The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has urged citizens to remain resolute in the fight against terrorism following a high-level security briefing with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, held behind closed doors on Thursday, involved top security chiefs and the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu. It came amid a resurgence of attacks on military positions and communities in parts of the country.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Musa said the security briefing was convened to update the President on ongoing military operations and the broader security situation across the country.
He acknowledged the impact of recent attacks, including the assault on Ngoshe in northeastern Nigeria, but insisted that the armed forces were making significant progress against insurgent groups.
According to him, terrorist and bandit networks have suffered heavy casualties, including the loss of several commanders.
“Our appeal to Nigerians is not to get tired or discouraged. When people hear the news, they sometimes think that is the full picture, but it is not,” he said.
Musa admitted that security forces had also lost some officers and soldiers during the conflict, describing the losses as deeply regrettable.
The Defence Minister also revealed that President Tinubu had approved additional military equipment to strengthen ongoing operations against insurgents and bandits.
He said the military leadership briefed the President on current strategies and reassured him that security agencies were working together to restore stability across the country.
“It is a war, and war comes in phases,” Musa said, expressing confidence that the military would ultimately prevail.
He further noted that attacks by insurgent groups often increase during the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan, but added that security forces had already adjusted their strategies to counter the trend.
The recent attack on Ngoshe reportedly began on the evening of March 3 when armed fighters suspected to be members of Boko Haram stormed the community.
The attackers overran a military base, set it ablaze and launched assaults on homes
