Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has stated that the Nigerian Armed Forces are steadily making headway in tackling banditry nationwide, despite a recent uptick in school kidnappings.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, monitored in Kaduna, the minister acknowledged that security challenges persist but framed the current pattern of attacks as a form of guerrilla warfare, with criminal groups striking intermittently to spread fear.
“This is how guerrilla warfare works,” Badaru said. “There will be periods of calm, and then they launch an attack that shakes the nation. Yes, we know their locations, but some of these areas are places where direct strikes could endanger civilians, or forests where our bombs cannot penetrate.”
He emphasized that Nigerian troops are operating “day and night” to dismantle the networks behind the violence and reassured the public that significant progress is being made.
Badaru expressed alarm over the resurgence of mass abductions of schoolchildren, noting that the government has launched a thorough investigation into recent incidents.
“We never said the problem was completely over. But this renewed kidnapping of schoolchildren worries us. We are studying what went wrong and how to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
The minister highlighted that a previously established framework for school security had helped reduce incidents over the past two years.
He also confirmed that an inquiry is underway regarding reports that security personnel were withdrawn shortly before bandits struck a girls’ school in Maga, Kebbi State.
“We will uncover what happened. If anyone is found culpable, they will be sanctioned,” he said.
Badaru further voiced concern about bandit groups extorting rural communities while explaining that military operations in these areas are carefully planned to minimize civilian casualties.
Addressing comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about possible military intervention over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the minister said Nigerian officials are actively engaging with the U.S. government to discuss the matter.
