Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has blamed the surge of foreign fighters for the recent revival of terrorist strikes in the Northeast and Northwest.
Maj.-Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations said local informants aid the actions of foreign fighters who function as terrorist reinforcements.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum also condemned the killings and violence, warning citizens not to collaborate with rebels.
Six days ago, President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation into the January 6 terror attack in Borno state. Over forty people, including military, were killed. Other attacks in Sokoto and Katsina states have resulted in fatalities.
During a news conference in Abuja, Gen. Buba stated that local collaborators frequently gave terrorists with intelligence about troop movements.
He stated that, despite the challenges, the military is committed to battling terrorism and other security threats in the country.
Buba said:
“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.
‘’The other contributing factor is the support from local collaborators who serve as informants, reporting on troops’ movements.
“In spite of the situation, troops are profoundly conscious of their role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation. Though we might record occasional tactical setbacks.
“Our strategic objective remains unhindered and it is to break the terrorist will to fight. In essence, defeating an enemy means destroying or breaking his will to fight.
“We are achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, commanders, and other senior leaders .
“We are taking away their most important assets such as logistics, administration, and fighting capabilities.
‘’We are also applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorists’ will to fight.”
“We understand that this war is not a quick fix, but a long and enduring military operation at the end of which these terrorists will be destroyed and we will have a better world.”
He also emphasised the significance of collective responsibility in ensuring national security.
“Sadly, we are not there yet but inching closer every day. On the whole, security is everybody’s business. We must not compromise on security, otherwise, we compromise everyone’s security.
“Significantly, as you “dey for, who dey for you” this year. Know that, “the military dey for you, dey for us,” Buba said.
Gen. Buba reported that 156 terrorists had been neutralised and 464 had been apprehended for various crimes in the previous week.
He said that military apprehended 29 oil thieves and rescued 181 kidnapping victims.
According to him, the forces discovered 219 high-caliber guns and 2,871 rounds of ammunition.
In the Niger Delta, 48 crude oil cooking furnaces, 10 dugout pits, 56 storage tanks, and 46 illegal processing installations were all demolished.
Buba also stated that troops recovered 705,294 litres of stolen crude oil, 6,865 litres of unlawfully refined diesel, 1,500 litres of kerosene, and 800 litres of petrol.
