President Bola Tinubu has approved the procurement of additional equipment for the armed forces and other security agencies to strengthen operations against terrorism and banditry across the country.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after a nearly two-hour security meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to him, the President reaffirmed his commitment to supporting security agencies in their ongoing fight against insurgents.
“The President has promised more equipment for us to be able to protect the nation, and we assure victory,” Musa said, although he did not specify the type or quantity of equipment approved.
He explained that the meeting was convened to review the current security situation across the country, particularly following recent attacks on military formations.
Musa noted that the session also marked the first time the new Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, attended a security briefing with the President since his appointment.
“The mission of the meeting actually is just for us to review events. We came in here for the services to brief Mr President on the current situation on the ground,” he said.
The defence minister added that the briefing was necessary to ensure the President received accurate updates on security operations, stressing that media reports sometimes do not fully capture the realities on the battlefield.
He appealed to Nigerians not to be discouraged by reports of attacks, assuring that terrorists and bandits were suffering heavier casualties than security forces.
“Our appeal to Nigerians is not to get tired or discouraged. When you hear the news, you may think that is all that is happening, but it is far from that. The terrorists and bandits are taking more casualties, and their commanders are being eliminated,” he said.
Musa, however, acknowledged that Nigeria had lost several brave officers and soldiers in recent operations, describing the casualties as deeply regrettable.
“We have lost a number of very courageous officers and men. It is highly regrettable, but we want to assure Nigerians of the commitment we are putting on the ground to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secure,” he stated.
In recent weeks, insurgents linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have intensified attacks on military positions in Borno State, including assaults on Ngoshe, Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok.
The attacks have resulted in casualties among both security personnel and civilians, with at least three commanding officers reportedly killed in the past week.
Musa attributed the recent spike in attacks partly to the period of Ramadan, explaining that some insurgents believe dying during the holy month guarantees them paradise.
“It is normal with terrorists during the Ramadan period. For them, they believe if they die they will go to heaven, so they are ready to commit offences or get killed because they feel there is a reward,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the defence minister said the military had adjusted its operational strategies and was recording successes against insurgents.
“We have taken over those locations, killed some of their commanders and seized their assets. We will continue to do more,” he added.
The security meeting, which ended around 5:10 p.m., was attended by service chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies, including the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The meeting comes amid heightened security concerns in the country’s Northeast, where insurgents have continued to mount attacks on military formations.
Earlier this month, President Tinubu assured the military of his administration’s commitment to defeating terrorism, while Vice President Kashim Shettima also vowed that the government would deploy overwhelming force to end the insurgency.
