- Boko Haram: ‘Insurgency Won’t End Without Locals’ – CDS Oluyede
- Oluyede says many insurgents are locals known within communities
- Military adapts as attacks intensify with drones and renewed violence
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has said ending the Boko Haram insurgency requires active participation and cooperation from residents of Borno State and Yobe State.
Oluyede stated this on Wednesday in Maiduguri during an operational visit alongside the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the visit followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu, who ordered military chiefs to relocate to the North-East to take direct control of the worsening security situation.
The directive came after multiple explosions in parts of Borno State left several persons dead and others injured.
Addressing residents, Oluyede stressed that insurgency could not be defeated without local involvement, noting that many perpetrators are known within their communities.
“I want to put it clearly this afternoon that for us to end this act of terrorism, the people of Borno State and Yobe must take ownership of this problem,” he said.
“Bulk of people perpetrating this heinous act are from these states, they are our brothers, sisters, cousins and we know them.”
He cited a recent attack in Kukawa to support his claim.
“For example, when Kukawa was attacked, and we were conducting cordon and search afterward, we realised that two of the people that came to attack Kukawa were those inside that village. That means they are accomplices,” he added.
The CDS said defeating insurgency requires collective resolve and urged communities to play an active role in identifying and exposing criminals.
“We must take ownership of this crisis. That is my message to the people of Yobe and Borno,” he said.
On the growing sophistication of attacks, especially the use of drones by insurgents, Oluyede said the military was adapting to evolving tactics.
“It’s something that is evolving, and we are responding with German drones and we are getting more of the drones,” he disclosed.
Recent weeks have seen a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram fighters targeting both military formations and civilian communities in the North-East.
The development has raised fresh concerns over security in the region, prompting renewed military operations and federal intervention to curb the insurgency.
