Africa Must Lead Response to Growing Security Threats, Buratai Tells Forum

By Zagazola Makama

Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has called for African-led solutions to the continent’s worsening security challenges, warning that the continent is facing an unprecedented convergence of threats requiring collective action.

Buratai made the call on Friday while delivering the keynote address titled, “Africa’s Priority Security Threats,” at the 32nd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The retired army chief identified terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crime, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, governance-related instability, and the erosion of sovereignty through external dependence as the five major security threats confronting Africa.

According to him, the continent can no longer rely solely on external interventions but must strengthen regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and indigenous security capabilities.

Buratai described the Sahel as the global epicentre of terrorism, noting that the region now accounts for nearly half of all terror-related deaths worldwide.

He said that between January and November 2025, West Africa recorded about 450 terrorist attacks, resulting in more than 1,900 fatalities.

The former army chief noted that although Burkina Faso had recorded significant military gains under President Ibrahim Traoré, with government forces reclaiming about 72.7 per cent of occupied territories by June 2025 through Operation Lalmassga, extremist groups continued to stage deadly attacks.

He said intensified military operations in early 2026 reportedly eliminated at least 400 militants, but fresh attacks by jihadist groups, including those linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), underscored the persistent threat.

Buratai also expressed concern over the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying the development had weakened regional intelligence-sharing and collective security efforts.

He warned that violent extremism was spreading beyond the Sahel into coastal West African countries, citing a sharp increase in attacks in northern Benin over the past three years.

On transnational organised crime, Buratai said West Africa was facing increasingly interconnected threats involving terrorism financing, piracy, arms trafficking, drug smuggling and cybercrime.

He noted that criminal networks were becoming more sophisticated and exploiting weak border controls, digital technologies and fragile governance structures to expand their operations across the region.

The retired general also identified cybersecurity as an emerging national security challenge, stressing that African countries must invest in cyber defence capabilities, digital infrastructure protection and regional cooperation to counter growing cyber threats.

Buratai urged African governments, policymakers and security institutions to adopt coordinated, home-grown strategies capable of addressing the continent’s evolving security landscape while safeguarding sovereignty and promoting sustainable peace and development.

He emphasised that lasting security on the continent would require stronger institutions, enhanced intelligence cooperation, economic resilience and greater political commitment among African nations.

Africa Must Lead Response to Growing Security Threats, Buratai Tells Forum

Release of Oyo School Kidnap Victims, a Testimony of Effective Inter-Agency Collaboration- NSCDC Boss

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has applauded the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State, describing the operation as a major boost to the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative.

The Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Audi, commended the coordinated efforts of security agencies involved in the operation, saying the rescue underscored the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity.

The victims were kidnapped by armed terrorists on May 15, 2026, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State before they were freed in a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies.

Those involved in the rescue include the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army Special Forces, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the NSCDC.

Reacting to the development, Prof. Audi said the operation reflected the Federal Government’s resolve to combat terrorism, secure schools and safeguard the lives of Nigerians.

He praised the courage, professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the security personnel, noting that the NSCDC would continue to support efforts aimed at protecting schools and other critical national assets through intelligence gathering, strategic deployment of personnel, community engagement and sustained collaboration with sister security agencies.

The NSCDC boss also called on Nigerians to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could aid the arrest of criminal elements, stressing that security is a shared responsibility.

Reaffirming the Corps’ commitment to its statutory responsibilities, Audi said the NSCDC would continue to protect critical national assets and infrastructure, respond to emergencies, strengthen disaster management and work closely with other security agencies to promote peace and security across the country.

Release of Oyo School Kidnap Victims, a Testimony of Effective Inter-Agency Collaboration- NSCDC Boss

Airstrikes Destroy ISWAP Stronghold, Logistics Hub in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has sustained its relentless air campaign against terrorist elements in the North-East, destroying a key terrorist enclave and logistics hub during a precision air interdiction mission in Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out at about 2:40 p.m. on Friday, July 10.

The sources disclosed that the target was located at Yaganari, a notorious terrorist enclave within the Gezuwa general area, where insurgents had reportedly been regrouping and consolidating logistics for planned operations.

According to the sources, the strike followed credible intelligence indicating increased terrorist activities and the massing of fighters at the location.

“Persistent ISR missions were conducted to verify the intelligence before any engagement. The surveillance platform positively identified multiple terrorist structures, logistics hubs and visible movement of insurgents within the objective area,” one of the sources said.

Following confirmation of the hostile activity, the aircraft acquired the designated targets and executed a series of precision attacks in successive passes, delivering onboard munitions with high accuracy.

The coordinated strikes destroyed the identified terrorist structures, obliterated logistics facilities and neutralized several terrorists operating within the enclave.

Military sources described the mission as another significant setback to terrorist operations in the North-East, noting that the destruction of logistics infrastructure would further degrade the insurgents’ ability to sustain attacks and coordinate movements.

The latest operation emphasis on intelligence-driven precision strikes aimed at dismantling terrorist command centres, safe havens and supply networks while supporting ongoing ground operations by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.

Security sources said battle damage assessment is ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted on the terrorist network, while air surveillance over the area has been intensified to exploit the success of the operation and prevent any attempt by surviving fighters to regroup.

Airstrikes Destroy ISWAP Stronghold, Logistics Hub in Borno