The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot overcome insurgency and insecurity through military operations alone, stressing the need for soft power, reconciliation, and a critical revisiting of history.
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Kukah made the remarks in Abuja on Thursday during the public presentation and review of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).
According to him, Nigeria’s over-reliance on repeated counter-insurgency operations has failed to deliver lasting peace because Boko Haram is rooted in an ideology, not just an armed threat.
“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.
He argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of knowledge and sidelines critical non-kinetic solutions. Boko Haram, he noted, frames its struggle as jihad, with fighters who see death as martyrdom—making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.
“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he added.
Kukah highlighted chapters 11, 12, and 13 of Irabor’s book, which stress reconciliation, justice, governance, and national healing as essential conditions for peace. He praised Irabor’s reflections as going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms, and moral renewal.
The bishop further emphasized that Nigeria must revisit unresolved historical questions to understand its present crises. He described the January 1966 coup as a “crime scene” in the nation’s history, warning that lingering issues from that period continue to undermine national cohesion.
On the Boko Haram insurgency, Kukah observed that the group’s real identity had been distorted in public discourse by the label “Boko Haram,” a name they never gave themselves.
“You cannot cast out the devil you have not named. Their real name is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal Jihad. By calling them Boko Haram, we have affected our strategy and approach to the problem,” he said.
He maintained that peace would remain elusive unless Nigeria addressed its structural inequities, promoted inclusion, and strengthened institutions of justice.
Kukah commended Gen. Irabor for the courage to document his experiences and reflections, describing the book as “a courageous and important contribution” to Nigeria’s search for peace and unity.
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