Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised fresh concerns over the Boko Haram insurgency, cautioning that the menace has gradually slipped into the fabric of everyday life for Nigerians. He delivered the warning on Friday in Abuja at the public presentation of a new book, Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.). Obasanjo, who penned the foreword to the publication, challenged the nation to confront the crisis with honesty, clarity, and renewed determination.
“Boko Haram is now virtually becoming part of our lives. Should we accept that? If we should not accept it, what should we do? How much do we know? Even from the other side, and from this side, have we been active enough? Have we been proactive enough?” Obasanjo asked, stressing that Nigeria must begin to ask hard questions to contain what he described as a growing monster within the country.
He commended Irabor for documenting his firsthand experiences in the fight against terrorism, describing the book as both courageous and vital to Nigeria’s historical record. The high-profile unveiling brought together key figures from politics, the military, and religious institutions, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, governors, service chiefs, and retired officers.
Jonathan, in his contribution, disclosed that during his administration, Boko Haram insurgents had requested then-General Muhammadu Buhari as their preferred negotiator in attempted peace talks. He noted that his government explored several committees and channels to resolve the conflict, but the complexity of the insurgency made it far more difficult than many assumed. Jonathan also admitted that the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 would remain one of the most painful and unforgettable scars of his presidency.
The Abuja event underscored the enduring weight of the insurgency on Nigeria’s history and the urgency of fresh strategies to prevent it from becoming a normalized feature of national life.
