The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that the recent rise in terrorist activities in Nigeria’s North-East is largely due to the influx of foreign fighters bolstering local terror groups.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, made this statement during a briefing in Abuja, underscoring the significant role of external forces and local collaborators in fueling insurgency.
According to Buba, the foreign fighters hail from the Sahel region, and local collaborators act as informants, relaying information on troop movements to terrorists.
Despite these challenges, he reassured the public that Nigerian troops remain resolute in their mission to end terrorism, acknowledging that occasional tactical setbacks would not hinder their strategic objective of breaking the terrorists’ will to fight.
“We continue to degrade the terrorists’ essential assets, including their logistics, administrative, and fighting capabilities,” Buba said, adding that regional and international pressure, along with media engagement, are key elements in diminishing the terrorists’ resolve.
Buba also emphasized Nigeria’s crucial role in the regional fight against terrorism.
The Sahel region, particularly countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has become the epicenter of global terrorism, surpassing the Middle East in terms of fatalities.
In response, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plans to raise $2.4 billion to establish a counterterrorism force, with Nigeria providing key air support.
While acknowledging the growing strength of Nigeria’s Air Force, particularly in missions like the 2016 ECOWAS intervention in The Gambia, Buba also addressed concerns over civilian casualties resulting from accidental airstrikes.
A recent report highlighted the deaths of 30 civilians in airstrikes in Zamfara and Sokoto states, part of a troubling pattern of friendly fire incidents over the past decade.
The Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities, a coalition of human rights organizations, has called for an independent investigation into these airstrikes, stressing the need for accountability and better operational protocols to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
In other developments, Nigerian troops have made significant strides in their battle against terrorism and organized crime, neutralizing 156 terrorists, arresting 464 individuals, and rescuing 181 kidnapped hostages in just one week.
Additionally, 29 oil theft perpetrators were apprehended, underscoring the military’s multifaceted efforts to restore security across the country.
Major General Buba, in his final address before his reassignment, expressed the military’s commitment to continuing its fight against insurgents, emphasizing the sacrifices of fallen soldiers who contribute to the nation’s safety and stability.
