The Defence Headquarters has attributed the recent surge in terrorist activities across Nigeria’s North East and North West regions to an influx of foreign fighters from the Sahel region, who are reinforcing local terrorist groups. This revelation was made on Thursday during the first military briefing of the year, which also served as a farewell address by the outgoing Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward.
The escalation in attacks on military bases and civilian populations has raised alarm across the nation. Maj. Gen. Edward explained that the influx of foreign fighters, coupled with the support of local collaborators acting as informants, has fueled the resurgence of terrorism.
“The resurgence in terror attacks can be attributable to the influx of foreign fighters who came in as reinforcements for these terrorists. These foreign fighters are from the Sahelian region,” Edward stated. “The other contributing factor is the support from local collaborators who serve as informants, reporting on troops’ movements.”
Despite these challenges, the military remains steadfast in its mission to eradicate terrorism. Maj. Gen. Edward assured Nigerians that the armed forces are focused on undermining the terrorists’ operational capabilities and breaking their will to fight.
“In spite of the situation, troops are profoundly conscious of their role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation,” he said. “We are achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, commanders, and senior leadership, as well as destroying their logistics, administrative, and fighting capabilities.”
The military is also leveraging regional and international cooperation, alongside intensified media engagement, to apply pressure on terrorist groups. Emphasizing the complexity and endurance required for counterterrorism efforts, Edward noted that defeating terrorism is not a quick fix but a sustained operation aimed at creating lasting peace.
“Wars are fought and won all over the world by destroying the enemies’ will to fight. And we are bent on achieving just that,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Edward also called for collective responsibility in ensuring national security, urging citizens to remain vigilant and supportive of the military’s efforts. “Security is everybody’s business. We must not compromise on security; otherwise, we compromise everyone’s security,” he emphasized.
Concluding with a message of solidarity, Edward reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting the nation: “The military dey for you, dey for us.”
This briefing highlights the military’s strategic focus on addressing terrorism through a combination of tactical operations, international collaboration, and public engagement, aiming to restore peace and stability to affected regions.
