Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has warned that Nigeria cannot defeat Boko Haram through military might alone.
Speaking at the public review of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a book by former chief of defence staff Lucky Irabor, Kukah argued that decades of counter-insurgency operations have failed because the conflict is rooted in ideology rather than just armed violence.
“For years we have launched Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet one ends and another begins, without bringing lasting peace. You cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” he said.
The bishop stressed that Boko Haram’s fighters often see their struggle as a jihad and embrace death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence. “Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” Kukah declared.
He highlighted Irabor’s reflections in chapters 11–13 of the book, which argue that reconciliation, justice, good governance, and national healing are essential for security. He praised the former defence chief’s insights as “the writings of a priest” calling for dialogue, reforms, and moral renewal.
According to Kukah, Nigeria must urgently invest in human development, political inclusion, judicial integrity, and rebuilding trust in institutions. “Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” he said.
