By: Bayero Ade
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has attributed the recent escalation in terrorist activities across Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions to the involvement of foreign fighters.
According to Africa, Major-General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed that these foreign operatives, mainly from the Sahel region, are reinforcing terrorist groups in the country with local support from informants who provide critical intelligence.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Maj.-Gen. Buba identified the role of collaborators in aiding terrorists by sharing sensitive details such as troop movements, which enhance their operations. He assured Nigerians, however, of the military’s unwavering determination to combat and dismantle these networks.
“The resurgence in terrorist attacks can be linked to foreign fighters who strengthen the ranks of terrorists, combined with the damaging activities of local informants,” Buba said.
He highlighted the military’s multi-pronged strategy to combat terrorism, including neutralizing key operatives, disrupting logistics chains, and leveraging regional and international alliances to exert pressure on the insurgents.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also ordered an investigation into the January 6 attack in Borno State, which claimed the lives of over 40 people, including military personnel. Additional attacks in Sokoto and Katsina states have further heightened concerns over national security.
Despite these challenges, Buba reported notable progress by the armed forces, including the elimination of 156 terrorists, the arrest of 464 suspects involved in various crimes, and the rescue of 181 kidnap victims. In anti-crime operations in the Niger Delta, security forces detained 29 oil thieves and dismantled illegal refining sites, recovering over 705,000 litres of stolen crude oil and other petroleum products.
In Plateau and Kaduna states, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) apprehended 18 suspected kidnappers, bandits, and gunrunners, while 18 abductees were rescued from a forest between Plateau and Taraba states.
Maj.-Gen. Buba stressed the need for national cooperation to enhance security, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and collaborate with security agencies.
“National security is a collective responsibility. Any compromise affects us all, and we must work together to ensure peace and stability,” he stated.
While acknowledging the complexities and long-term nature of counterterrorism efforts, Buba reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and security across Nigeria.
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