Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has linked the recent surge in Boko Haram attacks in Borno State to the group’s expansive agenda to destabilize the entire Sahel region. This campaign threatens not only Nigeria but also neighboring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, underscoring a growing security challenge across multiple borders.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar made the remarks at the end of a two-day working tour of strategic military establishments in the state.
His visit covered key institutions including the Buffalo Engineering Technical Services, the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
“There is a renewed vigour by the insurgents to destabilise the Sahel,” the minister said.
“We are doing a lot to curtail them, and if you will be fair to us, you’ll notice that in the past week or two, the armed forces have gained momentum—attacking and eliminating them. The serial attacks on soldiers’ camps have been reduced to the barest minimum.”
He assured that the Federal Government was working tirelessly to respond to growing security threats across the North-East and North-Central regions.
Speaking on the escalating violence in Benue State, Badaru explained that the crisis was mainly communal, driven by recurrent clashes between farmers and herders.
According to him, the situation requires a largely non-kinetic approach.
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“We are working on resolving these conflicts by engaging communities and ensuring herders remain within designated grazing areas. We are making progress in both providing security and preventing further violence,” he said.
On the broader security landscape, the minister acknowledged that while significant gains had been recorded against banditry in the North-West, other regions continued to experience attacks, reflecting the evolving nature of insecurity in the country.
“In the North-East, especially Borno State, we’ve witnessed the resurgence of Boko Haram, which aligns with what is currently unfolding in the Sahel. If you are following developments in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, you’ll see that attacks have intensified across the region.
“The troops are doing wonderfully well. It’s a new threat, and we are tackling it. We will overcome it, and normalcy will return—by the special grace of God and your prayers,” he added.
The minister also commended the combined kinetic and non-kinetic efforts by the armed forces and the Kaduna State Government to restore peace in Birnin Gwari and other troubled parts of the state.
“Markets have reopened, and traffic is now flowing in and out of the local government area unhindered,” he said.
Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has lauded the strides made by Nigeria’s military institutions in advancing local research and development, describing them as pivotal to achieving self-reliance in defence production.
Speaking during his inspection tour of key military facilities in Kaduna, Badaru highlighted that the institutions are aligning effectively with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to deepen indigenous innovation. He noted that the goal is to meet Nigeria’s defence needs—including the production of vital platforms and equipment—without overdependence on foreign technology.
Citing the ongoing refurbishment of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, Badaru praised the technical teams for successfully restoring previously damaged units. He singled out the locally manufactured Buffalo MRAPs as a testament to the growing capacity and ingenuity within the defence sector.
On capacity building, the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen officer training at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). He stressed that a well-trained military is essential to national security, adding that the government would continue to invest in the NDA to produce highly skilled and disciplined officers ready to meet emerging security challenges.