• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

President Bola Tinubu yesterday asked Nigerians to resist the temptation of succumbing to fear in the face of terror attacks in parts of the country. He said his administration was doing everything within its power to defeat terrorism. He spoke against the backdrop of the latest wave of terror attacks in Borno State including the Wednesday raid in Ngoshe where scores of residents were abducted by suspected insurgents of Boko Haram and ISWAP. Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok in the same state were similarly attacked between Wednesday and early yesterday. Locals said scores of people may have been abducted in the attacks. Several others were injured. Speaking during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies at the State House, Abuja,President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration's resolve to defeat terrorism and other threats to Nigeria's stability, declaring that the country would ultimately prevail against forces undermining its peace and unity. He said Nigeria would overcome the security challenges confronting it. "We will win. Nigeria will prevail," the President said and assured troops and citizens alike that the government remained committed to restoring peace across the country. Tinubu said he had already reached out to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, to express sympathy and solidarity with the people of the state following the attack. "My sympathy goes to the Vice President and the entire country, and the people of Borno for the incident that occurred. I made a call to Zulum to share the pain with him," the President said. He acknowledged the sacrifices being made by military personnel and other security operatives in the fight against terrorism and banditry, assuring them that their efforts would not be in vain. "This nation will always be grateful to you. Many times you are without your families and face attacks from bandits and terrorists, yet you continue to serve and protect our sovereignty," Tinubu said. He emphasised that the welfare of members of the armed forces and their families would remain a priority for his administration. "I assure you we will do everything possible to ensure that you have no regrets. The welfare of you and your families will always take first priority in our decisions," the President said. Tinubu also acknowledged the challenges faced by the military, including the shortage of accommodation and other operational constraints, promising that the government would continue to address them. Reflecting on the country's economic reforms, the President admitted that his administration encountered significant turbulence when it assumed office but expressed optimism that the worst was over. "When we first started, we had a rough ride and ran into very serious turbulence. But I can say today that we have stabilised the economy. We are out of the dark tunnel. We are seeing the daylight and bright light ahead of us", he said. The President urged Nigerians to remain united in the face of adversity, noting that the nation's diversity remained a strength rather than a weakness. Tinubu described the interfaith breaking of fast as a symbol of national unity, noting that the coincidence of the Ramadan fast and the Christian Lenten season offered a unique opportunity for reflection and harmony. "This period reflects the complexity and diversity of our nation, but God has ordained that these seasons coincide for self-integration and peace," he said. The President thanked members of the armed forces and other security agencies for honouring the invitation and for their dedication to the country. "I stand before you to say thank you for responding to this invitation. Interfaith peace is very laudable, that we can celebrate together and break bread together," he said. In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed the loyalty of the Armed Forces to the President and pledged their continued commitment to defending Nigeria's democracy. Shaibu thanked the President for approving the upward review of salaries and allowances for members of the armed forces, including personnel of the Brigade of Guards. He also acknowledged Tinubu's support in the procurement of military equipment and the provision of better accommodation for troops. "These approvals will go a long way in enhancing our operational efficiency and I assure you that they are well received by members of the armed forces," the Army chief said. Shaibu pledged that the military would remain steadfast in safeguarding the nation's democratic system. "We wish to reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty to Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," he said. "We also remain the defenders of our democracy and will do everything it takes to safeguard it." The Army chief further expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their continued support for the armed forces in the ongoing fight against insecurity. The interfaith breaking of fast brought together senior government officials, service chiefs, members of the armed forces, and representatives of other security agencies as part of efforts to strengthen unity and morale among personnel engaged in protecting the nation. Also at the event were Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defense, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle; other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC); and other senior security and administration officials. Earlier in the day,the President had directed security agencies to rescue all the persons abducted by terrorists in the Borno attacks. President Tinubu, according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ordered the armed forces to intensify efforts to protect civilians nationwide and prevent further attacks on military formations in the North-East. He expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by the attack, describing the incident as a "heartless assault on hapless citizens." He mourned the loss of innocent lives, including military personnel and