By Mardiyyah Abubakar
Security expert and former Mike Ejiofor has called on the Federal Government to urgently reassess Nigeria’s security strategy following reports of a United States troop drawdown supporting counterterrorism operations, warning that terrorist groups could seize the opportunity to escalate attacks.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Monday, Ejiofor said any reduction in foreign military support could create security gaps that insurgents may exploit.
He noted that while Nigeria has recorded progress in its fight against terrorism, the country is not yet at a stage where international security support should be scaled back.
“When they see a drawdown of troops, they may try to exploit it to cause more havoc,” Ejiofor warned.
The former Department of State Services director stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in intelligence sharing, surveillance and joint counterterrorism operations. According to him, defeating terrorism requires strong cooperation among local security agencies and international partners.
He also urged Nigerian security agencies to deepen inter-agency coordination, especially as the country prepares for future electoral activities, saying a united security approach is essential to preventing emerging threats.
Ejiofor, however, cautioned against overdependence on any single foreign partner. He said Nigeria should continue to strengthen its security partnerships with countries including Turkey, Israel and China for intelligence cooperation and military support.
“Terrorism is global. We cannot put all our eggs in one basket,” he said.
On domestic security reforms, Ejiofor described the proposed state police system as a significant step toward improving Nigeria’s security architecture. He argued that community-based policing would enhance intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to local security challenges.
While acknowledging concerns over possible political interference, he maintained that a robust legal framework, proper oversight, effective recruitment, training and coordination would ensure the successful implementation of state police across Nigeria.
