RismadarVoice Reporters
March 19, 2026
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has urged residents of Borno and Yobe states to take ownership of the fight against terrorism, warning that local support for insurgents is prolonging insecurity in the North-East.
Oluyede made the call in Maiduguri after a closed-door meeting with senior military commanders at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, following his relocation to the state alongside the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
Addressing journalists, the CDS said the insurgency, which has persisted for over 15 years, cannot be defeated without the cooperation of local communities.
He noted that many perpetrators of attacks are from within the affected areas, stressing that residents must take responsibility by providing actionable information to security agencies.
Citing a recent incident in Kukawa, Oluyede said troops discovered wounded attackers hiding within the community during follow-up operations, suggesting possible complicity.
He added that the military was also studying the evolving tactics of insurgents, including their use of technology, to develop effective countermeasures.
On the recent bombings in Maiduguri, the CDS said such attacks tend to increase during Ramadan, but assured that the military was intensifying efforts to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday visited victims of the multiple bomb blasts at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where he commiserated with victims and hospital officials. The attacks, which occurred at the hospital entrance, Monday Market and Post Office area, reportedly left 23 people dead and over 100 others injured.
Shettima condemned the attacks, stressing that no religion supports the killing of innocent people, while Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, described the incident as “despicable, cruel and cowardly.”
Also reacting, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) condemned the renewed wave of violence, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into widespread anarchy if urgent and decisive measures are not taken to address the country’s security challenges.
