Author(s) :

Emmanuel Rotimi Olonilebi.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This study is titled leadership and counter insurgency, a study of balancing combat and human rights in Nigeria. The study examines the intricate balance between effective counterinsurgency (COIN) operations and the protection of human rights in north-eastern Nigeria, focusing on the Nigerian military’s campaigns against Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) between 2015 and 2024. The study had some basic research objectives that includes; to examine the relationship between balancing combat and human rights violations in combat situations, and to explain the role of military leadership in ensuring the balancing of combat situations and human rights in counterinsurgency operations. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research integrates interviews with military leaders, NGO personnel, and conflict-affected civilians, alongside focus group discussions and secondary data analysis. The study adopted the human security theory which is aimed at seeing security from the state centric aspect to a more humanistic aspect. Key findings revealed that military leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping operational outcomes, with ethical decision-making, accountability, and community engagement critical to minimizing harm. Conclusively, the study affirmed that Nigeria’s quest for sustainable peace in the face of insurgency depend not only on military strength but on the capacity of leadership to uphold the rule of law, ensure human rights compliance, and build inclusive security structures. Recommendations include enhanced leadership training in human rights compliance, robust oversight mechanisms, and partnerships with civil society to rebuild trust. Keywords: Counterinsurgency, Military Leadership, Human Rights, Boko Haram, Nigeria, Human Security

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