Defence Minister Orders Troops to Fire on Sight as FG Ramps Up War Against Terror in North-East

By Njadvara Musa

The Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Christopher Musa (rtd), on Tuesday ordered troops of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), to open fire on terrorists on sight in a renewed push to crush insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Gen. Musa gave the directive while addressing soldiers alongside the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, at the parade grounds of the 212 Battalion, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

The minister said troops no longer needed to hesitate in the face of threats, stressing that the era of waiting for clearance before engaging terrorists had ended.

“You have been given an express order today to shoot any terrorist on sight,” he told the troops, charging them to remain courageous and committed in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations across the region.

He praised the soldiers for their sacrifices and assured them of the Federal Government’s continued support in the fight against Boko Haram and other extremist groups.

“We are proud of every one of you. Nigerians are praying for all of you in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East,” he said.

Mr Musa also linked the renewed military push to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare and strengthening the armed forces’ operational capacity.

According to him, the President has approved improved monthly salaries for soldiers and released substantial funds for the acquisition of modern military hardware, including aircraft, ammunition, drones and other combat enablers.

“The President has increased your monthly salaries, and this is to show his commitment to your welfare and to the success of this operation,” he said.

The Defence Minister, however, warned troops against indiscipline, illicit conduct and drug abuse, insisting that professionalism must remain central to military operations.

He said the responsibility of the armed forces in the North-East remained clear: to eliminate terrorists and restore lasting peace to the region after nearly two decades of bloodshed.

Earlier in Maiduguri, Mr Musa and Mr Matawalle had paid a sympathy visit to the Borno State Government following the recent bomb attacks that rocked parts of the state, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Monday Market and the post office area.

During a courtesy call to the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, the minister said the visit was meant to condole with victims and assess the current security situation, especially in vulnerable border communities around Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

He condemned the bombings and described the attacks as senseless acts of violence with no moral or religious justification.

“These acts do not represent any religion or any legitimate cause,” he said while expressing the Federal Government’s condolences to families of the victims.

At the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, Mr Musa said President Tinubu had personally directed both ministers to commiserate with the people of the state over the latest attacks, which reportedly claimed 28 lives.

“We are here to see the good people of Borno State, where these unfortunate incidents occurred. The President has directed me and the Minister of State for Defence to commiserate with you,” he said.

He assured residents that the Federal Government was deeply concerned about the security breaches and was already reviewing fresh strategies to prevent a recurrence.

“I want to assure the people of the state and the entire North-East that such occurrences would not happen again,” he added.

Mr Musa said the government’s broader objective was not only to sympathise with victims but also to critically evaluate what had gone wrong and what new steps were required to end the 17-year insurgency that has claimed more than 50,000 lives and displaced millions across the region.

“We are here in Maiduguri to review what has happened and assess what can be done differently to bring this war to an end,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, also reassured traditional rulers and residents that the Federal Government was determined to record major gains against insurgents in the coming weeks.

“I want to assure you, Your Royal Highness, that you will see changes within a month,” Mr Matawalle said, expressing optimism that the renewed military measures would significantly weaken terrorist operations in the region.

The ministers’ visit comes amid heightened concerns over renewed attacks in parts of the North-East, despite years of military campaigns against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Security analysts say the latest show of force and tough rhetoric from the Federal Government may signal a more aggressive phase in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy as pressure mounts to bring lasting peace to the region.

38 ISWAP Fighters Killed as Troops Foil Midnight Assault on Borno Base

By Jamila Muhmmad

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai has successfully repelled a coordinated attack launched by suspected ISWAP fighters on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno State, killing dozens of insurgents and recovering weapons during the fierce encounter.

The military said the attempted invasion happened in the early hours of Saturday, when the terrorists launched a multi-directional assault on the base.

In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt-Col Sani Uba, the troops responded swiftly with what he described as a “well-coordinated offensive and defensive action”, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray.

He explained that the air component of the operation played a crucial role during the battle by providing close air support as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, which helped troops to strike accurately at the fleeing insurgents.

According to him, the troops did not only repel the attack but also pursued the terrorists along their withdrawal routes, inflicting further casualties in the process.

The military reported that the operation neutralised at least 38 insurgents, and they recovered eight bodies around the immediate scene of the clash.

It added that intelligence gathered from residents and other local sources indicated that over 30 more bodies of the terrorists, along with abandoned weapons, were seen along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere corridor stretching into the notorious Timbuktu Triangle.

The statement noted that blood stains and abandoned combat items found along the escape routes suggested that the fleeing terrorists suffered heavy losses during the pursuit.

Weapons and other items recovered after the operation included seven AK-47 rifles, eight loaded magazines, four rocket-propelled grenade bombs and various calibres of ammunition.

The military also disclosed that no soldier was killed during the encounter, although one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle was struck by rocket fire. Some personnel sustained injuries but were said to have been treated and stabilised.

Operation Hadin Kai said the successful defence of the base has further strengthened confidence among residents in surrounding communities and reaffirmed the military’s determination to deny insurgents any foothold in the North-East.

The statement added that troops are still carrying out follow-up clearance operations in the area to recover more weapons and exploit the gains recorded during the battle.

It also revealed that the military high command had praised the troops for their bravery and resilience, urging them to sustain the momentum in ongoing counter-insurgency operations across the region.