An Assessment of Joint Military Operations in Nigeria's Fourth Republic, 1999–2022

Abstract

This paper examines the role of joint military operations (JMO) in internal security in Nigeria from 1960 to 2022. It explores how different types of domestic conflicts, such as insurgency, terrorism, rioting, militancy, crime, and banditry, have shaped the nature and duration of JMO in the 4th Republic. It also analyses the main challenges and successes of the security agencies involved in JMO. The paper uses primary and secondary data to describe and analyse the dynamics of violence and their impact on the deployment, operation, and efficiency of JMO in Nigeria. The paper is divided into five sections. The first section provides a historical overview of the evolution of JMO in Nigeria. The second section discusses the conceptual and theoretical framework of JMO and internal security. The third section presents the security challenges and array of joint military operations in Nigeria. The fourth section highlights the major issues and challenges facing JMO in Nigeria. The fifth section concludes the paper with some policy implications and recommendations for enhancing JMO in Nigeria. The paper argues that the over-militarization of the civic polity, leadership styles, corruption, and area of operations affect the synergy and capacity of the multi-agency security framework. The paper contributes to the literature on internal security management and civil-military relations in Nigeria. It also provides insights for policymakers and practitioners on how to improve JMO in Nigeria.