Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday met with Nigeria’s top military leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following fresh attacks by insurgents in the north-east that reportedly killed three commanding officers.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was the president’s first security engagement with service chiefs since Tunji Disu assumed office as the country’s police chief.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the meeting focused mainly on the worsening security situation in several parts of Nigeria, particularly the renewed wave of attacks targeting military bases and personnel.
Rising Insurgent Attacks
The latest attacks were linked to extremist groups operating in the region, including Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province.
These groups have waged an insurgency against the Nigerian government for more than a decade, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.
The conflict has been particularly severe in the north-eastern states of:
Borno State
Yobe State
Adamawa State
Although the Nigerian military says it has reclaimed much of the territory previously controlled by insurgents, the groups continue to launch ambushes, raids on military installations, and attacks on civilian communities.
Changing Tactics by Insurgents
Security analysts say the recent attacks suggest a shift in insurgent tactics, with militants increasingly targeting military convoys, forward operating bases, and strategic formations.
These assaults have sometimes resulted in casualties among senior officers, raising concerns about possible intelligence gaps and operational weaknesses in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
The renewed violence has intensified pressure on the Tinubu administration to review its security strategy and strengthen military operations, particularly in the north-east where the insurgency has persisted for years
