Inside Nigeria’s Changing Terrorist Threat: Defence Minister Musa Outlines New Risks

Speaking on Channels TV programme, Politics Today anchored by Seun Okinbaloye and monitored by PerSecondNews, Defence Minister and retired general Christopher Musa noted that the drop in major Boko Haram and ISWAP assaults marks tangible progress in the government’s counter-insurgency efforts.

“Frankly speaking we have defeated terrorists because now, like I said, the attacks are not as rampant and it is now kidnapping,” Musa declared.

Figures from the Defence Headquarters show the military conducted 7,062 security operations across the country in July and August, neutralising 1,487 terrorists and insurgents.

The operations also resulted in the arrest of 354 suspects and the rescue of 777 kidnapped victims, reflecting sustained military action against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Musa attributed the changing pattern of insecurity to sustained pressure on terrorist groups, noting that attacks by major insurgent organisations have become less frequent.

“I can tell you there is improved security. Maybe if you noticed, you don’t hear so much of Boko Haram attacks, ISWAP attacks and all these things here and there, maybe one-off,” he maintained.

The minister however noted that terrorists are increasingly turning to abductions as an easier means of generating funds after coming under pressure from security forces.

“So, we are now back into the stage of abductions and kidnappings because that is the easiest way for them to try and raise money,” Musa explained.

Musa also linked the decline in terrorist attacks to intensified operations targeting their enclaves and disrupting their ability to operate freely.

“We are pushing more into their enclaves and making life very difficult for them,” PerSecondNews quotes the Minister as saying.

Beyond military operations, Musa stressed the importance of cutting off terrorists’ access to logistics, including fuel and motorcycles used to facilitate their movements.

“Let us stop giving them any support for them to get logistics. Imagine they can’t get fuel, the motorcycles they’re using, they can’t ride them,” Musa urged.

The Defence Headquarters also reported that 93 security personnel and 249 civilians were killed during operations conducted in July and August, highlighting the continuing cost of insecurity.

Musa maintained that defeating terrorism also requires confronting the ideology that sustains extremist groups, warning that military action alone cannot address what people believe.

“No country should ever allow asymmetry warfare. Why? We are dealing with ideology. Ideology is not what you can see; it is what a man believes in,” he warned.