The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has acknowledged the importance of sustained military operations in degrading terrorist activities across Nigeria, while calling for stronger intelligence sharing, effective border control and community participation to consolidate security gains.
Ribadu said the evolving nature of banditry and terrorism required a comprehensive security approach that combines military pressure with intelligence gathering, law enforcement and measures to disrupt the supply of illicit weapons to criminal groups.
He spoke on Saturday through the Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Usman Mijinyawa, at a brainstorming session on insecurity organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum in collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
The NSA identified Operation FANSAN YAMMA as a key platform for coordinating security operations across the North-West, noting the importance of sustained military engagement in confronting armed groups and restricting their operational freedom.
He said the Federal Government was also strengthening intelligence-led operations, border surveillance and coordination among security agencies to address the complex security challenges confronting the country.
Ribadu disclosed that more than 19,000 illicit weapons had been destroyed since 2022 as part of efforts to reduce the availability of firearms to terrorists, bandits and other criminal networks.
The destruction of the weapons forms part of broader efforts to weaken the capabilities of armed groups, while ongoing military operations seek to disrupt their movements, logistics and ability to threaten communities.
However, the NSA warned that military action alone could not guarantee lasting peace, particularly in areas where criminal groups exploit porous borders, economic hardship and vulnerable young people for recruitment.
He noted that banditry had evolved beyond cattle rustling, highway robbery and kidnapping to include attempts by armed groups to control territory, impose illegal taxes on rural communities, disrupt farming and commerce, and establish influence over local populations.
Ribadu identified Sokoto State's proximity to the Republic of Niger and the wider Sahel region as a major security concern, explaining that criminal networks exploit gaps in border security to move fighters, weapons and logistical supplies.
He therefore called for stronger regional security cooperation, improved border management and effective intelligence-sharing mechanisms to complement military operations and prevent armed groups from replenishing their resources.
The NSA also stressed the need to strengthen early-warning systems in vulnerable communities, specifically identifying Sabon Birni, Isa, Tangaza and Goronyo as areas requiring improved mechanisms for reporting suspicious movements and emerging threats.
According to him, intelligence gathering would become more effective when residents trust security agencies to respond promptly to credible information and protect the identities and safety of informants.
Ribadu further emphasised that the impact of insecurity extended beyond casualties and abductions, pointing to disruptions in agriculture and trade, displacement of families, interrupted education and worsening economic hardship.
He said the success of security operations should therefore be measured not only by arrests, weapons recovered or territories cleared, but also by the restoration of normal life in affected communities.
“Success must also mean safer communities, returning families, productive farms, reopened schools, functioning markets and the restoration of public confidence,” he said.
The NSA also backed lawful rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for eligible individuals willing to renounce violence, while insisting that such initiatives must not undermine justice or accountability.
“Reintegration must never replace justice or reward violence,” Ribadu said.
The Sokoto Advancement Forum reported that insecurity had affected 21 of the state's 23 local government areas, while more than 1,100 people were reportedly kidnapped in the state during the 12 months leading up to June 2026.
The figures, presented by the forum, underscore the continuing security challenges facing communities in the North-West despite ongoing military and security operations.
Ribadu urged government institutions, security agencies, traditional rulers and community leaders to translate discussions at the meeting into practical measures that would consolidate military gains, strengthen public confidence and prevent the resurgence of armed groups.
He maintained that a coordinated strategy combining sustained military pressure, intelligence-led operations, effective border controls and community resilience remained essential to degrading terrorist networks and achieving durable peace across the country.
