The Nigerian Army has intensified its counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East region, neutralizing over 20 terrorists within the past week, according to Major General AE Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.

During a media briefing, General Abubakar highlighted the military's continued progress despite recent insurgent attacks in isolated areas of the region. "There is little doubt that normalcy has greatly returned to the North East region compared to where we were five to ten years ago," he stated.

The commander emphasized the strategic nature of military operations, noting that while there are inevitable setbacks in any conflict, the overall trajectory remains positive. "In war, you have several campaigns which are a series of coordinated operations aimed at achieving strategic objectives. So, you win some, you lose some. But what is most important is the statistics of what you win against what you lose," Abubakar explained.

Among the notable achievements highlighted was the recovery of several arms and ammunition from terrorist groups. The commander also cited significant progress in Malamfatori and Kukawa, where approximately 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been able to return to their ancestral homes—a development described as a major milestone in the restoration of peace to the region.

Regional Security Challenges

General Abubakar attributed the recent resurgence in terrorist activities to deteriorating security conditions across the Greater Sahel region. He explained that ransacked military barracks in neighboring countries have contributed to weapons proliferation, with arms flowing into Nigeria through porous borders.

"Two years ago, we were ready to say the conflict was over, but the deterioration in security among Sahel states has also affected us," the commander noted.

In response to evolving threats, the Nigerian military has reorganized and introduced additional platforms and personnel into the theatre of operations. Meanwhile, terrorists have adapted their tactics, targeting vulnerable military deployments and amplifying their activities for propaganda purposes.

Despite these challenges, General Abubakar expressed confidence in the military's ability to overcome the insurgency. "We will completely defeat this terrorism and restore peace to the region once and for all in the shortest possible time," he assured.

The commander's briefing comes amid ongoing concerns about security in Nigeria's northeastern states, which have faced over a decade of insurgency from various terrorist groups.