My book on Boko Haram is for reflection, not indictment – Irabor

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), says his new book on Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram is not intended to indict anyone but to inspire national reflection on the country’s security challenges.

Irabor made this known on Friday at the public presentation of his book, Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, in Abuja.

“Scars is not an indictment; it is a national soul-searching presentation,” he said. “It is an awakening reality to either act dutifully for progress, or do nothing and turn towards extinction.”

He described the book as an “awakening reality” and expressed hope that it would spark meaningful conversations on finding credible solutions to insurgency and insecurity. “The account in this book is the painful truth as I see it. It is my hope that it will elicit a national conversation aimed at credible solutions,” he added.

Irabor emphasised that the publication should serve as a moment of reflection for Nigerians to recommit to justice, equity, and peace. He recalled the atrocities of Boko Haram, urging the country never to forget the victims of insurgency. Proceeds from the book, he disclosed, would go to schools and hospitals supported by him and his family.

“For me, this book is not just a narrative; it is a call for sustained hope and optimism. Scars is optimistic that collectively, we can turn our scars into victories of nationhood,” he stated.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, service chiefs, governors, and clerics.

Obasanjo, in his remarks, lamented that the Boko Haram insurgency has become entrenched in Nigeria, warning that it is dangerously close to being normalised in daily life.

Jonathan revealed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated then-General Muhammadu Buhari as their preferred negotiator during his administration’s peace efforts. He said his government had explored multiple approaches to resolve the crisis but found it far more complex than often portrayed.