Shettima Urges Sustained Military Pressure On Terrorists, Says Progress Not Yet Victory

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged military commanders to sustain coordinated pressure on terrorist groups across the country, warning that while progress has been made, it must not be mistaken for final victory.

He also called for stronger investment in intelligence, technology and civil-military cooperation to consolidate gains recorded 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, former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force and ex-Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, the Vice President urged commanders to remain vigilant and adaptive in responding to evolving asymmetric threats.

“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.

He stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges required a “whole-of-society approach,” involving the military, intelligence services, policymakers and civilians, noting that counterterrorism operations must reflect lessons from frontline experiences.

The Vice President described the North-East conflict as both a security and humanitarian crisis, adding that sustained vigilance was required to prevent resurgence of violent extremism.

He commended the author for documenting operational experiences and strategic lessons from the theatre of operations, describing the publication as timely and valuable for national security discourse.

Shettima also called for increased investment in military capability, intelligence gathering, technology deployment, troop welfare and morale, while paying tribute to members of the Armed Forces, intelligence community, humanitarian workers and civilians involved in stabilisation efforts.

He reiterated the federal government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu to strengthening the operational readiness of the Armed Forces and urged that the publication be widely used in military and academic institutions.

Also speaking, Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), said the fight against terrorism remained one of Nigeria’s most complex security challenges and could not be won by the military alone.

“The Armed Forces cannot win this fight alone. Every member of the Armed Forces and indeed the entire society must contribute to the fight against terrorism,” he said.

He stressed the need for joint action by military, civil authorities and citizens, noting that terrorists often operate within communities.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, described the publication as a significant contribution to military scholarship, saying it bridges theory and field experience in counterterrorism operations.

“Knowledge preservation is essential to institutional growth,” he said, urging other retired officers to document operational experiences for future generations.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), also said operational success depended on strong field leadership and coordination, noting that air-ground collaboration had significantly degraded terrorist capabilities between 2015 and 2017.

He stressed that lasting victory against insurgency required both military effectiveness and civilian cooperation.

Author of the book, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf (rtd), said the publication developed over eight years was designed to contribute to military knowledge, guide younger officers and strengthen counterinsurgency strategy.

He said sensitive operational details were deliberately excluded to protect ongoing missions, adding that retired officers must document experiences to preserve institutional memory.

The event was attended by former defence chiefs, service chiefs, senior military officers, academics and security stakeholders.