Tinubu approves new military hardware amid rising terror attacks

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the procurement of new military equipment to strengthen the fight against terrorism and banditry across Nigeria, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has disclosed.

Musa revealed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after a nearly two-hour security meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He said the President reaffirmed his commitment to equipping the armed forces and other security agencies to confront insurgents and restore security nationwide.

“The President has promised more equipment for us to be able to protect the nation, and we assure victory,” Musa said, although he did not specify the type or quantity of hardware approved.

According to the defence minister, the meeting was convened to review the current security situation following recent attacks on military formations. It was also the first security meeting attended by the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, since assuming office on February 28, 2026.

Musa explained that service chiefs used the session to brief the President directly on developments in the field, noting that media reports sometimes fail to capture the full scope of ongoing operations.

“The mission of the meeting was for the services to brief Mr President on the current situation on the ground. We felt it was important to put the record straight because sometimes interpretations through the media have not been too direct,” he said.

He urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite reports of attacks, insisting that terrorists and bandits were suffering heavier casualties than security forces.

“Our appeal to Nigerians is not to get tired or discouraged. When you hear the news, you may think that is all that is happening, but it is far from that. The terrorists and bandits are taking more casualties, and their commanders are being killed,” Musa said.

The minister, however, acknowledged that the military had also suffered losses in recent operations, describing the deaths of officers and soldiers as “highly regrettable.”

“We have lost a number of very courageous officers and men, which is highly regrettable, but we assure Nigerians of our commitment to ensuring that Nigeria is safe and secure,” he added.

Recent weeks have seen intensified attacks by insurgents on military positions in Borno State, including assaults in Ngoshe, Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok, resulting in casualties among both security personnel and civilians.

In the past week alone, at least three commanding officers heading forward operation bases were reportedly killed amid the surge in attacks on military formations.

Musa attributed the spike in violence partly to the ongoing Ramadan period, explaining that some insurgents believe dying during the holy month guarantees them paradise.

“It is normal with terrorists during the Ramadan period. For them, they feel when they die they are going to heaven, so they are ready to commit offences or get killed because they believe there is a reward,” he said.

He maintained that the military had adjusted its strategies and was already recording gains.

“In the past few days we have taken over those locations, killed some of their commanders and seized their assets. We will continue to do more,” Musa stated.

The security meeting, which ended around 5:10 pm, was attended by top officials including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi; Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede; and the new police chief, Disu.

Also present were the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke; Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye.

The meeting comes amid heightened security concerns in the Northeast, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province continue to mount attacks on military positions.

Earlier, during an Iftar with service chiefs on March 6, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s determination to defeat insurgency. Vice President Kashim Shettima also assured Nigerians that the government would end the insurgency with “overwhelming force.”