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President Bola Tinubu has vowed to bolster Nigeria’s military with advanced technology, improved intelligence, and modern equipment as the country grapples with a renewed surge in insurgent violence across its northern regions.
During his first visit to northern Nigeria since insurgent attacks in April claimed over 100 lives, Tinubu addressed troops in Katsina state, assuring them that the federal government was committed to strengthening their capabilities to combat terrorism and banditry.
“Nigerians are counting on you to end this menace and reclaim every inch of our country,” he declared. “Let the enemies of Nigeria know their time is up.”
The president said his administration was investing in high-grade military tools and enhanced logistical support to ensure the armed forces not only defend Nigeria but overpower all adversaries.
Nigeria has been battling insurgencies since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its violent campaign. Although the military has made some territorial gains and eliminated key militant leaders, the insurgency has endured for over a decade, with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) emerging as a persistent threat.
In addition to insurgent groups, criminal gangs — locally known as bandits — continue to torment communities in the northwest and central states, carrying out mass abductions, arson, and killings.
Tinubu’s speech comes during mounting scrutiny of the military’s conduct. In recent months, multiple airstrikes have mistakenly targeted civilians. In January, at least 16 people were killed in Zamfara state after a military jet misidentified a local vigilante group as criminals. A similar incident in December 2023 in Kaduna state left at least 85 civilians dead after a religious gathering was mistaken for a bandit meeting.
The president did not address these incidents directly during his remarks, but his comments suggest an urgent push to regain public confidence in military operations and accelerate efforts to bring security to the country’s most volatile regions.
