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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Army vows to defeat foreign jihadists at borders

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Nigerian Army has detected foreign jihadist activities near its borders and vows to confront the threat decisively.
  • The Army Chief of Staff stated that over 80% of troops are currently committed to internal security operations.
  • President Tinubu's administration is investing in emerging technologies and indigenous defense production to modernize the Army.

The Nigerian Army has detected the presence of foreign jihadists operating near Nigeria's borders and is prepared to confront this threat, according to Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu. He assured the public that the Army is alert and capable of handling the situation.

We have already noticed the footprints of foreign jihadists across our borders. However, I would like to assure us all that the Nigerian Army is alert and equal to the task.

— Lt Gen Waidi ShaibuChief of Army Staff, addressing the detection of foreign jihadist activities.

Speaking at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Port Harcourt, Shaibu drew parallels to past generations of soldiers who overcame significant challenges, including world wars and civil conflicts. He emphasized the Army's ongoing evolution to meet current security realities while remaining dedicated to defending the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The celebration theme, “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the Nigerian Army,” underscored this commitment.

Shaibu highlighted that approximately 80% of Nigerian troops are currently engaged in operations across the country to address diverse security challenges. This deployment underscores the significant demands placed on the military.

Like our forebears who overcame the challenges of their generations in the two World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and the ECOMOG missions, the Nigerian Army of today will certainly prevail in confronting the security challenges of our generation.

— Lt Gen Waidi ShaibuChief of Army Staff, expressing confidence in the Army's ability to overcome current threats.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed his administration's commitment to tackling Nigeria's evolving security landscape. This includes adopting emerging technologies, enhancing military capacity, and investing in indigenous defense production. The President stated that the government aims to modernize the Nigerian Army to improve its operational capabilities and combat readiness against contemporary threats, with a focus on research and development to advance technologies and strengthen homegrown innovations.

My administration is firmly committed to countering contemporary threats through the adoption of emerging technologies and the building of capacity across all battle spaces, thereby improving operational planning and combat readiness.

— President Bola TinubuRepresented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, outlining the administration's security strategy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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