Bandits
A video circulating on social media has drawn attention and criticism of the Nigerian military’s handling of insecurity, with one user questioning why advanced assets such as the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft are not being fully deployed against armed groups.
The trending video shows a group of armed men in a rural, open field with dry vegetation and smoke visible in the background.
EThe footage shows individuals in mixed attire—some in camouflage uniforms resembling military gear and others in traditional head coverings—engaging in physical interactions that include holding, pushing, and embracing. Some appear restrained or distressed, while others raise their arms or weapons.
Accompanying the video, the poster wrote: “The Nigerian Army is being brutally manhandled by illiterate Fulani terrorists who could be wiped out in seconds with a working system.
My question to the Nigerian Army @HQNigerianArmy: Does this make sense to you?
The answer is no.
Why don’t the military deploy the Tucano jet fighter and all war weapons to flush these idiots out.
Can’t the military take law into their hand and do a coordinated attack on these guys and report only with all mission being materially achieved on successful wiped out?
Is that too much to ask? Is that forbidden? Too many questions.
Not happy at all. I feel bad nonentity are proven to be in charge.
Too bad.”
The post, which had garnered over 20,000 views, hundreds of likes, and nearly 200 reposts within hours, tagged the official Nigerian Army account and called for a decisive, coordinated military response. Some replies expressed similar frustration over the treatment of soldiers and the broader security situation, while others questioned the identity of those in the footage or whether the video showed Nigerian Army personnel at all.
Nigeria continues to face multifaceted security challenges, including attacks by Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Northeast, as well as banditry and communal violence in the Northwest and North-Central regions. In recent days, reports indicated that suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least 10 soldiers and wounded more than 20 others in an assault on an army base in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Nigerian Air Force has previously deployed A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in counter-insurgency and counter-banditry operations. These platforms, acquired from the United States, have been used for surveillance, close air support, and targeted strikes in various theatres.
As of the time of the post, there was no immediate public statement from the Nigerian Army or Defence Headquarters specifically addressing the viral video or the claims made in the accompanying commentary. Security operations against non-state armed groups remain ongoing across multiple regions of the country.
The circulation of such footage underscores persistent public concerns about the effectiveness of military responses to insecurity and the welfare of troops on the front lines.
About the Author
