President Bola Tinubu has ordered Nigeria’s senior security and intelligence chiefs to immediately relocate to Maiduguri, Borno State, following a series of terrorist attacks that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. The directive, announced in a State House statement, marks a significant federal intervention to address a resurgence of violence in Nigeria’s North-East.
The president expressed profound sorrow over the incidents, stating, “I mourn those who lost their lives, sympathise with the injured and stand in solidarity with the people of Borno during this challenging time.” He characterised the latest attacks as “desperate and frantic attempts” by terrorist elements to instil fear, attributing them to sustained pressure from the nation’s armed forces.
This top-level deployment is intended to centralise command and enhance coordination of ongoing counterterrorism operations in the region. “I have directed security chiefs to move to Maiduguri to take charge of the situation,” Tinubu affirmed, signalling a hands-on federal strategy to stabilise Borno, which has long served as the epicentre of Nigeria’s fight against the insurgency.
The president commended the military and civilian joint task forces for successfully repelling coordinated assaults on military installations, praising their “courage and fighting spirit.” He assured Nigerians that there is no safe haven for terrorists within the country. “We will locate them, confront them, and completely defeat them,” he declared.
Tinubu also revealed he had recently approved additional equipment and operational support for the armed forces, with reinforcements already being deployed to affected areas. Furthermore, he directed emergency response agencies to provide immediate medical and humanitarian assistance to victims of the attacks, stating, “I have also directed the emergency agencies to provide proper care for the injured.”
Reaffirming his administration’s resolve, the president stated, “Nigeria will not succumb to fear.” The move comes amid persistent concerns over sporadic insurgent activities in the North-East, underscoring the enduring security challenge in the region despite years of military operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The deployment to Maiduguri is seen as both a tactical measure and a symbolic gesture of federal commitment to restoring lasting security in Borno State.
