Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, (Managing Editor) investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has pledged that the federal government will deploy “overwhelming force” to end the insurgency in the country’s North-East following renewed militant attacks in Borno State. The remarks come after a series of violent assaults attributed to extremist groups operating in the region, including factions linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The attacks have reignited concerns about security in Nigeria’s North-East, a region that has endured more than a decade of insurgency.Speaking during a security briefing in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Shettima reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to restoring stability and protecting civilians. He said the government would intensify military operations and strengthen coordination between security agencies to dismantle insurgent networks responsible for the latest violence. “Our resolve is clear,” the Vice President said, according to multiple media reports. “The Nigerian state will respond with overwhelming force to ensure that terrorism and insurgency are decisively defeated.” The insurgency in northeastern Nigeria began in 2009 and has since evolved into one of Africa’s most prolonged security crises. Militants have carried out attacks on villages, military bases, and public infrastructure, displacing millions of civilians across the Lake Chad Basin region. Neighboring countries including Chad, Niger, and Cameroon have also been affected by cross-border violence.Nigeria’s armed forces have conducted numerous counterinsurgency operations over the years, reclaiming territory once controlled by militant groups. However, security analysts say the insurgents continue to exploit remote terrain and local vulnerabilities to stage sporadic attacks. Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, emphasized that the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to strengthening security, rebuilding affected communities, and supporting humanitarian recovery efforts in the region. Human rights organizations and security experts have also stressed the importance of combining military action with long-term development initiatives, community engagement, and regional cooperation to address the root causes of extremism. Despite the renewed violence, Nigerian authorities maintain that ongoing counterterrorism efforts will ultimately restore peace and stability to the North-East. Sources: Reuters; BBC News; Al Jazeera; Premium Times; The Guardian Nigeria.
Tag: North East Nigeria Security
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Nigerian Army Repels ISWAP Attack in Borno, Kills 11 Insurgents in Coordinated Counter-Offensive
Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, Investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a coordinated attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on three military bases in Borno State, killing at least 11 insurgents in the ensuing firefight. Military authorities disclosed that the attempted assault targeted forward operating positions in the North-East, a region that has remained the epicentre of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency. According to the Army, the terrorists launched simultaneous attacks in a bid to overwhelm security formations but were met with “overwhelming firepower” from ground forces supported by aerial surveillance and response units.In a statement released by the military high command, the troops were said to have demonstrated “exceptional resilience and tactical superiority,” forcing the attackers to retreat after sustaining heavy casualties. Eleven suspected ISWAP fighters were confirmed killed, while others reportedly fled with gunshot wounds. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the scene.Renewed Pressure in Nigeria’s North-East Borno State has remained a strategic stronghold in the insurgency waged by ISWAP and other extremist factions operating in the Lake Chad Basin. The group emerged as a breakaway faction of Boko Haram in 2016 and has since intensified attacks on military formations and civilian communities across Nigeria’s North-East.Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counter-insurgency task force in the region, continues to conduct clearance operations, intelligence-driven raids, and coordinated air-ground offensives aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves. Security analysts note that insurgent groups frequently target military installations in coordinated waves to seize weapons, undermine morale, and assert territorial presence. However, recent operations suggest sustained military pressure on terrorist logistics networks and mobility corridors. Broader security context the renewed confrontation comes amid ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to stabilise conflict-affected communities and facilitate the safe return of displaced persons. According to humanitarian estimates, the insurgency has displaced millions across the North-East and neighbouring countries within the Lake Chad region. Reputable international media organisations, including BBC News, Reuters, and Al Jazeera, have consistently reported on the evolving security dynamics in Borno State and the broader insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East.While the military maintains that momentum remains on its side, independent observers caution that the insurgency remains fluid, with extremist groups adapting tactics to sustain asymmetric warfare. Path forward security experts emphasise that military victories, while critical, must be complemented by sustained intelligence-sharing, regional cooperation under the Multinational Joint Task Force framework, and socio-economic interventions aimed at addressing root causes of radicalisation. As Nigeria continues its counter-terrorism campaign, developments in Borno remain a critical indicator of the broader security outlook in West Africa’s most populous nation. Sources: BBC News; Reuters; Al Jazeera.