Musa: We’ll Treat Terrorists’ Collaborators as One, They Will Be Prosecuted as Well

• House urges security to deepen operation in Ekiti 

• Naval chief orders field commanders to intensify operations to secure Nigeria

• Bandits kill 14, injure dozens in fresh Katsina attacks 

•General Laka: IEDs still major threat to counter-terrorism operations in North-east

Adedayo Akinwale, Linus Aleke in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has warned that anyone aiding terrorist groups in the country would be treated as terrorists and prosecuted like them under the law.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a strategic meeting with the country’s service chiefs, Musa said the federal government would no longer tolerate individuals who provided any form of assistance to insurgents or criminal groups threatening national security.

According to him, those who supply intelligence, logistics, shelter, or other forms of support to terrorists are just as guilty as the perpetrators of violence themselves.

“A friend of a thief is a thief,” the minister said, stressing that security agencies have been directed to intensify operations, not only against terrorists, but also against their collaborators.

He stated that the approach was necessary to weaken the networks that sustain the activities of insurgents and restore lasting peace to communities affected by violence across the country.

Musa acknowledged that the armed forces had recorded some casualties in recent operations, but insisted that terrorist groups and bandits suffered greater losses.

He said, “We are aware that we have lost some personnel, but the terrorists and bandits are taking more casualties. We are eliminating more of their commanders and destroying their assets, and we will continue to do so.”

The defence minister also urged the media to exercise caution in reporting security issues, warning that broadcasting terrorist propaganda materials, including videos circulating on social media, can inadvertently aid their agenda.

He stated, “When these videos and images are widely shared, they provide terrorists with the publicity they seek and can also demoralise our troops.

“We, therefore, appeal to the media to remain professional and avoid allowing their platforms to be used to spread terrorist propaganda.”

Musa reassured Nigerians that the armed forces and other security agencies were working closely together to tackle insecurity nationwide.

He congratulated the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police and pledged strong collaboration to strengthen ongoing operations.

He further thanked President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, governors, and other stakeholders for their continued support to the military.

Calling for greater public cooperation, Musa urged citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

“Security is a collective responsibility,” he said, add-ing, “When you see something that is not right, report it immediately. Together, we will overcome these challenges and ensure that Nigeria remains safe and secure.”

Ekiti: House Asks Security to Increase Operations

House of Representatives called on the federal government, Nigerian Army, and other security agencies to immediately intensify security operations in Ekiti State.

The green chamber said the call became imperative following the escalating insecurity in   Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero, and neighbouring communities in the state.

The House also called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate a joint security operation involving relevant federal security agencies to identify and dismantle criminal camps operating within the forests around the Ekiti–Kogi–Kwara border axis.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at plenary on Wednesday by Hon. Akintunde Rotimi.

Rotimi decried the growing wave of kidnappings, killings, and violent attacks in several communities within Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, particularly within the Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero, and Ijowa axis of Ikole Local Government Area.

He stated that recent reports of kidnapping incidents along the Oke-Ako/Ipao/Irele corridor, where criminal elements operating from nearby forests had abducted residents, farmers, and travellers, had created widespread fear and insecurity among the local population.

Rotimi recalled that in late February 2026, a middle-aged woman was reportedly abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed by kidnappers in the Ajoni area, after which the perpetrators

allegedly demanded a ransom of N1.5 million together with illicit drugs and other unusual items before releasing the victim’s remains.

He narrated that during attempts by members of the community to negotiate or deliver ransom in connection with the incident, more individuals were reportedly abducted by the same criminal group, further escalating tension and insecurity within the affected communities in Ekiti State.

Rotimi cited several attacks on farmers within the Irele axis, where residents had been abducted from their farmlands, and in one instance an elderly woman popularly known within the community as “Mummy Isaac”, was reportedly killed during an attack.

In its resolution, the House, “Urges the federal government, through the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and other relevant security agencies, to immediately intensify security operations in the Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and neighbouring communities in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

“Calls on the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate a joint security operation involving relevant federal security agencies to identify and dismantle criminal camps operating within the forests around the Ekiti–Kogi–Kwara border axis.

“Mandates the House Committees on Defence, Army, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to engage with the relevant security agencies to ascertain the steps being taken to address the situation and report back to the House within four weeks.

“Urges security agencies to strengthen intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations within the affected communities and surrounding forests in order to prevent further attacks.”

