Introduction
Nigeria's conception of national security has changed dramatically since gaining its independence in 1960. The political, ethnic, religious, and economic forces that have affected Nigeria's state's efforts to preserve security. Nigeria's security environment is characterised by ongoing crises and official responses, ranging from the military takeovers of the 1960s to more recent issues like terrorism, banditry, and corruption. Examining significant historical occurrences and trends that have affected national security is crucial to comprehending the intricate interactions between these elements. Nigeria's population are feeling increasingly insecure on a daily basis. Not only are more people committing crimes, but these crimes are also becoming more brutal, cunning, and desperate. New violent crime patterns have emerged since the start of the current democratic regime. These include ransom kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, political violence, terrorism, and, most recently, the Fulani herdsmen killings. The military has had numerous difficulties in carrying out its missions since gaining independence in 1960. Some of these issues are excruciating and posed a litmus test for the military’s capability to preserve and protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity. These challenges include the civil war in Nigeria, military takeovers and the military's involvement in politics, developing a workable defence strategy, having civil authorities control the military, having a large defence budget and military spending, and defending the country against armed militias and religious insurgents, among other things.
