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Theatre Commander Traces Terrorists’ Weapons to Post-Libya Arms Proliferation, Says Nigeria Strengthens Border Security
Theatre Commander Traces Terrorists’ Weapons to Post-Libya Arms Proliferation, Says Nigeria Strengthens Border Security
By Zagazola Makama
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY), Major General W.B. Idris, has attributed the proliferation of sophisticated weapons in the hands of terrorists and bandits across Nigeria to the collapse of Libya, saying the resulting flow of illicit arms across the Maghreb and Sahel continues to fuel insecurity in the region.
The commander made the remarks on Thursday during an interactive session with defence correspondents at the Headquarters of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Gusau, Zamfara State, while responding to questions following a comprehensive operational briefing on the command’s activities.
Addressing the question of how terrorists continue to acquire sophisticated weapons despite ongoing military operations, Major General Idris said the collapse of Libya created one of the largest illicit arms trafficking networks in Africa, with weapons finding their way into the hands of terrorist organisations, transnational criminal groups and other violent actors operating across the Sahel.
“It is a well-known fact that the proliferation of arms in the Maghreb region became much worse after the fall of Libya. Most of these weapons eventually found their way into the hands of terrorists and criminal elements that are determined to destabilise countries across the region, including Nigeria,” he said.
The Theatre Commander explained that the challenge extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, stressing that the country’s security architecture has increasingly adopted a regional approach to counter the transnational nature of terrorism.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have strengthened operational collaboration with neighbouring countries through intelligence sharing, coordinated border patrols and joint security initiatives aimed at preventing the movement of terrorists, weapons and logistics into Nigerian territory.
He disclosed that troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA work closely with security forces from the Republic of Niger along the extensive Nigeria-Niger border stretching through Sokoto and adjoining operational sectors.
Similarly, he noted that troops under Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD maintain active security collaboration with forces of the Republic of Benin to secure Nigeria’s western border and deny criminal elements freedom of movement across international boundaries.
“These collaborations are not limited to routine patrols. We constantly exchange intelligence with our counterparts in neighbouring countries so that movements of terrorists, arms and logistics can be detected and disrupted before they reach Nigerian territory,” he said.
Major General Idris explained that beyond intelligence sharing, the Nigerian military closely monitors terrorist activities and emerging security trends across the Sahel to anticipate potential threats before they spill into the country.
He cited recent terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries as developments that are carefully studied by Nigerian security agencies in order to strengthen domestic preparedness and prevent similar incidents.
The commander revealed that after monitoring recent large-scale terrorist attacks outside Nigeria through intelligence and open-source surveillance, the military immediately reviewed its own defensive posture and strengthened the protection of strategic national assets.
He pointed specifically to measures taken to improve security around critical infrastructure, including airports and other sensitive installations, following attacks on similar facilities elsewhere in the region.
According to him, troops remain actively engaged in ongoing operations against terrorist groups across the North-West while border surveillance has been intensified to prevent infiltration.
“As we are speaking today, our troops are in contact with terrorists. Operations are ongoing, while we continue to strengthen border security and intelligence gathering to prevent illegal movement of weapons and terrorists into Nigeria,” he said.
The Theatre Commander acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, securing Nigeria’s vast land borders remains a continuous undertaking that requires sustained collaboration among security agencies and neighbouring countries.
“We are not there yet, but we are making every effort to ensure that our borders are secure and free from infiltration as well as the illegal movement of weapons into Nigeria,” he added.
Major General Idris stressed that intelligence remains the cornerstone of the military’s counter-terrorism strategy, noting that every operational success depends on timely information, regional cooperation and proactive security measures designed to stop threats before they materialise.
He reiterated that Operation FANSAN YAMMA would continue working with sister security agencies, neighbouring countries and local communities to dismantle terrorist logistics networks, deny criminal groups access to illicit weapons and strengthen security across the North-West.
The commander assured Nigerians that despite the evolving nature of the threat, the Armed Forces remain committed to protecting the country’s territorial integrity and preventing external terrorist influences from taking root within Nigeria.
Theatre Commander Traces Terrorists’ Weapons to Post-Libya Arms Proliferation, Says Nigeria Strengthens Border Security
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers in Plateau Raid
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have arrested three suspected kidnappers during a raid on a criminal hideout at Mista-Ali in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Credible security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, following intelligence reports on the activities of suspected kidnappers operating in the area.
The troops raided the identified hideout and arrested three suspects, identified as Umar Aliyu, 25; Abdulrahman Adam, 25; and Bello Isa, 21.
Two other suspects reportedly escaped during the operation.
However, one of the fleeing suspects attacked and stabbed a soldier, identified as CPL Muhammad Adam, with a knife while attempting to escape.
The injured personnel was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Mista-Ali, where he was admitted for medical attention.
A search of the houses belonging to the arrested suspects was subsequently conducted, but no incriminating items were recovered.
