General Christopher Musa (rtd), the Minister of Defence, recently convened a critical meeting with Nigeria's service chiefs at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja. The high-level gathering was specifically summoned to address the escalating levels of insecurity plaguing various parts of the country, with particular emphasis on the North-East and North-West regions.

The urgency of the meeting was underscored by a significant resurgence of insurgency and a spate of recent attacks. In the days leading up to the discussions, military bases in Nigeria’s North-East had come under intense assault, and tragically, three Commanding Officers of the Nigerian Army, holding the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, were killed by terrorists in Borno State. The Minister's summons followed reports of more than three military bases being overrun by insurgents in less than a week, signaling a severe deterioration of the security situation.

Attendees at this pivotal meeting included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass. Representatives from other crucial security agencies, including the National Intelligence Agency, were also present, highlighting the comprehensive approach being taken to tackle the multifaceted security challenges.

During the deliberations, General Musa issued clear directives to the service chiefs. According to his Media Adviser, Timothy Antigha, the chiefs were instructed to "rejig military operations in the North-East and North-West region." This command entails immediate visits to the security-challenged geopolitical zones, after which they are expected to report their findings. The core objective of these directives is to review existing strategies and implement improved approaches in the ongoing war on terror, aiming to stem the tide of recent insurgent successes.

Detailed reports reveal the severity of the recent attacks. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, for instance, invaded two military bases in Goniri and Kukawa, Borno State, killing Commanding Officer Umar Farouq and several soldiers. While military operational vehicles were destroyed, many terrorists were also eliminated, particularly in the Kukawa attack, and the assault on the Goniri base was repelled by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). Just four days prior to these incidents, ISWAP had attacked four military camps in Mainok, Jakana, Marte, and Konduga, all within Borno State, resulting in the deaths of a senior officer and other soldiers. The Nigerian Army had stated it successfully repelled these attacks and eliminated numerous terrorists.

These renewed attacks are understood to be part of "Camp Holocaust," a dedicated campaign launched by ISWAP early last year, specifically designed to target military formations and personnel. Research by Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa (GGA) indicates that approximately 16 military bases were attacked under this campaign last year. Furthermore, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) estimates that this deadly campaign has been responsible for the deaths of around 500 people in no less than 200 attacks.

A disturbing evolution in the insurgency's tactics involves the deployment of sophisticated weaponry, including armed drones. These advanced tools were reportedly utilized by terrorists in their attacks on Mainok, Jakana, Marte, and Konduga. Beyond military targets, civilians have also been subjected to horrific violence; a deadly attack on Ngoshe, for example, resulted in numerous fatalities and the abduction of over 100 individuals, including women and children.

While acknowledging the regrettable casualties suffered by military operatives, Minister Musa also noted that the losses inflicted upon the terrorists were significantly higher. The meetings and subsequent directives underscore the Nigerian government's commitment to enhancing security measures and reviewing its operational strategies to combat the persistent threat of insurgency across the nation.