How Boko Haram’s Attrition Strategy Changed My View of the Insurgency

I used to believe Boko Haram could not achieve its aims. I thought the group lacked the numbers and resources to take control of Nigeria or capture Abuja. I also assumed it could not sustain the kind of modern warfare needed to make that possible. A video of a former Chief of Defence Staff discussing how overstretched the military was made me reconsider. I realised the group might not need to capture major cities to weaken its opponents. In my view, ambushes, landmines and the use of forests and difficult terrain can help prolong the fighting and wear down security forces. That kind of attrition could give an insurgent group opportunities to launch further attacks and expand its influence. It has made me rethink how the conflict could develop.

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