Africa’s First Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management, Prof. Ojo Emmanuel Ademola, has described the recent United States airstrike on militant targets in northwest Nigeria as a “wake-up call” for the country, urging the Federal Government to adopt a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to tackle insecurity.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Ademola noted that while the airstrike was reportedly carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and targeted militants accused of killing innocent Christians, the nation must resist the temptation to frame the security crisis along religious lines.
According to him, extremism poses a grave national threat that endangers all Nigerians, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation.
“Extremism is a national threat that endangers every Nigerian life—Christian, Muslim, and others alike,” he stated.
The professor warned against an overreliance on reactive security measures, stressing that Nigeria’s security challenges require long-term, strategic solutions rather than episodic military responses.
To address the crisis, Ademola advocated what he described as a “Tripod Approach to Curb Insecurity,” anchored on technology, accountability, and community engagement.
Under the first pillar, he called for technology-driven intelligence, including the deployment of advanced surveillance systems, artificial intelligence-powered threat detection tools, and secure communication infrastructure to dismantle terror networks and prevent attacks before they occur.
The second pillar, governance accountability, emphasises transparency in security operations, strict enforcement of anti-corruption measures in defence spending, and a clear focus on protecting civilians and promoting national unity.
Ademola also highlighted the importance of faith-based community engagement, urging the mobilisation of interfaith coalitions to rebuild trust, counter radicalisation, and promote peace education at the grassroots.
“Security is not just about weapons—it’s about hearts and minds,” he said.
He cautioned against divisive rhetoric and half-hearted interventions, calling instead for decisive leadership, integrated intelligence systems, and community-driven resilience.
“This is not the time for half-measures or divisive rhetoric. It is time for decisive leadership, integrated intelligence, and community-driven resilience,” Ademola declared, adding that Nigeria’s survival depends on bold and urgent action.
The comments come amid growing national debate over foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts and the broader strategy for addressing persistent insecurity across the country.
