Christopher Musa, the Minister of Defence, has attributed the recent rise in bomb attacks and security incidents in parts of the country to efforts by armed groups seeking to portray the government as weak ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
The minister spoke on Tuesday during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise Television.
He said terrorist groups operate with ideological motivation and rely heavily on local intelligence networks to carry out coordinated attacks against security forces.
“Ideologically, they feel if they die, they’re going to heaven. If they kill somebody, they’re going to get blessed. So they take every risk to come out,” he said.
INFORMANTS AIDING TERRORISM
The minister also said security forces have suffered casualties due to what he described as deliberate attacks aided by informants and collaborators who provide information on troop movements and deployment strength.
He explained that the nature of the conflict has made it difficult for the military, describing it as asymmetric warfare, where attackers often overwhelm smaller units with superior numbers.
According to him, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have also contributed significantly to military and civilian casualties.
Musa cited the use of fertiliser, particularly urea, in the production of explosives, noting that government restrictions on fertiliser distribution in parts of the North-East were introduced to curb its misuse.
He said that although the policy has affected farmers, it was necessary to strike a balance between agricultural needs and security concerns.
The minister added that increases in attacks tend to coincide with political seasons, suggesting an attempt by armed groups to create fear and undermine confidence in the government.
“Any time it’s a political year, it goes up… individuals want to take advantage to make the government look weak,” he said.
He, however, said the perpetrators include both internal and external actors, adding that the government remains committed to tackling insecurity across the country.
