The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, stated on Wednesday that terrorists and bandits operating across Nigeria have suffered heavier losses than government troops, as the Armed Forces intensify operations across multiple theatres.
Speaking after a strategy meeting with service chiefs in Abuja, Musa assured Nigerians that the military remains fully committed to restoring peace and security nationwide. The meeting was convened to review ongoing military strategies across operational areas in the country.
“We had a quick, short meeting with members of the services to review our strategy in all our theatres within the country. We’re all aware of the issues on the ground, but I want to assure Nigerians that members of the armed forces are working tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secure,” he said.
The minister acknowledged that the military had recorded casualties in recent engagements but emphasized that terrorists are taking greater losses.
“We are aware that we have suffered some casualties, but I can tell you the terrorists and bandits are taking more. We’re taking more commanders out, we’re taking more of their assets out, and we will continue to do that,” Musa added.
He urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by misinformation circulating on social media, noting that false narratives could undermine troop morale.
“We know because of the issue of social media, there are a lot of falsehoods being spread. The Armed Forces are on top of their game and we are putting in every effort to ensure the country is secured,” he said.
The Defence Minister called on citizens to support security agencies by providing credible information and reporting suspicious activities, emphasizing that the fight against insecurity is a national challenge, not solely the military’s responsibility.
Musa also congratulated the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, assuring him of military collaboration to tackle insecurity. He appealed to the media to exercise caution in reporting security-related issues, warning that the circulation of terrorists’ videos and propaganda could aid their objectives.
“Please do not allow your platforms to be used to spread terrorism. When you circulate their videos and messages, you allow them to shine and use them as propaganda against our troops,” he stated.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and state governors for supporting the armed forces, expressing confidence that Nigeria will overcome its security challenges.
“We want to assure Nigerians that they should remain confident and determined. When you see something going wrong, do not hesitate to report it. Action will be taken as quickly as possible,” Musa added.
The minister also warned that any individuals providing logistics or intelligence to terrorists would be treated as accomplices.
“A friend of a thief is always a thief. Those supporting these criminals with information or logistics will be dealt with the same way we deal with the terrorists,” he said.
Recent weeks have seen coordinated assaults on military bases, resulting in the deaths of soldiers and commanding officers. In one incident in Katsina State, Paul Hassan and two other soldiers were reportedly killed during an attack. Earlier, on March 3, fighters linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded the resettled community of Ngoshe, using superior firepower including rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft machine guns, and drones to overwhelm the military formation shortly after residents broke their fast during Ramadan.