The three suspects remain in military custody and are assisting ongoing investigations into their activities and possible links to kidnapping operations in the area.
The development highlights the continued efforts by security forces to dismantle criminal networks and prevent kidnappers from establishing hideouts in communities across Plateau State.
Zagazola Makama reports that security agencies have continued to intensify intelligence-led operations in vulnerable communities as part of efforts to protect residents and maintain peace in the state.
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers in Plateau Raid
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ECOWAS, Africa Agenda Network Deepen Partnership to Showcase Regional Bloc’s 50-Year Legacy
ECOWAS, Africa Agenda Network Deepen Partnership to Showcase Regional Bloc’s 50-Year Legacy
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Africa Agenda Network (AAN) as part of efforts to document, promote and deepen public understanding of the regional bloc’s five decades of achievements and contributions to West African integration.
The renewed commitment was made on Tuesday when the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, received the Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Agenda Network, Ms. Muna Jallow, during a working visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on the progress of the Africa Agenda Network–ECOWAS Strategic Partnership Initiative, a three-phase programme designed to commemorate ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary while strengthening citizens’ appreciation of the organisation’s role in advancing regional cooperation.
Briefing the Commission President, Jallow said the initiative’s first phase had been successfully implemented through the ECOWAS@50 Trade, Investment and Exhibition Forum held in Lagos, Nigeria.
She disclosed that attention has now shifted to the second phase—the production of a commemorative publication documenting the history of ECOWAS over the past 50 years, highlighting its major milestones, achievements and contributions to regional integration.
According to her, the final phase of the initiative will see the production of a high-quality documentary series that will tell the ECOWAS story through the voices and experiences of citizens from across the organisation’s member states.
Responding, Touray welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to sustaining and expanding its partnership with the Africa Agenda Network.
He said the collaboration would play a vital role in increasing public awareness of ECOWAS, preserving its institutional history and projecting the organisation’s achievements and impact across West Africa and the international community.
The partnership comes as ECOWAS marks 50 years since its establishment in 1975, a period during which the regional body has played leading roles in promoting economic integration, facilitating free movement across member states, supporting democratic governance and peacekeeping efforts, and advancing regional development initiatives despite persistent political and security challenges.
The commemorative publication and documentary are expected to serve as enduring records of the bloc’s evolution while helping a new generation of West Africans better understand the relevance of regional integration to the future of the sub-region.
ECOWAS, Africa Agenda Network Deepen Partnership to Showcase Regional Bloc’s 50-Year Legacy
Netherlands Donates Equipment to Boost Nigeria Immigration’s Hostmanship Programme
By: Michael Mike
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has donated specialised equipment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to strengthen its Hostmanship Unit, deepening more than two decades of bilateral cooperation aimed at improving migration management and customer service delivery.
The equipment was presented by the Repatriation and Departure Service (R&DS) of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security during a ceremony at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Receiving the donation, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the gesture as a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Netherlands, noting that it would bolster institutional professionalism and improve service delivery.
Nandap said the equipment represents a strategic investment in institutional excellence and would enhance the Hostmanship Unit’s training capacity and operational efficiency.
She explained that the initiative is designed to entrench the philosophy of hostmanship across the Service, encouraging immigration officers to ensure that members of the public are treated with courtesy, empathy and professionalism at every point of contact.
“The equipment will further strengthen our capacity to institutionalise the Hostmanship philosophy, where every officer is inspired to make people feel welcomed, respected and valued,” she said.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja, Mr. Ronald Sonnemans, described the collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service as a model of sustained international partnership.
He reaffirmed the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance migration management, institutional capacity and public service delivery in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Immigration Service disclosed that the partnership has already produced tangible results, including the training of hundreds of immigration officers, the establishment of a dedicated Hostmanship Unit and sustained capacity-building programmes under the European Union-funded Capacity Building and Relationship Management (CBR) Project.
According to the Service, the latest donation underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthening migration governance through innovation, knowledge sharing and institutional reforms that enhance public confidence in immigration services.
The Service expressed appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Repatriation and Departure Service for their continued support, pledging to ensure the donated equipment is effectively utilised in advancing ongoing reforms.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has in recent years intensified reforms aimed at modernising border management, improving service delivery and enhancing the professionalism of its personnel. A key component of these reforms is the Hostmanship programme, a customer service philosophy developed in Sweden that focuses on creating positive service experiences by treating every individual with respect, courtesy and empathy.
The Netherlands has remained one of Nigeria’s key international partners in migration governance, supporting capacity-building initiatives through bilateral cooperation and European Union-funded programmes. The collaboration has focused on improving migration management, combating irregular migration, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting international best practices in public service delivery.
The latest donation is expected to further consolidate these reforms as the Nigeria Immigration Service seeks to build a more citizen-focused and globally competitive immigration system.
Netherlands Donates Equipment to Boost Nigeria Immigration’s Hostmanship Programme
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