Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd.), has revealed the staggering human toll of the Boko Haram insurgency, stating that more than 2,700 Nigerian soldiers died between 2009 and 2021.
In his newly published military memoir titled “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,” obtained by PRNigeria, Irabor described the insurgency as one of the darkest chapters in Nigeria’s history. He referenced a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, which estimated that by 2020, the total number of deaths—both direct and indirect—had reached nearly 350,000.
The 300-page book offers a vivid account of the war, portraying Boko Haram’s reign of terror as a “pandemic” that devastated lives, communities, and the national psyche. It provides insight into the emotional, psychological, and social effects of the conflict on both soldiers and civilians.
Addressing misconceptions about military casualties, Irabor noted that military cemeteries across Nigeria reflect a near-equal mix of Christian and Muslim graves, debunking claims that the losses were unevenly distributed among religious groups.
Beyond the battlefield deaths, Irabor highlighted the psychological and emotional scars left on soldiers and their families. He revealed that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become a “silent epidemic” among troops, with many suffering in silence from trauma that has led to broken homes, depression, suicide, and even fratricide in conflict zones.
The former Defence Chief also emphasized the sacrifices made by soldiers who spent years in active duty, missing out on important family milestones such as birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries, which often strained relationships and marriages.
He commended organizations like the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) for establishing a PTSD treatment centre in Abuja, describing it as a crucial step toward long-term healing. “Healing from war must be a shared national duty,” he wrote, “one that extends beyond the military to families and the wider society.”
The memoir also sheds light on the severe humanitarian impact of the insurgency, detailing how communities were uprooted, leading to overcrowded Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Nigeria and neighbouring countries like Cameroon and Chad. These camps, he noted, placed enormous pressure on humanitarian agencies struggling to meet basic needs.
Through Scars, General Irabor not only recounts the military’s sacrifices but also calls for empathy, national unity, and sustained support for those who continue to bear the wounds of Nigeria’s long war against terror.
