The Defence Headquarters has said the recent spike in terrorist activities across the North East and North West regions of Nigeria is due to the influx of foreign fighters serving as reinforcements for the terrorists.
The outgoing Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, said this while giving his farewell address during the first military briefing of the year this Thursday.
He said the foreign fighters are from the Sahelian Region while the other contributing factor is the support from local collaborators who serve as informants, reporting on troops’ movements.
He assured Nigerians of the military’s unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism saying that troops are conscious of their role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the country.
He added that the military is taking away their (terrorists) logistics, administrative and fighting capabilities.
Buba said, “Though we might record occasional tactical setbacks, our strategic objective remains unhindered and it is to break the terrorist will to fight. In essence, defeating an enemy means destroying or breaking his will to fight. And we are achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, Commanders and senior leadership.”
He added: “We are taking away their most important assets, such as their logistics, administrative and fighting capabilities. And of course, we are applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorists’ will to fight.”
Buba noted that the military intends to win the war by destroying the nation’s enemies “Wars are fought and won all over the world by destroying the enemies’ will to fight. And we are bent on achieving just that.
“We understand that this war is not a quick fix but a long and enduring military operation at the end of which these terrorists will be destroyed, and we will have a better world.”
While reaffirming the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring security, Buba used the slang for 2025 and said, “The military dey for you, dey for us.”
He concluded by enjoining everyone to take security seriously and assured that the military is there for Nigerians as long as the citizens are there for the military.