Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has said former President Goodluck Jonathan should not be held entirely responsible for the activities of Boko Haram during his administration, arguing that security is a collective responsibility that requires the involvement of government, communities and citizens.
Ahmad, who served as a media aide to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, made the remarks on Saturday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over the handling of insecurity by successive administrations in Nigeria, particularly the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people across the North-East region.
According to Ahmad, while governments are expected to provide leadership, resources and direction in the fight against insecurity, lasting peace can only be achieved when citizens, traditional institutions, religious leaders and local communities actively support security efforts.
The former presidential aide stressed that he never believed that Jonathan alone should bear responsibility for the insurgency, even when Boko Haram attacks were at their peak during his administration.
“Even at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, I did not place the blame entirely on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan because I have long believed that the responsibility of securing our communities does not rest on the shoulders of government alone,” Ahmad wrote.
He explained that security challenges often involve complex factors that go beyond government policies and actions, making cooperation among all stakeholders necessary.
According to him, security is a shared responsibility that requires commitment and participation from every segment of society.
“Security is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation and commitment of every citizen,” he stated.
Ahmad noted that governments can only succeed in maintaining peace and order when communities work closely with security agencies by providing useful information and refusing to support criminal elements.
He said local communities often have firsthand knowledge of suspicious activities within their areas and can play a crucial role in helping security agencies prevent attacks and apprehend criminals.
“Governments provide leadership and resources, but communities, traditional institutions, religious leaders and individuals all have vital roles to play,” he added.
The former presidential aide also called on Nigerians to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing credible intelligence and refusing to offer shelter or protection to criminals.
According to him, criminal groups thrive when they find safe havens within communities and when residents fail to share information that could help security agencies stop their activities.
“We must support our security agencies with credible information and refuse to provide safe havens for criminals,” Ahmad said.
“Only through a united effort and a shared sense of responsibility can we restore lasting peace and ensure a safer future for our communities and our nation.”
His remarks have attracted attention because they touch on one of the most sensitive issues in Nigeria’s recent political history—the Boko Haram insurgency and the debate over how different administrations responded to it.
Boko Haram emerged in the early 2000s as a radical Islamist movement but became a major security threat after launching an armed insurgency in 2009.
The group carried out bombings, mass killings, kidnappings and attacks on schools, markets, places of worship and government facilities, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
One of the most widely known incidents linked to the insurgency was the 2014 abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State. The incident attracted global attention and intensified criticism of the government’s handling of the security crisis.
During Jonathan’s presidency, opposition politicians and critics frequently accused his administration of failing to respond effectively to the growing insurgency.
The insecurity challenge became one of the major issues in the 2015 presidential election, which Jonathan lost to Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari campaigned on a promise to improve security and defeat insurgent groups across the country.
Following his election, the military intensified operations against Boko Haram and succeeded in reclaiming several territories previously occupied by insurgents.
However, despite military gains, attacks continued in various forms, and security challenges evolved over time. Splinter groups emerged, while banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime expanded in several parts of the country.
As a result, debates over responsibility for insecurity have continued under different administrations.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders and local vigilante groups have frequently been called upon to support security efforts by sharing intelligence, promoting peace and discouraging young people from joining criminal groups.
In recent years, security agencies have repeatedly urged Nigerians to provide timely and accurate information that could help prevent attacks and improve response efforts.
Authorities have also emphasised the importance of community policing and stronger cooperation between residents and security personnel.
Ahmad’s comments reflect this growing belief that security cannot be achieved through military and police operations alone.
While opinions remain divided over the performance of past administrations in handling insurgency and other security threats, there is broad agreement that tackling insecurity requires a coordinated approach involving government institutions, security agencies and citizens.
For many Nigerian’s living in communities affected by insurgency, banditry and kidnapping, the ultimate goal remains the restoration of peace and stability.