Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has revealed that a major component of military’s updated strategy was focused on choking the logistical and financial lifelines sustaining asymmetric warfare in the country.
The minister also asserted that the days of brazen terrorist attacks on vulnerable communities and military formations were over, as troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, working with partner intelligence agencies, have disrupted the operational momentum of major terrorist networks, including Boko Haram and ISWAP.
He said the conflict has consequently shifted from a structured insurgency towards desperate, isolated criminal cells.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister cautioned villagers against spying on troop movements or supplying logistics to terrorist fighters, warning that such activities were prolonging the insurgency and its unintended consequences.
He said the military high command had confirmed that aggressive offensive operations conducted directly within insurgent enclaves had significantly degraded the adversary’s capacity to launch large-scale and brazen attacks on communities.
“We don’t have those brazen attacks that used to be. Before now, Boko Haram would go to places, attack areas, and go. You don’t hear of that anymore.
“The trajectory has moved from insurgency back downwards towards terrorism, abductions and kidnapping because that is the easiest way for desperate networks to try and raise money.”
The Minister of Defence also highlighted that the recent uptick in security incidents followed a historical and consistent pattern observed ahead of major political cycles.
With political campaigns for the upcoming elections scheduled to commence in January, General Musa questioned whether the recent spikes in insecurity were being deliberately weaponised by political actors to stir negative sentiments against government’s performance.
He, however, reassured the public that security forces were actively working to contain the incidents, adding that political movements and campaigns across the country would remain unhindered and fully secured.
Musa further disclosed that, working in tandem with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), security forces had successfully tracked and intercepted illicit funding networks using proxy accounts, social media crowdfunding and cryptocurrency.
“Following a high-level summit with the United States State Department, Nigeria is now deploying advanced international counter-funding tools to isolate foreign influences like ISIS from local affiliates,” he said.
Addressing public scepticism over the continued survival of terrorist cells, Musa emphasised that the military was also confronting the deep-seated ideological radicalisation driving asymmetric warfare.