Have Boko Haram Forgotten How to Create Bombs Since 2016? -By Abdullahi Abubakar

Nigeria’s security history over the past decade raises questions that many citizens continue to ask. During the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, bomb blasts carried out by Boko Haram became one of the most frightening security challenges in the country. Attacks on public places, markets, motor parks, mosques, and churches created an atmosphere of fear across several northern states.

These repeated bombings significantly shaped the political climate leading to the 2015 general election, which eventually brought Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to power, defeating the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

However, something remarkable happened after 2016. While terrorism did not completely disappear, the pattern of attacks changed significantly. Large-scale bomb blasts in major cities became far less frequent. Instead, Nigeria began to face different security threats such as rural banditry, mass kidnappings, and attacks on communities in the North-West and North-Central regions.

This shift left many Nigerians wondering: what exactly changed?

Did Boko Haram suddenly lose the ability to manufacture explosives? Did they abandon their bombing tactics? Or were security forces able to significantly weaken their operational capacity?

Security analysts suggest that several factors contributed to the reduction in urban bombings. First, Nigerian security forces intensified military operations in the North-East, reclaiming many territories that were previously under insurgent control. Second, intelligence gathering improved, making it harder for insurgents to move freely with explosive materials. Third, the group itself experienced internal divisions, leading to the emergence of factions such as the Islamic State West Africa Province, which adopted different operational strategies.

While bombings reduced, Nigeria unfortunately began to experience other forms of violence. Armed banditry and kidnappings increased in several states, creating a new layer of insecurity during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

Today, as another election cycle approaches, recent security incidents have again raised public concern. Some Nigerians fear that the country may be witnessing a return of tactics that once defined the darkest days of insurgency.

This has led to a growing debate among citizens: why do major security incidents sometimes appear to intensify during politically sensitive periods such as elections?

It is important to approach this question carefully. Insurgencies are complex and influenced by many factors, including political tensions, military pressure, economic hardship, and regional instability. Violent groups often attempt to exploit moments of national attention to spread fear, gain publicity, or demonstrate that they are still capable of causing disruption.

Therefore, rather than assuming that terrorists suddenly “remember” how to make bombs during election periods, the more realistic explanation is that security threats evolve over time, adapting to the political and military environment.

What remains clear, however, is that Nigeria must continue strengthening intelligence, security coordination, and community vigilance. Terrorist groups thrive where there is division, distrust, and weak security structures.

For Nigeria to move forward, the fight against insurgency must remain above politics. Security should never become a tool for political advantage but a collective national priority.

Only through sustained commitment, strong institutions, and unity among citizens can Nigeria ensure that the painful memories of widespread bomb attacks remain permanently in the past.

Abdullahi Abubakar

From Zaria, Kaduna state