By Damilola Omosebi
The recent Israeli airstrikes on Tehran exemplify a nation that refuses to sit idle in the face of imminent danger. Instead of waiting for an attack, Israel took decisive action, neutralizing threats before they could materialize. This proactive approach stands in sharp contrast to Nigeria’s prolonged, reactive battle against bandits and terrorists; a crisis that continues to claim lives due to systemic failures, corruption, and a lack of decisive military strategy.
Israel’s Doctrine: Strike First, Protect Always.
Israel’s military philosophy is clear: eliminate threats before they strike. The precision airstrikes on Tehran were not impulsive but a calculated response to verified intelligence that Iran was preparing missile attacks. The Israeli Air Force executed the mission with surgical precision, minimizing collateral damage while crippling enemy capabilities.
Key elements of Israel’s success:
- Preemptive Action: No hesitation; neutralize threats at their source.
- Superior Intelligence: Mossad and military intelligence ensure targets are accurate.
- Technological Edge: Advanced drones, cyber warfare, and precision-guided missiles.
- Political Will: Leaders prioritize national security over diplomacy when necessary.
Nigeria’s Crisis: Reactive, Weak, and Costly
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s security forces remain trapped in a cycle of reacting after attacks, rather than dismantling terror networks preemptively. Bandits and terrorists operate with near impunity, kidnapping, killing, and extorting citizens while the military struggles with:
- Poor Intelligence: Security agencies often act on outdated or vague tips.
- Corruption: Funds meant for arms and counterterrorism vanish into private pockets.
- Delayed Response: Villages are overrun for hours before reinforcements arrive.
- Lack of Proactive Strikes: Terrorist camps in forests remain untouched for years.
While Israel destroys missile sites in enemy capitals, Nigeria negotiates with bandits, pays ransoms, and watches as terrorists grow bolder. The result? Thousands dead, millions displaced, and a nation held hostage by criminals.
A Call for Nigeria to Adopt a Proactive Security Strategy.
If Nigeria is to survive this existential threat, it must learn from Israel:
- Invest in Intelligence – Modern surveillance, informant networks, and cyber warfare.
- Preemptive Strikes – Locate and destroy terrorist camps before they attack.
- Cut Off Financing – Track and freeze terror funding, prosecute sponsors.
- Military Reform – Root out corruption, equip troops properly, enforce accountability.
The time for “repelling attacks” after they happen is over. Nigeria must go on the offensive; annihilate bandit strongholds, dismantle terror cells, and restore security through decisive action, not empty promises.
Israel’s strike on Tehran sends a message: A nation that values its people does not wait to be hit. When will Nigeria learn?
Enough is enough.
