Shettima Tasks Military on Sustained Offensive Against Terrorists, Strengthened Joint Operations
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on military commanders to sustain coordinated pressure on terrorist groups across the country, while deepening joint operations, intelligence sharing, and the use of technology to consolidate gains recorded in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
Shettima gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency Operations in North East Nigeria, Volumes 1 and 2, authored by retired Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, a former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force and ex-Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He said Nigeria’s security forces had made significant progress in degrading terrorist capabilities but warned against complacency, stressing that recent gains must not be mistaken for the end of the insurgency.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, the Vice President said the evolving nature of asymmetric threats required sustained vigilance, improved coordination, and a whole-of-society approach involving the military, intelligence agencies, policymakers, and citizens.
According to him, the counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East remains both a security challenge and a humanitarian crisis, requiring continued national attention and long-term strategic response.
“What Nigeria has endured in recent years is not evidence of a nation overwhelmed by danger, but a reflection of the resilience and courage of Nigerians who continue to stand firm in defence of a shared destiny,” he said.
Shettima stressed that operational success in the North-East must be matched with sustained investment in intelligence, surveillance capabilities, technology deployment, and improved civil-military relations.
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He also emphasised the importance of troop welfare and morale, noting that effective security operations depend heavily on the wellbeing and motivation of personnel in the field.
The Vice President commended the author for documenting operational experiences and strategic lessons from Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaigns, describing the publication as a timely contribution to national security discourse.
He said the two-volume work would help strengthen doctrine development, counter misinformation, and deepen public understanding of the complexities of counter-insurgency operations.
Shettima also paid tribute to members of the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, humanitarian workers, and civilians involved in stabilisation efforts in conflict-affected areas, including those who lost their lives in service to the country.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthening the operational readiness, capacity, and welfare of the Armed Forces.
The Vice President urged military institutions, academics, and policymakers to leverage insights from the publication to improve strategic planning and national security responses.
He further called for unity and sustained national resolve in confronting insecurity, noting that lessons from past operations must continue to guide future strategies for lasting peace.
Reviewing the book, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae described the publication as a landmark contribution to military scholarship and counterterrorism studies in Nigeria.
He said the author successfully combined field experience with academic rigour, producing a comprehensive analysis of counter-insurgency operations.
Osaghae added that the nearly 900-page work, supported with detailed tables and empirical illustrations, represents a rare bridge between operational command experience and scholarly research.
By PRNigeria
