Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigeria’s military to sustain coordinated operations against terrorist groups, warning that recent gains in the fight against insurgency should not be mistaken for total victory.
He gave the charge in Abuja at the public presentation of “Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency Operations in North-East Nigeria,” Volumes 1 and 2, authored by retired Major General Ibrahim Yusuf, a former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force and ex-Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, emphasized the need for continued vigilance, intelligence sharing, and stronger use of technology in counterterrorism operations. He called for deeper civil-military cooperation to consolidate progress already recorded in the North-East.
The Vice President noted that although the Nigerian Armed Forces have significantly degraded terrorist capabilities, the threat remains active and requires sustained pressure and adaptive strategies. He stressed that counterterrorism efforts must be backed by a whole-of-society approach involving the military, intelligence agencies, policymakers, and civilians.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges reflect both operational and humanitarian realities, particularly in the North-East, where communities continue to bear the impact of prolonged conflict. He praised the resilience and professionalism of security forces operating in difficult conditions.
Shettima also described the publication as a valuable contribution to national security discourse, noting that it captures frontline experiences and strategic lessons that can guide future operations. He added that the work would help counter misinformation and improve public understanding of counterinsurgency efforts.
The Vice President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to defeating terrorism while strengthening peace, stability, and reconstruction efforts across affected regions.
