PREMIUM TIMES has obtained exclusive details of the disclosures made by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at a closed-door meeting with Nigerian senators on Tuesday.
Apart from Mr Ribadu, the meeting was also attended by security chiefs; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, and Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam.
The meeting at the instance of the lawmakers lasted for about nine hours behind closed doors.
Sources at the meeting said the NSA made the lead presentation while the security chiefs and ministers contributed to the discussion.
In his presentation, Mr Ribadu spoke about terrorism, various armed groups in the country and the efforts of the government to tackle the situation.
Terrorism
Mr Ribadu said counter-terrorism efforts in the North-east have led to a marked decrease in Boko haram activities, with incidents dropping to an 8 per cent low in the last six months. In 2023, out of a total of 394 attacks, only 64, representing 16.24 per cent, occurred under the Bola Tinubu administration, he said.
He said this indicates a significant reduction in such incidents during the new administration’s tenure, reflecting potentially effective security measures or strategic changes in response to terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria. He credited this to aggressive military operations and infighting among insurgent groups.
Insurgents now rely more on softer attacks and IEDs against troops, indicating a shift in their tactics due to military pressure, he said.
He said the government’s analysis indicates a strategic shift in ISWAP’s tactics throughout 2023, with 78 per cent of their attacks being defensive, while only 22 per cent were offensive. This suggests that the group is primarily engaging in actions to protect its positions or respond to military pressure, rather than initiating attacks. This change reflects the effectiveness of ongoing counter-terrorism strategies, altering the group’s operational capabilities and forcing them into a more defensive posture, he said.
Mr Ribadu thanked the Borno State Government for contributing to the successes of security agencies.
IPOB Agitations
Mr Ribadu said Nigeria has made substantial progress in curtailing attacks by IPOB and its different variants. Through a combination of kinetic (forceful) and non-kinetic (non-violent) measures, attacks in the South-east have been reduced by 75 per cent within six months, he said.
He said the significant decrease comes after a period during which over 164 police stations were destroyed by separatists during the last administration.
Today, not only is the process of rebuilding underway, but life is also gradually returning to normal. Sit-at-home order that was widely observed is now largely defeated, he said.
