Civil Defence Service calls on Borno and Yobe communities to reclaim responsibility in combating Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has urged the people of Borno and Yobe states to take an active role in combating Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, citing that local complicity has hindered military operations in the region.

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General Oluyede made this statement on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with senior military officers, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, and the Theatre Commander of North East Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, in Maiduguri.

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According to Oluyede, credible intelligence suggests that many individuals responsible for attacks in the region over the past 15 years are from the affected states, highlighting the need for local cooperation to end the insurgency.

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Oluyede stated that the purpose of his visit was to review strategies in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the North East, acknowledging that the past month has seen attacks by terrorists, particularly during Ramadan.

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Despite these challenges, Oluyede asserted that the military is in control of the situation, but noted that many perpetrators of terrorist attacks are known to the local communities, as evidenced by the discovery of two wounded terrorists hiding in a village during a cordon and search operation in Kukawa.

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Oluyede emphasized the importance of residents taking ownership of the fight against terrorism, stressing that local cooperation is crucial to ending the insurgency in the region.

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The CDS also addressed the increasing use of drones and other technological weapons by terrorists, revealing that the military is responding by deploying German-made drones and enhancing surveillance capabilities.

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Oluyede's visit to Maiduguri was made under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who deployed the CDS and other service chiefs to the region to strengthen coordination and address the rising wave of attacks and bombings in the North-East.

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Ultimately, Oluyede urged citizens to support military efforts, emphasizing that community involvement is key to securing lasting peace in Borno and Yobe states.