Beyond Kinetic Operations: A "Human Security" Framework for Counter Terrorism in the North-West and North-Central Zones
Working Paper
Nigeria’s internal security landscape in early 2026 is defined by the rapid "terror-convergence" of banditry and ideological extremism across Kwara, Kaduna, and Katsina States. Despite the launch of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Strategic Plan 2025–2030, rural communities remain vulnerable to mass kidnappings and "parallel taxation" by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs). Recent data indicates a 110% increase in fatalities in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, with over 650,000 IDPs in the North-West alone (ACAPS, 2025; NHRC, 2026). The current "Implementation Gap" lies in the over-reliance on kinetic (military) strikes, which clears territory but fail to hold it, leaving a governance vacuum filled by insurgents. This policy brief proposes a shift from state-centric security to a Human Security Model. It advises the National Assembly to: (1) Legislate a "Community Policing Equalization Fund"; (2) Formalize "Indigenous Intelligence Networks"; and (3) Enact a "Rural Resilience Act" to restore agrarian livelihoods as a counter radicalization tool.