The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that the recent surge in terror attacks in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country is primarily due to the influx of foreign fighters.
During a press conference in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations for the DHQ, Maj.-Gen Edward Buba, stated that these foreign fighters are being supported by local collaborators who provide intelligence on the movements of Nigerian troops.
He remarked, “The resurgence of terror attacks can be traced to the arrival of foreign fighters who serve as reinforcements for these terrorists, particularly from the Sahelian Region.”
“A further contributing factor is the assistance from local collaborators who act as informants, relaying information on troop movements.”
“Despite these challenges, our troops remain acutely aware of their role and commitment to eradicating insurgency and terrorism in the nation, although we may experience occasional tactical setbacks.”
“Our strategic objective remains steadfast: to break the terrorists’ will to fight. Ultimately, defeating an enemy involves dismantling their determination to continue their warfare.”
“We are achieving this through a concerted effort to eliminate their operatives, commanders, and senior leaders, while also targeting their vital assets, such as logistics, administration, and combat capabilities.”
“We are applying regional and international pressure and engaging with the media. These combined efforts aim to undermine the terrorists’ will to fight.”
“We acknowledge that this conflict is not a quick fix; it requires a prolonged military operation to ultimately eradicate these terrorists and create a safer world.”
“Regrettably, we are not there yet, but we are making progress each day. Overall, security is a collective responsibility. We must not compromise on security; doing so puts everyone at risk.”