PeacePro Urges FG to Establish Parallel Asymmetric Armed Forces 

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) yesterday called on the federal government  to urgently establish a parallel asymmetric armed forces structure to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

The Foundation said that the development became imperative in view of f the recent killing of a senior Nigerian Army officer in an insurgent attack.

A statement issued by the group in Ilorin, Kwara State capital signed by its  Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, described the incident as “deeply unfortunate,”. 

He warned that the continued loss of high-ranking military officers underscored the urgent need for a restructured internal security architecture capable of responding more effectively to asymmetric threats such as insurgency, banditry, and terrorism.

The call comes in the wake of a deadly attack in northeastern Nigeria in which a Brigadier General was killed alongside several soldiers during an assault attributed to insurgents operating in the region, according to military and security sources.

According to Hamzat, Nigeria’s conventional armed forces are increasingly being deployed in internal security operations for which they were not originally designed, resulting in overstretch and avoidable losses.

He  therefore proposed the creation of a parallel asymmetric armed forces, designed specifically for internal security operations, including counter insurgency, counter banditry, and rapid response missions.

“Under the proposal, the Nigerian Armed Forces would continue to focus on external defence and conventional warfare, while the new structure would be dedicated to internal threats requiring intelligence driven and flexible operational tactics,” Hamzat said.

He  cited international examples to support its proposal, noting that several countries operate dual or hybrid security systems for managing asymmetric threats.

It referenced the United States National Guard system, which provides a dual state federal response structure for emergencies and internal crises, as well as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij framework, which operates alongside the conventional military but with a distinct internal and ideological security mandate.

He  added that such models demonstrate how states facing complex security environments often develop specialised parallel forces to complement conventional armies.

Nigeria has witnessed a renewed surge in attacks on military formations and civilians across the North-East and North-West, with insurgent groups intensifying assaults on both rural communities and security installations.

He warned that unless structural reforms are undertaken, the burden on the armed forces would continue to grow, potentially undermining operational effectiveness and national security outcomes.

He urged the federal government, National Assembly, and security stakeholders to immediately begin a national dialogue on security sector reform, focusing on legal frameworks, command structures, accountability mechanisms, and human rights safeguards for any proposed parallel force.

Hamzat reiterated that PeacePro’s  proposal is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to respond to evolving security threats, stressing that “asymmetric challenges require asymmetric solutions.”

He  reaffirmed its commitment to advancing innovative policy reforms to promote peace, stability, and national security across the country.