Nigeria’s war against banditry and terrorism may be entering a decisive phase, with indications that the Federal Government is widening its focus beyond armed criminals in the forests to alleged financiers, sponsors and collaborators operating within the corridors of power.Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as the first Special Adviser on Homeland Security on May 11, 2026, there has been a noticeable shift in the approach to national security, with greater emphasis on intelligence gathering, coordination among security agencies and disrupting the networks sustaining terrorism and banditry.
Famadewa, a veteran of more than three decades in military and intelligence service, brings considerable experience to the assignment. Before his appointment, he served as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021 and played a key role in the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre, designed to improve the sharing and coordination of security information among government agencies.
His extensive professional relationship with senior officers across the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force is also regarded as an important advantage at a time when the country requires closer coordination among its security institutions.
Since assuming office, Famadewa has received the backing of professional colleagues within the armed forces, reinforcing expectations that the new security architecture will place greater pressure on terrorist and bandit networks across the country.
For years, Nigerians have watched helplessly as terrorists and bandits carried out kidnappings, collected ransom and retreated into their hideouts, only to return to the same communities to perpetrate fresh attacks. Such a cycle has created a climate of fear while allowing criminal networks to expand their influence and resources.
A more aggressive intelligence-led strategy could change that pattern. Rather than concentrating solely on the men carrying weapons in the forests, security agencies are increasingly expected to pursue the financiers, suppliers, informants, facilitators and other individuals who make the criminal enterprise possible.
This is where the battle could become particularly consequential.
This paper’s source claims that two serving state governors and a former governor are currently being closely watched over alleged links to activities surrounding terrorism and banditry and could face prosecution if sufficient evidence is established. The identities of the politicians were not disclosed, while the allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
One of the alleged suspects is said to have approached the courts in an attempt to secure legal protection. Any such case, however, will ultimately be determined by the evidence presented before the judiciary and the provisions of Nigerian law.
It is important that the government proceeds with caution and professionalism in handling such sensitive allegations. Political office should neither shield anyone from investigation nor become a basis for persecution. Anyone found to have financed, supported or facilitated terrorism must face the law, regardless of status, while those against whom no credible evidence exists must not be condemned without due process.
President Tinubu has repeatedly presented national security as a priority, and the success of the new strategy will depend heavily on the ability of intelligence agencies to identify criminal networks before they strike.
Confidentiality remains critical to that effort. When sensitive operational plans are leaked to terrorists, security operations can be compromised and the lives of personnel and civilians placed at unnecessary risk. Effective intelligence gathering, secure information sharing and disciplined operational coordination are therefore essential to defeating terrorism.
Nigeria’s armed forces have also demonstrated their capacity to confront violent extremist groups and other criminal networks, often at considerable personal cost to officers and soldiers. Their sacrifices deserve recognition, but military courage must be matched with adequate equipment, reliable intelligence, logistics and institutional support.
Winning the war will not happen overnight. Terrorist and bandit groups have spent years building networks across communities, establishing supply routes and exploiting local grievances. Breaking such structures requires sustained pressure rather than temporary military offensives.
Government must therefore maintain pressure on every component of the criminal ecosystem, including those who provide weapons, intelligence, transportation, funding and safe havens. Traditional rulers, community leaders and public officials who possess credible information about criminal activities also have a responsibility to cooperate with security agencies.
At the same time, allegations against public officials and traditional leaders must be subjected to proper investigation. No individual should be branded a terrorist sponsor merely because of accusation or political rivalry. Evidence, due process and the rule of law must remain central to the process.
For ordinary Nigerians, what matters most is the restoration of safety. Families want to travel without fear, farmers want to return to their fields, businesses need secure environments to operate and communities want an end to the nightmare of kidnapping and violent attacks.
The battle against terrorism will require more than guns and ammunition. It will require intelligence, technology, economic measures, community cooperation and the political will to pursue criminal networks wherever they operate.
If the Federal Government sustains the momentum, strengthens intelligence coordination and follows the money behind terrorism, the country could begin to dismantle the networks that have kept millions of Nigerians living under the shadow of insecurity.
Nigeria has survived difficult periods before. With a coordinated security strategy, determined leadership and the collective support of its citizens, the country can overcome the present challenge.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
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