Akinboro made this assertion while delivering a public lecture at the 40th convocation lecture of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, for the award of Diplomas, Certificates and prizes for the 2024/2025 graduands.
The lecture took place at the Assembly Hall, North Campus of the institution, Ibadan.
Akinboro spoke on the theme: “Legal Framework and Strategies for Addressing Terrorism, Banditry and Insurgency in Nigeria- A Multidimensional Approach”.
He examined the legal framework and strategies for addressing terrorism, banditry and insurgency in Nigeria. He said the persistence of violence across the country reflects deep gaps in legal enforcement, institutional coordination and justice administration.
According to him, despite sustained military operations against terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), insecurity has spread beyond the North-East to include banditry, kidnapping, farmer–herder clashes and cross-border criminal networks. This, he said, confirms that terrorism in Nigeria has become a multidimensional threat that requires more than battlefield responses.
“The use of force is necessary, but it is not sufficient,” Akinboro said. “Without law, justice and accountable institutions, military victories will remain temporary and fragile.”
The senior advocate pointed to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 as Nigeria’s most comprehensive legal weapon against terrorism, noting that it provides clear definitions of terrorist offences, criminalises financing and strengthens coordination among security and judicial institutions. However, he warned that the law’s impact is weakened by poor enforcement, delayed prosecutions and human rights violations that undermine public trust.
He stressed that terrorism thrives where justice is weak, adding that failure to investigate and prosecute offenders emboldens criminal networks and fuels radicalisation. According to him, an effective counterterrorism strategy must ensure credible investigations, speedy trials and proportionate punishment that deters future attacks.
Akinboro also highlighted the importance of financial intelligence and cybercrime laws in cutting off terrorist funding, saying that disrupting money flows is as critical as confronting fighters on the battlefield. He urged stronger collaboration among security agencies, prosecutors, financial regulators and the judiciary to secure convictions.
Beyond legal and institutional reforms, he identified poverty, unemployment and social exclusion as underlying drivers of extremism. He said sustainable peace would remain elusive unless government addresses these root causes through inclusive development and targeted social policies.
On structural reforms, Akinboro argued that Nigeria’s centralised security architecture limits effective enforcement at the grassroots. He said decentralised and community-based policing initiatives, if properly regulated, would enhance intelligence gathering and improve response to local threats.
He added Nigeria’s fight against terrorism must be comprehensive, combining military action with the rule of law, justice delivery and socioeconomic development.
Without placing law and justice at the centre of security policy, he warned, terrorism and banditry will continue to undermine national stability.
In his remarks, the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, thanked the guest speaker for the thought-provoking lecture.
