Kehinde Fajobi
The Defence Headquarters has linked the recent resurgence of terrorist attacks in the North East and North West to the influx of foreign fighters reinforcing local terror groups.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, made the statement during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He explained that the foreign fighters, mainly from the Sahelian region, have bolstered the ranks of local terrorists.
He said: “The resurgence in terror attacks can be attributable to the influx of foreign fighters that come in as reinforcement for these terrorists.
“These foreign fighters are from the Sahelian Region. The other contributing factor are the local collaborators that form a support base for these terrorists.
“They serve as informants to the terrorist reporting on troop movement. In spite of the situation, troops are profoundly conscious of their role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation.”
Buba acknowledged that while occasional tactical setbacks might occur, the military’s strategic objective to break the terrorists’ will to fight remains on track.
He said, “Defeating an enemy means destroying or breaking his will to fight, and the military is achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, commanders, and senior leadership.”
He further mentioned that the military has been successful in neutralising terrorists’ vital assets, including logistics and administrative capacities, while applying regional and international pressure to weaken the enemy.
“And of course, we are applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorist will to fight,” he said.
Buba acknowledged the long-term nature of the battle, stressing that it will require sustained military operations.
“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 concluded, “Overall, we understand that we all want to be in a different situation, a situation whereby all this insecurity is over and the terrorist is completely eradicated.”