The UK government has issued a strong condemnation of rising extremist violence in West Africa following the death of a kidnapped Nigerian retired general in captivity. Brigadier General Idris Alkali, 68, who was abducted from his home in Jos, Plateau State, three weeks ago, was found dead in a forest hideout, his body bearing signs of torture. The development has sparked outrage and renewed calls for international action against militant groups operating in the region.
General Alkali's death was confirmed late Tuesday by Nigerian security forces, who discovered his remains during a raid on a suspected extremist camp. The general, who served in peacekeeping missions and later as a military adviser to the government, was reportedly seized by members of a faction linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. His abduction had drawn widespread condemnation, with the UK Foreign Office issuing a statement earlier this month calling for his safe release. In the wake of his death, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described it as a “barbaric act” and a stark reminder of the threat posed by extremist groups in the Sahel and West Africa. He pledged continued UK support for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and called for a coordinated regional response.
The tragedy highlights a grim reality for families in northern Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom and political ends has become a daily terror. Yet for many working-class Nigerians, the focus is less on high-profile abductions than on the economic strain that violence brings. In markets like this one in Jos, traders speak of dwindling customers and rising prices, as insecurity disrupts supply chains and farming. “No peace means no business,” said Amina Suleiman, a grain seller. “We are afraid to travel to buy goods. Everything is more expensive.” The general's death, she said, is a blow for a country that has lost too many of its elders.
The UK’s condemnation, while firm, has drawn criticism from some quarters. Human Rights Watch has pointed to the UK’s growing role in supplying arms and training to Nigerian forces, arguing that the approach has failed to curb violence while fuelling human rights abuses. The government in Lagos has also faced scrutiny over its military tactics and the precarious state of the economy. With inflation at a two-decade high and unemployment soaring, many argue that the root causes of extremism poverty and lack of opportunity remain unaddressed.
For the families of kidnapped victims, the general’s death compounds a sense of helplessness. A neighbour, who asked not to be named, recalled how Alkali had returned from retirement to help mediate local disputes. “He was a peacemaker. Now they have killed him.” As the UK calls for action, campaigners are demanding tangible steps not just tougher rhetoric. For them, and for millions of Nigerians struggling to make ends meet, the path to stability must include both security and economic justice. The general is gone, but the crisis he symbolised endures.
