FG Vows to End Insurgency in Northern Regions – Defence Minister
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to ending insurgency in the North-West region by the end of this year.
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, made this known while addressing journalists over the weekend at Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, Jigawa State.
According to him, security in the North-West and North-Central regions—particularly in Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna states—has significantly improved due to ongoing coordinated efforts to combat banditry and insurgency.
“The security situation has been improving in the North-West and North-Central regions as a result of our sustained operations against bandits. We remain determined to eradicate all forms of insurgency in the country before the year ends,” he stated.
The minister also acknowledged the public’s response to these efforts, noting that community leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and residents of affected areas have observed noticeable progress in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
“Despite these positive developments, we will not relent. We are committed to building on our current achievements, and we are doing everything possible to provide our armed forces with the necessary logistics and support to completely eradicate insurgency this year,” he added.
Commenting on the strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger Republic, the minister downplayed concerns, emphasizing the deep historical ties between the two nations.
“We have said it multiple times—Nigeria and Niger are like brothers. We will never take any action, no matter how small, that could harm Niger Republic. We see ourselves as one, and any attempt to incite division between our countries will not succeed,” he asserted.
The minister urged Nigerians to support security agencies by providing credible intelligence that could help track down insurgents and their collaborators.
“We need the public’s cooperation to fight insecurity effectively. Providing real and actionable information about the identities and locations of terrorists, bandits, and their supporters is crucial. We urge citizens to work with security agencies to ensure lasting peace,” he said.
