State sovereignty and security governance are seriously threatened by the growth of pro- government militias (PGMs) in conflict areas. Nigeria's counterinsurgency efforts have relied heavily on the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a grassroots militia established in 2013 to fight Boko Haram. However, doubts have been raised about the CJTF's long-term stability due to its unclear legal status, lack of accountability, and documented violations of human rights. Few studies critically analyze PGMs' systemic risks, especially in fragile states with weak security institutions, despite the literature's emphasis on the tactical advantages of PGMs. By examining the CJTF's dual function in Nigeria's counterterrorism strategy as a security asset and a possible liability, this study fills this knowledge gap. It examines the operational contributions, the elements that allow the CJTF to continue its role in national security, and the threats it presents to post-conflict stability, state authority, and the rule of law. Based on empirical data, the study shows that although the CJTF improves short-term security by fostering community trust and localized intelligence, its unofficial structure, lack of oversight, and criminal potential jeopardize long-term peacebuilding. The study also examines how the CJTF's influence is maintained by inadequate state capacity, public mistrust of official security forces, and a lack of demobilization mechanisms, all of which run the risk of turning it into an uncontrolled armed group. By looking at these dynamics, the study adds to larger discussions about militia-state relations and provides policy-relevant information about how to regulate and hold accountable informal security actors in areas affected by conflict.

Keywords: Boko Haram, Counterinsurgency, Pro-government militias, and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).