civilians killed during an aerial interdiction by the Nigerian Air Force targeting fleeing terrorists. Despite the tragic loss, the President commended the military for its swift response, noting that troops engaged the attackers and killed scores of the insurgents, forcing the terrorists to retreat. Military operations in progress to rid Ngoshe, others of criminals, says Zulum Reacting to the attack, Governor Zulum assured affected communities that the military "will do everything within its capacity to rescue them." The governor spoke during a visit to commiserate with the Ngoshe community in Pulka, yesterday. Zulum said rescue operations were already in progress to liberate the abducted persons, restore security and provide humanitarian support to victims. "We are here today to commiserate with the people of Ngoshe who have lost their loved ones following the unfortunate incident that occurred on Tuesday. The situation is very sad, and our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy," Zulum said. Continuing, he said: "We will do everything possible to address the unfortunate situation that has befallen this community, and for those who have been abducted, the Nigerian military will do everything within its capacity to rescue them. "There are ongoing military operations within the Sambisa Game Reserve. What we witnessed yesterday was largely a result of insurgents being pushed out from their strongholds, which led them to launch coordinated attacks on nearby communities." He asked the Army to intensify operations to clear insurgents from the Mandara Hills, which he described as a major security threat. "The Mandara Hills remain a major security concern. The insurgents descended from the hills to attack this town. Therefore, I call on the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to clear the Mandara Hills of insurgents," Babagana Zulum said. The governor noted that the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as assessments are still ongoing, but acknowledged that several lives were lost while others were abducted. As part of immediate humanitarian intervention, the governor said the state government had begun distributing relief materials and establishing cooking points to provide food for displaced residents. Zulum also inspected houses burnt during an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday in Konduga town. Massive number of people killed, says Ndume Senator Ali Ndume, who represents the area in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, said a massive number of people were killed by the insurgents during the Ngoshe attack. "The number of people killed actually is very massive, but we don't know the exact number, because I rely on the information from the chairman of the local government and the locals there," Ndume told the BBC yesterday. He said the terrorists had seized control of the village for two days before being forced out by the military, which used air strikes and ground troops to dislodge them. Not since the heyday of Boko Haram over a decade ago, when it controlled many parts of Borno, including Ngoshe, has the area seen such a "devastating attack", he said. He also suggested that the attackers may have escaped with weapons stolen from the military base, which could "reinforce them to attack the next location or target", saying this was a pattern in previous similar attacks. The attack on Ngoshe occurred on Wednesday evening, shortly after Muslims broke their fast. Local and security sources said suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters first attacked a military base belonging to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion before advancing into the community. The insurgents also stormed an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the area, killing several people, including soldiers, the chief imam of the town and some community elders. Troops kill 18 Boko Haram leaders, 59 others in one week The Defence headquarters said 18 Boko Haram leaders were killed during the week in intensified operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, the military's counter-terrorism campaign in Northeast Nigeria. An additional 59 terrorist fighters were neutralised in the Northeast and other operations across the country, while troops also recovered weapons and ammunition during the week-long offensive, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said in an update on the military's recent operational successes. Onoja named the top terrorist leaders killed as Saddam, Saleh Garin Kago, Ba Alayi Benbem -- all senior figures -- and Hussaini Ubaida. The Defence spokesperson said 24 kidnap victims were rescued during the period, while weapons recovered from the terrorists included anti-tank bombs, locally made mortar bombs, armed drones, and materials used for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Providing updates on operations in other theatres, Onoja said troops of Operations Fansan Yamma and Savannah Shield arrested terrorists and their collaborators. He said one suspect was apprehended with military-related accoutrements in Gobirawa Challi village in Zamfara State, while another was arrested with IED-making materials in Rogun Forest, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. He said: "Over 17 terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while several others were observed fleeing the forest with severe injuries. "Clearance and follow-on operations are ongoing to locate, engage and completely eliminate the remaining terrorist elements in the general area. "To consolidate these gains and prevent the re-establishment of criminal sanctuaries, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD has intensified fighting patrols deep into forested zones in close collaboration with the state government. "These sustained operations focus on areas historically exploited as hideouts and transit routes for terrorists, thereby enhancing overall security and enabling humanitarian access." Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/borno-abductions-dont-succumb-to-fear-tinubu-tells-nigerians/