Foreign mercenaries helping Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists, Nigerian Army says

Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, theatre commander of Operation Hadin Kai, says infiltration of foreign mercenaries has significantly escalated the threat posed by terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
Mr Abubakar disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking with defence correspondents who are on a media tour of the theatre of operation in Maiduguri.
He said the foreign mercenaries facilitate tactical and strategic training for these terrorists’ leading use of drones in the theatre. He revealed the arrest of four Pakistani nationals who were involved in arms running with the terrorists.
According to him, the infiltration of foreign mercenaries in the joint operations area has significantly escalated the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISWAP and JAS.
”The recent arrest of four Pakistani nationals, who initial investigations suggest deal in arms running with terrorists, is instructive.
”It suffices to mention that the foreign mercenaries facilitate tactical and strategic training for these terrorists,” he said.
The theatre commander said the recent development of armed drones for attacks on troops potentially illustrated the refinement of the terrorist tactics, techniques, and procedures by mercenaries.
He added that the terrorists’ use of advanced improvised explosive device fabrication and placement of public traps further demonstrated the influence of the foreign mercenaries.
According to him, the growing influence of these mercenaries is evident in the terrorists’ increasingly coordinated assets, resulting in higher casualties among troops and greater equipment losses.
”This alarming trend calls for an immediate coordinated response, including intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, as well as strong collaboration between Nigeria and neighbouring nations to disrupt cross-border support networks.
”The Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists are not waging war against the armed forces but against Nigeria,” Mr Abubakar said.
Mr Abubakar said the war against insurgency was an asymmetric warfare that was difficult to fight, urging the media to treat terrorism as a war against the nation.
The theatre commander said that troops, however, had continued to make sacrifices to ensure that communities affected by the activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP were stabilised.
Earlier, the team lead, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Abu-Mawashi, said the media tour was the brainchild of the chief of defence staff, Christopher Musa, to equip defence correspondents with first-hand information of what the military was doing.
Mr Abu-Mawashi said the visit also aims to elicit empathy from reporters who cover the day-to-day activities of the armed forces.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

World
Sheinbaum vows to defend Mexico’s independence, sovereignty from U.S. interference
The president, “U.S. agents today are “very clear” about how they can operate in Mexico.’’

Heading 2
OAU students’ union decries incessant robbery attacks on off-campus residence
Mr Damilola stated that one of the victims lost her phone to the incident.

States
Gov. Alia resuscitates Benue Links with 100 buses, haulage trucks
Mr Fanafa added that the state government had subsidised transportation for people living with disabilities by 50 percent.

States
Centre advocates e-procurement processes to curb corrupt practices
The coordinator said that the project was to improve social and environmental standards

States
Court remands man, 35, for allegedly defiling nine-year-old girl
Ms Sarumi adjourned the case until June 30 for mention.

Heading 1
Tinubu dangles N45,000 monthly stipend before students at technical colleges
Mr Bugaje said that the new initiative would reverse the trend and restore the technical and vocational education and training to its former prominence.