Kaduna – Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has assured citizens that the armed forces are on the verge of a decisive victory against bandits, even as the nation grapples with renewed cases of school abductions.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, monitored in Kaduna, Badaru acknowledged that security challenges remain but described the current situation as characteristic of guerrilla warfare.
“This is how guerrilla warfare works,” the minister explained. “There will be periods of calm, and then they launch an attack that shakes the nation. Yes, we know their locations, but these are areas where direct strikes could harm civilians, or forests where our bombs cannot penetrate.”
Troops Working Round the Clock
Badaru emphasized that Nigerian troops are operating tirelessly to dismantle criminal networks.
“Our soldiers are working day and night to root out these criminals,” he said. “We are inches away from crushing banditry once and for all.”
Concern Over School Abductions
The Defence Minister expressed worry over the resurgence of mass kidnappings of students, noting that the government has initiated a full investigation into the incidents.
“We never said the problem was completely over,” Badaru admitted. “But this renewed kidnapping of schoolchildren worries us. We are studying what went wrong and how to prevent a recurrence.”
He highlighted that the government already has a framework for school security, which had significantly reduced abduction cases in the past two years.
Investigation Into Kebbi Attack
Badaru confirmed that authorities are probing allegations that security personnel were withdrawn shortly before bandits stormed a girls’ school in Maga, Kebbi State.
“We will uncover what happened,” he vowed. “If anyone is found culpable, they will be sanctioned.”
Avoiding Civilian Casualties
The minister also revealed that some bandit groups have been extorting rural communities. However, he stressed that the military deliberately avoids airstrikes in those areas to protect innocent lives.
“We cannot sacrifice civilians in the process of fighting banditry,” Badaru said. “Our operations are carefully planned to ensure safety while achieving results.”