Amid escalating violence in parts of the country, the Federal Government has ordered a comprehensive review of military tactics to tackle Nigeria’s growing insecurity, rejecting the idea that a national security summit alone would suffice.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, made this known during a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, shortly after the Senate announced plans for a two-day national security summit. The summit proposal, initiated by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), seeks to address the recent spike in killings and unrest across several states.
Badaru, however, emphasized that while a summit could offer useful insights, it cannot replace strategic action. “Strategy is far more important than a summit,” he said. “Summits provide input, but strategy drives operational decisions. What the National Assembly is trying to do is gather perspectives — which is good — but the real work lies in crafting and executing an effective strategy.”
He added that consultations had already been held with past Defence Ministers and Service Chiefs to assess past and present security challenges and refine operational plans.
Dismissing reports that terrorists are better equipped, Badaru insisted, “It is absolutely not true. The Nigerian military possesses far superior weapons and more advanced drones. What we’re facing is guerrilla warfare — not a conventional battle. These insurgents have informants among the civilian population, which gives them an advantage in launching surprise attacks.”
He also revealed that 10 out of the 53 Defence Industrial Complex firms are now producing drones, aircraft parts, safety gear, and more. The government aims to have at least 20 fully operational firms by the end of the year and to commence exports by 2026. Efforts are also underway to revive parts of the Ajaokuta Steel Company to support military hardware production.
Badaru’s remarks came amid fresh attacks in Borno and Benue States that left several people dead, including a senior Army officer and an APC chieftain.
In Benue, suspected armed herders launched an unprovoked assault on Mbatsada communities in Mbalom and Mbasombo wards of Gwer East Local Government Area, killing four, including APC elder Akaabo Johnson. The attack, which occurred at about 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, was confirmed by the LGA Chairman, Timothy Adi, who noted that it was the second such incident in two weeks. He called on residents to remain vigilant, assuring them that security personnel had been deployed to the area.
In Borno, Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a military base in Giwa, killing an Army captain and a soldier. Emir of Gwoza, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed that the attack occurred around 1 a.m. Troops, assisted by Civilian JTF, vigilantes, and local hunters, repelled the assault, killing three insurgents and recovering abandoned weapons and over 10 motorcycles.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has since visited the Northeast to oversee ongoing operations under Operation HADIN KAI. The Nigerian Army, via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, confirmed his presence on the frontlines.
Badaru further highlighted the military’s progress:
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13,543 terrorists neutralized
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17,469 criminals arrested
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9,821 kidnapped victims rescued
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124,408 Boko Haram/ISWAP members and families surrendered
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11,118 weapons and 252,596 rounds of ammunition recovered
He added that major terrorist commanders — including Maza Barume Madaro, Kachalla Dati, and others — have been eliminated, and notorious kingpin Bello Turkish remains on the run.
Meanwhile, Adamawa State Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Umar Pella, speaking at a UNICEF event in Yola, warned that underfunding education has worsened insecurity. He argued that increasing the education budget would help curb the cycle of violence and reduce the number of people susceptible to recruitment by extremist groups.
In Zamfara State, retired military officer and APC chieftain Bello Bakyasuwa called for the resignation of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, accusing him of failing to address rising insecurity in his home state. Citing the killing of the Chief Imam of Maru and his children after months in captivity, Bakyasuwa said the minister had lost touch with the region’s security realities.
Responding, Matawalle’s Special Adviser, Ibrahim Danmaliki, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. He blamed the Zamfara State Government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, for failing to act promptly during the Imam’s abduction, contrasting it with Matawalle’s track record as governor in securing the release of hundreds of abducted victims.
Despite the criticisms and ongoing attacks, the Defence Minister assured Nigerians that the military remains committed and is doubling its intelligence efforts to prevent future attacks.