Intensify Naval Operations to Secure Nigeria, Abbas Orders Field Commanders

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, directed commanders of Nigerian Navy commands, units, and establishments to intensify naval operations in order to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and curb criminal activities within the country’s maritime domain.

The directive was given during a strategic meeting at Naval Headquarters in Abuja with Flag Officers Commanding, as well as commanders of tri-service operations, operational bases, and logistics groups.

A statement by Acting Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the engagement formed part of efforts by the CNS, four months after assuming office, to reposition and strengthen naval operations across all areas in line with Nigerian Navy’s Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy.

Folorunsho explained that the meeting followed an extensive operational tour by the naval chief to various formations and units, where he interacted with personnel and consulted with key stakeholders to improve operational efficiency.

He said the initiative aligned with the CNS’s vision of building a modern, agile, and professional naval force capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests, while working closely with other security agencies to achieve national security objectives.

Abbas commended the operational achievements recorded under the navy’s flagship operation, Operation Delta Sentinel, as well as other ongoing maritime security operations.

Bandits Kill 14, Injure Dozens in Fresh Katsina Attacks

About 14 persons were, reportedly, killed and several others injured following two separate attacks by suspected bandits in Dandume and Musawa local government areas of Katsina State.

The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday evening at Dansoda and Jikamshi communities, threw the affected areas into panic, as gunmen reportedly opened fire on residents and looted property.

A resident of Dansoda, Kabir Adamu, who confirmed the attack to journalists yesterday, said the marauding bandits invaded the agrarian community about 8pm and killed 11 people on the spot.

Adamu said many people were sitting outside their homes and under trees relaxing when the gunmen suddenly invaded the community, shooting sporadically.

He added that when the attackers left, residents came out of hiding and discovered that 11 people had been killed, while 13 sustained injuries during the attack.

“People ran in different directions to escape the attack, but some of the bandits shot directly at fleeing residents, leading to the death of 11 people. They left 13 other people with gunshot wounds,” he said.

He stressed that the victims were buried on Wednesday morning according to Islamic rites, while those injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

In the Jikamshi community, the bandits killed three residents and left 11 others with varying degrees of gunshot injuries during the attack that occurred about 6:10pm.

A resident of the area, Suleiman Ibrahim, said the hoodlums operated in the area for more than an hour, during which they looted shops and carted away food items and other valuables worth millions of naira.

He explained that prior to the attack, they had alerted security operatives and government officials about a possible invasion by the bandits.

Confirming the Jikamshi attack, in a statement, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said a joint team of security agencies, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Musawa Division, engaged the bandits in a gunfight and “successfully foiled” the attack.

General Laka: IEDs Still Major Threat to Counter-Terrorism Operations in North-east

National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Adamu Laka, said Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) remained one of the most potent threats to personnel involved in counter-terrorism operations, particularly in the North-east.

Speaking at the Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Baseline Assessment Workshop in Abuja, Laka stated that beyond causing loss of life and injuries, IED attacks disrupted agricultural and economic activities, restricted humanitarian access, displaced communities, and undermined investor confidence in affected areas.

He stated that the effects extended far beyond the immediate theatre of operations, impacting the stability and recovery of communities nationwide.

“It is in recognition of this threat that the National Counter Terrorism Strategy prioritised the development of a National Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Strategy,” Laka said.

Guided by the Lomé Recommendations of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, the centre has been collaborating with international partners to develop a coordinated framework that strengthens national capacity to counter the evolving use of IEDs by terrorist groups.

The workshop, co-organised with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and British High Commission, represented a timely step towards enhancing Nigeria’s national response to the persistent threat.

Mr Edwin Faigmane of UNMAS explained that the UN worked to mitigate IED threats to personnel, civilians, and infrastructure, aligning training with international standards.

He stated that the programme, initiated in 2024, included operational assessments of Nigeria Police EOD and IED capabilities and training of the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to deliver risk education in hard-to-reach areas.

British High Commission representative, Annup Uyes, emphasised the importance of participant input in improving counter-IED measures, while Corps Commander, Engineering, Nigerian Army, Major General Shamsideen Shafaru, stressed that countering IEDs required a unified, intelligence-driven, capability-focused approach, as no single organisation could address the challenge alone.

“By examining existing capabilities, training, and coordination mechanisms, we can identify gaps, enhance synergy, and optimise collective strengths,” Shafaru said.