Borno violence: Shettima pledges to crush militant uprising with brute strength

Vice President Kashim Shettima has pledged to crush the insurgency in the North-East using "decisive and overwhelming force", following a series of recent attacks in Borno State that left security personnel and civilians dead or injured.

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These attacks, which included abductions in Ngoshe and coordinated assaults on military formations, prompted Shettima to issue a statement on Saturday, via his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.

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Shettima declared that the government would not be swayed by the attacks and instead would bring an end to the violence with the full might of the Nigerian State, emphasizing that the value of human life is absolute and non-negotiable.

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The Vice President stated, "We remain one nation, tied to a common destiny", and vowed to restore order, saying "This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State".

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In response to the attacks, the government is deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected areas, as disclosed by Shettima.

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He noted that the recent events serve as a painful reminder of the ongoing threat, but expressed optimism, saying "The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the shadow that persists, but let it be known: we choose light over shadow, and hope over despair".

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Shettima also highlighted the nation's resolve, stating "Our difference as a nation is the distance between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order".

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President Bola Tinubu has been briefed on the attacks and has directed a swift and total mobilisation of the security architecture, according to Shettima, who quoted the President as taking a firm stance against the insurgents.

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The Vice President stated, "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already directed a swift and total mobilisation of our security architecture", and warned that the Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace Nigerian citizens or occupy the country's territory.

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The recent attacks targeted military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, with insurgents briefly overrunning some positions before reinforcements arrived, while residents were abducted by terrorists in Ngoshe.

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Shettima declared, "We are not just fighting a war, we are defending the very soul of our humanity against those who preach a toxic rhetoric of hate, and we will not be cowed by their gory acts".

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The Vice President assured citizens that the perpetrators of the attacks would face the full force of the law and promised that the administration would not rest until the abducted citizens are safely reunited with their families.

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He expressed sympathy for the families of the brave soldiers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, saying "Our hearts bleed for the families and the brave soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty".

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Shettima also promised that the administration would not rest until the abducted citizens are safely back with their families, stating "This administration will not rest until abducted citizens safely reunite with their families".

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The Vice President commended the resilience of the people and government of Borno State under Governor Babagana Zulum and praised the gallantry of troops on the frontlines.

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President Tinubu had earlier called Governor Zulum to express sympathy and solidarity over the attacks, and during an interfaith breaking of fast with service chiefs on Friday, the President assured the military that Nigeria would prevail over terrorism despite the recent attacks.

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President Tinubu stated, "I appreciate all the people facing the challenges of terrorism and banditry, we will win, Nigeria will prevail".

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Borno State has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency and attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province since 2009, despite sustained military operations to degrade the terrorist groups.

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Ngoshe, located in Gwoza Local Government Area near the Cameroon border, has been repeatedly targeted by insurgents, with residents frequently abducted for ransom or forced labour, and the recent attacks followed a relative calm in some parts of the state in recent months.