Weekend Trust Page 3 Comment, Saturday March 21, 2026
This is not the best of times for Nigeria’s offensive against terrorism and banditry; not with the resurgence of attacks on military bases with accompanying casualties. Indeed, terror attacks peaked dramatically in early March 2026, recording one of the deadliest periods for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) since the November 18, 2018 attack on Metele military base, Borno State when dozens of soldiers were killed while arms and ammunition, including heavy weapons, were looted.
In fact, in the recent sporadic coordinated multidirection assaults with guns, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and drones, terrorists had overrun military positions, burning vehicles and fighting tanks, looting ammunition and weapons.
Scores of soldiers were killed, including commanding officers (Cos) – Lt Col Umar Farouk (Chukka), Lt Col SI Iliyasu (Konduga), Major U. I. Mairiga (Mayenti, Bama), Lt Ismaeel Baba and Maj Segun Amusan.
On Friday, March 13, 2026, bandits ambushed troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) in Plateau State, killing 14 soldiers, including two senior military officers and eight vigilante members.
Added to the breach and killings in military bases and posts, innocent Nigerians are living with the fear and reality of kidnapping and destruction of lives and property. For example, on Tuesday, bandits attacked Farun Bala, Falale and Kadobe villages in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing 15 people and injuring several others.
Late last month, bandits attacked the Joint Task Force (JTF) base in Gwana, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, killing two soldiers attached to 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi and a member of the local vigilante group. Altogether, bandits have sacked more than 30 communities in Bauchi.
Then, about 7:00pm on Monday, March 16, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital witnessed coordinated multiple suicide bombings targeted at three crowded and strategic locations. Twenty-six persons were killed and 108 injured. And as is the custom, President Bola Tinubu condemned the bombings and killings, directing Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to relocate immediately and take charge of the security situation.
But Daily Trust believes that such directives are not new and are largely symbolic. In June 2015 and August 2017, explicit presidential directives were issued to the CDS and Service Chiefs to relocate the military command and control centre to Maiduguri and to man them. Some non-directive interim relocation moves have been made over the years. For example, in May 2025, then COAS, Gen Olufemi Oluyede relocated to Maiduguri to re-jig counterterrorism operations.
This newspaper believes that the situation today has gone beyond the template of presidential directives and pledges of commitments. On Tuesday, President Tinubu pledged that “there is no place in Nigeria where terrorists will find safety. We will locate them, confront them and completely defeat them. Nigeria will not succumb to fear.”
That was very eloquent, but Nigerians demand real action on ground as they are tired of the killings, destruction and kidnappings.
We admit that there has been repelling of attacks by our gallant troops through intensified operations in high-risk locations and across multiple fronts, which has resulted in the killing of scores of insurgent commanders and fighters and the destruction of several of their major terror camps.
While commending the bravery of the troops, Daily Trust believes strongly that a new approach of using superior intelligence and firepower and taking the battle to the hideouts and camps is the way to go. It is not just about putting up swift resistance when the terrorists attack. They should feel the fiery anger of Nigerians in their enclaves.
It is deeply unsettling that after 16 years of war against terrorism, defence and security forces don’t have the identities and locations of every terrorist on their fingertips.
It is time the country’s intelligence grid is activated to dismantle the criminal networks terrorising communities across the country, who also find joy in killing soldiers, police officers, vigilantes and local hunters.
We believe that the major bane on the frontlines remains intelligence failures, which allow undetected staging of terror attacks. Therefore, while calling for optimisation of regional cooperation with Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), we also urge the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Department of State Services (DSS) and Police intelligence network to live up to expectations and fully fulfill their mandates without excuses.
All Daily Trust is asking the federal and subnational governments is to live up to the billing of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), section 14(2)(b), which states that the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government.
There should be total territorial dominance and projection of strength across Nigeria that ensures a stop to ambushes or overrunning of troops’ locations with the capitation of commanders, which not only demoralises the rank and file but also disrupts operations while yielding high propaganda value to the terrorists.
Most importantly, the era of under-fortified, underresourced and vulnerable bases or ill-equipped troops should belong in the past. It is good news that troops are now enjoying new presidential welfare packages and that President Tinubu has authorised the procurement of additional military equipment to bolster the campaign.
We also remind the political, defence and security leadership that they must rise above the capacity of the terrorists and ensure no further breach of the Nigerian space by non-state actors. If possible, heads should roll with any dereliction of duty. It is time for all personnel to go out and get dirty on the frontlines instead of sitting cozy in offices, writing memos.
Daily Trust also expresses its eagerness to see the positive spikes coming with the arrival and stationing of American troops. Towards this, we urge the expedition of the fulfillment of their shared intelligence objective and other forms of assistance to help Nigeria halt the attacks while defeating the enemy.
We insist that the situation now is embarrassing and smacks of loss of command and control. Nigeria cannot afford to be losing soldiers, territories and citizens to terror elements.
The Presidency should show the ball for the urgency needed to defeat terrorism and banditry. The military must discard the seeming lethargy and defeatist defensive posture and deploy modern technologies to help boost troops’ morale.
This is the time to rein in the terrorists and snuff the oxygen that fuels their attacks, while stopping the mounting death tolls among civilians and soldiers.