….We have all It takes to crush terrorists, says security chiefs
THE Federal Government has assured Nigerians that ongoing security operations will lead to the safe rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent attacks across parts of the country, insisting that coordinated intelligence-driven efforts are already yielding results.
The assurance was given yesterday at a special national security briefing in Abuja, where the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government remains fully committed to ending attacks on schools and communities and ensuring that no victim remains in captivity.
The briefing comes amid renewed public concern following recent abductions in Oyo State and a terrorist attack on a school in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where dozens of children were reported missing. The incidents have further heightened anxiety over insecurity in parts of the country.
Idris described the latest wave of attacks as deeply troubling but insisted that security agencies are actively tracking those responsible.
“The safe return of every child and every teacher currently in captivity remains a top national priority. No Nigerian child should be in captivity, and every available lawful instrument of the state is being deployed to ensure their rescue,” Idris said.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed security agencies to intensify operations, including the deployment of specialised rescue teams and the strengthening of surveillance in vulnerable forest corridors.
The minister also disclosed that 1,000 forest guards would be recruited to support security operations in high-risk communities, particularly in areas increasingly used as hideouts by criminal elements.
According to him, multiple security and intelligence agencies; including the Armed Forces, DSS, Nigeria Police Force, NIA, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre are jointly coordinating rescue missions and intelligence gathering.
“We are not relenting. Intelligence operations, aerial surveillance and search-and-rescue missions are ongoing across affected areas. Operational details cannot be disclosed, but Nigerians can be assured that progress is being made,” the reiterated.
He noted that the administration’s response to insecurity goes beyond military action, stressing the importance of intelligence-led policing, technology deployment and structural reforms, including the planned introduction of state policing.
“We are dealing with a complex and evolving security challenge,” he said. “What we have adopted is a comprehensive strategy that combines force, intelligence, cooperation and long-term reforms to ensure lasting peace.”
The Federal Government urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of security agencies by providing credible information, while warning against misinformation that could aid criminal groups.
Idris also cautioned against narratives that could embolden terrorists, saying insecurity must be confronted collectively by all Nigerians.
“Terrorism has no tribe, no religion and no political affiliation. Its only objective is destruction,” he said. “We must deny them the fear and division they seek to create.”
He assured families of abducted victims that government efforts are ongoing and unwavering.
Fielding questions from journalists, security chiefs at the briefing insisted that Nigeria possesses the capacity and coordination required to defeat terrorist groups and rescue abducted victims.
A senior military spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said recent attacks should not be seen as a sign of weakness but rather a reflection of pressure being mounted on insurgents.
“We have gone to every nook and cranny where these terrorists are located, destroyed their logistic hubs, their bases and camps. Many of them are fleeing to other areas that hitherto had no insecurity issue,” he said.
He added that the armed forces would continue to pursue criminals wherever they operate, warning that “anyone who takes up arms against Nigeria will be tracked and neutralised.”
Also speaking, Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said hostage rescue operations require careful planning rather than rushed interventions driven by public pressure.
He explained that security agencies must prioritise the safety of victims in all operations.
“The objective of security is to save lives, not to impress. It is to ensure that victims return safely to their families and communities. That is always the guiding principle,” Mijinyawa explained.
The Nigeria Police Force also assured Nigerians that intelligence-led operations are ongoing nationwide, though operational details are being withheld to protect the safety of personnel and victims.
