The Federal Government has confirmed actively tackling a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the North-East, particularly in Borno State, as part of the insurgents’ broader push to destabilize the Sahel region including Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, addressed journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday after concluding a two-day working tour of military institutions in the state. He assured Nigerians that the government has taken decisive steps to confront the renewed threat.
“In the past two weeks, our armed forces have intensified operations and eliminated a significant number of insurgents,” the minister said.
During his visit, the minister inspected facilities at both the old and permanent sites of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), including its postgraduate school.
Discussing broader security challenges across the country, Abubakar emphasized that the nature of conflicts varies by region.
“In Benue, for instance, we’re seeing mostly communal clashes between farmers and herders,” he explained. “We’re applying non-kinetic measures like community engagement and conflict resolution, while also confining herders to designated grazing areas and ensuring security to prevent further violence.”
Addressing the North-East crisis, Abubakar linked the Boko Haram resurgence in Borno to escalating instability in the wider Sahel.
“Developments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have emboldened extremist groups,” he said. “But our troops are stepping up. We’ve seen a marked decline in attacks on military camps and are recording strong operational gains.”
The minister praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their resilience and effectiveness.
“Our troops are performing exceptionally well. This is a new wave of threats, but we are confronting it directly. With God’s help and continued support from Nigerians, we will restore normalcy soon,” he added.
