US Security Expert Dr. Berman Raises Alarm Over Escalating Attacks on Security Forces in Northeast Nigeria

By Tom Garba

Renowned US security expert Dr. Eric G. Berman has expressed deep concern over the rising attacks on security forces and formations in Northeast Nigeria, attributing much of the escalating insecurity to the rampant proliferation of arms across the region.

Dr. Berman, Director of the Safeguarding Security Sector Stockpiles (S⁴) Initiative and a visiting scholar at the Program of African Studies, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, served as the guest speaker at a one-day strategic engagement titled “Attacks on Security Forces and Formations in Northeast Nigeria: Concerns and Way Forward.”

The event, organized by the Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CPSS) at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, brought together CPSS management, postgraduate students, and staff for an in-depth discussion grounded in extensive research on Nigeria’s security challenges.

In his presentation, Dr. Berman highlighted the proliferation of small arms and light weapons as a major driver fueling insecurity, particularly in Nigeria’s Northeast, Northwest, and North Central regions—areas bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and extending toward Central Africa.

He pointed to porous borders with countries like Mali, Chad, Cameroon, and Libya as key conduits for weapons trafficking, often driven by competition over resources and the ideologies of non-state actors.

Drawing from his extensive work on safeguarding security sector stockpiles and prior research across Nigeria, Dr. Berman emphasized Nigeria’s unique and severe security dilemmas, which have ripple effects across the African continent.

He lamented that the unchecked flow of arms has led to devastating losses among state actors, including military personnel, volunteer vigilante groups, and community self-defense units.

Responding to questions from participants, Dr. Berman further stressed that resource control disputes in various parts of the country continue to exacerbate weapons proliferation and violence.

The Director of CPSS, Prof. Jude Momodu, warmly welcomed Dr. Berman and commended him for making time amid his demanding schedule to deliver a thought-provoking and insightful presentation.

Prof. Momodu expressed appreciation on behalf of the centre’s staff and postgraduate students, noting the value of the expert’s perspectives in addressing Nigeria’s pressing security issues.

The seminar underscored the urgent need for stronger measures to curb arms proliferation, enhance border security, and protect frontline security personnel amid ongoing threats in the Northeast.

Dr. Berman’s intervention highlights the critical importance of international expertise and collaborative strategies in tackling these complex challenges.