The Defence Headquarters has identified the involvement of foreign fighters as a key factor behind the recent rise in terrorist activities in Nigeria’s North East and North West regions.
Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, the outgoing Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this on Thursday during the first military briefing of 2025. He explained that these foreign fighters, primarily from the Sahel region, have been collaborating with local terrorist groups to carry out deadly attacks on military bases and civilian communities.
According to Maj. Gen. Edward, local accomplices are aiding these foreign fighters by providing critical intelligence on troop movements, thereby enabling coordinated and strategic attacks.
He assured the public that the military is actively reviewing its strategies to address the evolving threat, with a focus on disrupting the networks enabling foreign fighters to integrate with local terrorist factions.
The Defence Headquarters reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians while calling for public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
“The resurgence in terror attacks can be attributable to the influx of foreign fighters who came in as reinforcements for these terrorists,” Edward stated. “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.”
Buba added, “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. And we are achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, Commanders and senior leadership.
“We are taking away their most important assets, such as their logistics, administrative and fighting capabilities. And of course, we are applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorists’ will to fight.”
Edward reassured Nigerians that the military is committed to achieving this objective, despite the challenges posed by foreign fighters.
“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 said.
(PoliticsNigeria)
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