalla, Halilu Sububu, and Boderi. The North East theatre, once dominated by Boko Haram and ISWAP, has seen insurgent capacity steadily degrade, with fighters surrendering in their thousands—a scenario unimaginable just a few years ago.

In the Niger Delta, oil production has rebounded to 1.8 million barrels per day, the highest in years, after a concerted clampdown on oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Meanwhile, in the South East, the once-feared “sit-at-home” orders imposed by armed separatists are losing their grip, with commercial and social life gradually returning.

Nigeria has also moved to secure its virtual borders. Cybercrime crackdowns and the rollout of the Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan reflect a recognition that the wars of today are waged as much in cyberspace as in forests and villages.

And yet, challenges remain. Kidnappings, though reduced in some areas, still plague highways. Displaced farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields, worsening food insecurity. Cross-border arms trafficking, climate change pressures, and adaptive criminal networks all complicate the security equation. The capture of Ansaru’s kingpins is a breakthrough—but unless sustained, it risks becoming another high point in a cycle of boom and relapse.

The road ahead requires more than battlefield victories. Nigeria needs a whole-of-society strategy that pairs military gains with governance reforms, political dialogue, and economic inclusion. Intelligence-driven policing, regional cooperation to secure porous borders, and genuine community engagement are essential. Equally important is building public trust through transparency, accountability, and consistent leadership—without which victories risk evaporating into disillusionment. The need for these sustained, holistic strategies is urgent and cannot be overstated.

The dismantling of Ansaru’s leadership shows what is possible when political will aligns with operational discipline. It is a moment worth celebrating, not because the war is over, but because it proves progress is achievable. Nigeria has long been accustomed to headlines dominated by violence and loss; this capture offers a different kind of story—a reminder that the tide, however slowly, can turn.

The actual test is whether this victory will be treated as an isolated success or as a launchpad for more profound, systemic change. If Nigeria sustains this momentum—combining security with justice, economic opportunity, and social cohesion—the shadow of insecurity need not define the nation’s future. The potential for more profound, systemic change is within reach, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging situation.

For now, the fall of Ansaru’s terror lords is a decisive crack in the edifice of impunity. It must not be the last.

Again, it is worth noting that the federal government has revitalised programmes such as the National Park Service’s Forest Guard initiative, to reclaim forests used as criminal hideouts, which is promising. However, these measures will yield little if they are not anchored in transparency, consistency, and shared responsibility across federal, state, and local levels. Security, as the old saying goes, is everybody’s business. Communities must actively participate in their protection, and civic leaders must work to bridge the gap between citizens and the security apparatus.

Nigeria’s security journey is far from over, and the path is still treacherous. Yet the evidence of the past eighteen months suggests that progress is possible when political will, strategic clarity, and operational discipline align. For a country long accustomed to headlines dominated by pervasive insecurity, these gains, however fragile, are a reminder that the tide can be turned. But it will require vigilance to guard against complacency, foresight to address root causes, and courage to confront those who profit from instability. Only then can Nigeria hope, not just to contain insecurity, but to end the cycle and build the foundation for lasting peace.

Iroegbu, a journalist and security and public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.

Ribadu and the fall of Ansaru

Sani: Military Alone Can’t Defeat Violent Extremism, Terrorism
•Says poverty, governance failures must be fixed
•NCTC-ONSA, PAVE Network call for regional, inclusive approach

By: Michael Mike

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has warned that military and law enforcement strategies alone are not enough to defeat violent extremism in Nigeria’s North-West.

Speaking in Kaduna on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, banditry and terrorism in the North-West Zone, the governor said tackling insecurity requires addressing the deeper structural causes fueling it.

Organised by the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) and the PAVE Network, in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), the Summit is supported by NEYIF and funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

Sani, who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shuaibu, described violent extremism as “one of the gravest threats to human security and national development in our time.”

According to him, its manifestations—terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and extremist ideologies—have devastated communities, displaced families, disrupted education, eroded livelihoods, and weakened public trust in institutions.

“If left unchecked, it has the potential to destabilise not only our region but the broader fabric of our nation,” he warned.

While acknowledging the military’s critical role, the governor cautioned against relying on force alone.

“We must adopt a holistic and coordinated response. While necessary, a purely military or law enforcement approach is not sufficient. We must address the root causes of violent extremism—poverty, inequality, exclusion, poor governance, and lack of opportunities, particularly for our young people,” Sani said.

He emphasised that trust, inclusivity, justice, and respect for human rights must be central to any sustainable solution.

He noted that the summit, “Articulating a Regional Approach and Response to Violent Extremism in North-West Nigeria, ” was designed to diagnose problems and generate practical, context-specific, and actionable strategies.

“I hope our deliberations will lead to concrete, sustainable measures that can be implemented across the North-West,” he added.

Sani highlighted his administration’s efforts in human capital development, community-based conflict resolution, youth and women empowerment, and close collaboration with traditional and religious leaders. He reaffirmed Kaduna’s commitment to working with the federal government, other regional states, and development partners to consolidate peace and security.

He urged participants to engage constructively so that the summit’s recommendations can serve as a blueprint for collective action.

In his remarks, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), stressed that preventing violent extremism requires an inclusive, community-led, and intelligence-driven regional strategy.

Represented by Commodore Ahmed Madawaki, Laka said the summit aligned with the NCTC’s mandate of fostering “whole-of-government and whole-of-society engagement.”

He explained that through collaborations with networks such as the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE), the centre is implementing initiatives that promote social cohesion and sustainable livelihoods, thereby reducing susceptibility to extremist recruitment.

Laka further identified porous borders with the Niger Republic, weak governance structures, climate-induced resource conflicts, and cross-border infiltration by extremist groups as factors worsening insecurity in the North-West.

He called for stronger cross-border cooperation, better enforcement, and participatory governance models to counter these threats.

Also, the Chairman of the Steering Committee of PAVE, Jaiye Gaskiya, insisted that Nigeria cannot defeat violent extremism without empowering local governments and rebuilding grassroots governance systems.

He stressed that subnational governments must take ownership of security challenges within their jurisdictions.

“We want to prioritise the role of subnational governments because these are fundamental governance challenges,” he said.

According to Gaskiya, weak and dependent local governments undermine the fight against extremism.

“Without effective, functional, and autonomous local governments, we will never be able to address these challenges. Local governments are closest to the people and the most accountable if they are truly functioning,” he argued.

He therefore called for constitutional reforms to restore full autonomy to local councils as a foundation for sustainable peace and security.

Sani: Military Alone Can’t Defeat Violent Extremism, Terrorism