Restrategizing Northern Nigerian Security Beyond Border Fences

Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be curtailed by border fences alone, as suggested by the chief of defence staff, but by the government investing in border communities, strengthening local infrastructure and deepening cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries.

On Tuesday, 3 June 2025, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, General Chris Musa, proposed the construction of fences around Nigeria’s borders at a border security conference in Abuja as an urgent measure in tackling insecurity and as a strategic step in the fight against terrorism. The defence chief called on the federal government to construct fences along all national borders, an urgent and strategic step in the fight against terrorism. This proposal from the defence chief comes as Nigeria intensifies its unending battle with networks of terrorist and insurgent groups intensifies who usually leverage Nigeria’s porous and unmanned border areas for cross-border crimes in the Sahel region. Musa said:

Border management is very critical. I have heard countries who had to fence their borders because of the level of insecurity they had. I know sometimes when you mention it people say, ‘no it is impossible.’ Pakistan fenced its 1,350 kilometres border with Afghanistan, which was the only time they had peace. Saudi Arabia and Iraq… 1,400 kilometres fenced completely can we start thinking of fencing our borders? We have 1,500 kilometres with Niger Republic, 1,900 kilometres with Cameroon, Chad is there, all over us surrounded by Francophone countries and the Sahel is heating up. If we do not do anything, when the Sahel falls it is Nigeria that everybody is interested in because they believe Nigeria is huge, Nigeria is big, Nigeria is rich and that is what we should start thinking about, how do we secure fully and take control of our borders? It is critical for our survival; it is critical for our sovereignty.

With over 135 borders in northern Nigeria unprotected out of the 261 approved borders, Nigeria remains vulnerable to cross-border threats and armed groups operating from neighbouring countries. If paired with proper surveillance and cooperation with border communities, this initiative could significantly reduce the proliferation of weapons, insurgents and criminal networks into the country. Though unprotected borders have contributed largely to cross-border and transnational crimes, there have been cases of collusion with security personnel in the smuggling of arms. In January 2025, Cameroon’s military intercepted a significant cache of weapons intended for Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants in Maroua, a northern town near the border shared by Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad. According to officials, the haul included long-barrelled firearms, over 400 packets of tear gas, more than 100 gallons of oxidising agents used for making explosives, and military uniforms. A comprehensive multifaceted approach, including regional diplomacy, tactical intelligence with a regional task force and the use of up-to-date technology as well as strong prevention and enforcement mechanisms, will help improve security in Nigeria’s Northern borders.

While fencing of the border areas is a laudable idea, it is not enough and adequate in curbing insecurity, as modern warfare has gone beyond physical combat. The Nigerian Armed Forces must upgrade its technology for surveillance and deploy drones or unmanned aerial surveillance to monitor, track and eliminate targets. Also, border fencing as proposed by the defence chief, will not be wholly received by the border communities in Northern Nigeria, as most natives will view the demarcating walls as a restriction to the seeming affinity, socio-cultural and historical ties with their natives across the border in the North.

The proposal for building demarcating border walls brings to the fore the divisions and sentiments in Northern Nigeria. Following the June 2023 coup in Niger Republic that removed President Mohamed Bazoum, the Economic Community of West African States through the Nigerian leadership proposed military intervention to restore the constituted government to power. The strength of the Nigeria-Niger cross-border affinity resulted in a strong political lobby in Nigeria’s North that pushed against military intervention across the border. Religious leaders, intellectuals and civil society argued that colonial boundaries were far weaker than the ties between Northern Nigeria and Niger...