By: Zagazola Makama

Nigerian troops have foiled an overnight attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a military position in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing two insurgents and recovering a cache of weapons and other items.

The attack occurred at about 12:18 a.m. on November 9 at Zangula Kilba Junction, where the insurgents reportedly launched an assault on troops stationed in the area.

Security sources said the soldiers responded with heavy firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat after two of them were killed during the exchange.

The troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 115 rounds of PKT ammunition following the encounter.

Other items seized included three belts of empty PKT ammunition links, two cases of locally manufactured explosives, a pair of desert boots, a camel-back backpack, an Android mobile phone, a wristwatch and ₦15,000 in cash.

No casualty was recorded among the military personnel during the confrontation.

The sources added that troops had commenced a search of the surrounding area to gather further intelligence and determine the possible escape routes used by the fleeing insurgents.

The latest encounter highlights the continued military operations against insurgent groups in the North-East, as troops work to protect their positions and prevent armed groups from extending their activities into vulnerable communities.

By Jamila Muhammad

Nigeria needs to strengthen intelligence gathering, deploy modern technology and improve cooperation among security agencies to confront evolving security threats, the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has said.

Mr Musa made the call on Monday in Abuja at the conference and awards ceremony of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), where he stressed the need to complement conventional military operations with more sophisticated approaches to national security.

The conference was themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security”.

The minister, represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Relations, retired Air Commodore Steven Ogunmodede, said the changing nature of insecurity required security institutions to rethink how they detect, prevent and respond to threats.

He commended DECAN for choosing a theme that reflected the realities confronting the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.

According to him, military achievements should not be judged solely by visible activities such as troop deployments, battlefield engagements, territorial gains and arrests, as many critical security successes depend on intelligence and preventive action.

He said terrorists, criminal groups and other hostile actors were increasingly exploiting technological tools, financial networks, information systems and weaknesses in coordination among security agencies.

Mr Musa argued that an effective response required a combination of combat readiness, accurate intelligence, technological innovation, strategic planning and stronger collaboration among relevant institutions.

He explained that intelligence-driven operations enabled security agencies to identify threats before they materialised, trace criminal networks, anticipate attacks and conduct targeted interventions to minimise casualties.

The minister, however, cautioned that acquiring modern equipment alone would not guarantee success without adequately trained personnel, dependable systems and sound professional judgement.

He described technology as an instrument for enhancing military effectiveness, rather than a substitute for the expertise, discipline and decision-making abilities of security personnel.

Mr Musa said the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces were committed to improving intelligence sharing, strengthening situational awareness and adopting methods capable of enhancing operational performance.

He added that security institutions needed to remain innovative and responsive to emerging threats, while ensuring that investments in technology delivered measurable improvements in protecting citizens and safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The minister also called for closer coordination across the country’s security framework, noting that no single agency had all the resources, information and expertise required to address the nation’s security problems.

Turning to the media’s role in national security, Mr Musa said defence reporting required a careful balance between citizens’ right to know and the need to protect sensitive military activities.

He maintained that responsible journalism could promote transparency, strengthen public understanding of security operations and improve confidence in government institutions.

The minister noted that intelligence successes were not always visible to the public, explaining that operations that successfully prevented attacks might attract little attention, while sensitive intelligence could not always be disclosed without compromising security.

He said the absence of dramatic military engagements should not necessarily be taken as evidence that security agencies were inactive.

Mr Musa urged security institutions to communicate with the public accurately and promptly, saying credible information was essential to sustaining public trust.

He also encouraged defence correspondents to uphold professional standards, verify information and exercise sound judgement in reporting security developments.

While acknowledging the importance of media scrutiny in improving the performance of the Armed Forces, he warned that publishing unconfirmed claims or disclosing sensitive operational information prematurely could put military personnel, ongoing missions and civilians at risk.

He said journalists should continue to hold security institutions accountable while remaining mindful of the potential consequences of their reports in a sensitive operational environment.

By Musa Haruna

The Nigerian Army has begun efforts to strengthen quality control in its aviation operations, with a focus on reducing flight risks, improving aircraft serviceability and sustaining operational readiness.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, announced the initiative on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a five-day workshop on Aviation Quality Management Systems organised by the Nigerian Army Aviation Command.

Shaibu, represented by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Maj.-Gen. Thompson Ugiagbe, said the growing demands of military aviation required effective systems for maintaining safety, enforcing standards and ensuring reliable operations.

He explained that having aircraft and skilled personnel alone was not enough to guarantee effective aviation support, stressing the need for quality assurance mechanisms that would promote consistency and operational efficiency.

According to him, a well-established quality management system would enable the Army to detect potential hazards, address lapses, enforce approved procedures and prevent recurring operational shortcomings.

The army chief said the need for such measures had become more important as the service continued to develop its aviation capabilities to support ground operations.

Since the re-establishment of Nigerian Army Aviation in 2014, he noted, the military had continued to invest in the platforms, personnel, facilities and structures needed to improve its operational capacity.

Shaibu said the workshop would allow participants to assess practical ways of strengthening aviation safety, maintenance procedures, record-keeping, quality assurance and compliance with established standards.

He expressed optimism that the discussions would generate workable proposals for establishing a sustainable quality management framework across the aviation command.

He urged participants to focus on measures that would improve safety practices, strengthen internal processes and ensure that aviation equipment remained dependable for military assignments.

Earlier, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Aviation Command, Brig.-Gen. Al-Amin Ibrahim, described quality management as a critical requirement for safe flight operations, aircraft availability and effective mission delivery.

Ibrahim said the system should be treated as an operational necessity rather than an administrative formality, noting that its effectiveness would influence accountability, mission performance and the Army’s overall combat preparedness.

He said the workshop was intended to develop a coordinated approach to standardisation, documentation, performance monitoring and continuous improvement throughout the command.

The commander also called on personnel to take collective responsibility for maintaining quality standards, regardless of their roles in the aviation unit.

He said the responsibility extended to officers, soldiers and civilian employees working in flight operations, aircraft maintenance, logistics, training, administration and other support services.

Ibrahim emphasised the importance of identifying and addressing potential problems before they developed into operational failures, urging participants to prioritise prevention over corrective action.

He identified strict compliance with procedures, effective supervision, risk assessment, prompt reporting and lessons learned from previous experiences as essential elements of a strong aviation safety culture.

The commander further disclosed that the workshop’s proceedings and recommendations would be documented in a compendium to support implementation, track progress and guide periodic reviews of quality management measures.

The five-day workshop, which began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, brings together relevant stakeholders to develop strategies for improving quality assurance and promoting operational excellence within Nigerian Army Aviation.