Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerians to begin asking difficult and necessary questions about the enduring Boko Haram insurgency, warning that the terrorist threat has grown into a “monster” that is dangerously becoming normalized in Nigerian society.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Friday in Abuja at the public unveiling of the book “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum”, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd.).
“Boko Haram is now virtually becoming part of our life. Should we accept that? If we should not accept it, what should we do?” Obasanjo asked.
“How much do we know—from both sides? Have we been active enough? Have we been proactive enough?”
The former president, who also wrote the foreword to the book, emphasized the importance of national self-reflection, urging leaders, security agencies, and citizens alike to critically examine the root causes, current strategies, and long-term solutions to the insurgency that has plagued the country for more than a decade.
He described the persistent attacks, killings, and displacements caused by Boko Haram as a tragedy that can no longer be ignored or accepted as a “new normal.”
“We must ask ourselves the necessary questions to be able to deal with this thing that is now becoming a monster within our country,” Obasanjo said.
A Book for Posterity
Obasanjo also commended General Irabor for his decision to document his personal and professional experiences fighting terrorism while in service.
“The former CDS has shown courage by sharing his insider perspective. This is a significant contribution to national memory and posterity,” he said.
The book, Scars, chronicles Nigeria’s prolonged battle against Boko Haram and offers insights into counterterrorism operations, leadership decisions, and the human cost of the insurgency.
The event drew a distinguished audience, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Service Chiefs (past and present), former and serving governors, Religious leaders and civil society figures.
