CDS calls for community role in counterinsurgency efforts in North-East
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has called on residents of Borno and Yobe states to play a more active role in efforts to end insurgency in the North-East, warning that the threat is being sustained from within affected communities.
Speaking after a high-level security meeting on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Oluyede stressed the need for a shift towards community-driven strategies, alongside ongoing military operations, to tackle the activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
The meeting, which lasted several hours, was attended by top military officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, and the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Oluyede noted that intelligence findings have shown that some individuals involved in insurgent activities are embedded within local communities, often taking advantage of familiar terrain and social networks to operate.
He explained that many of those behind attacks in the region over the years are believed to come from the same communities most affected by the violence, complicating military operations.
Citing a recent incident in Kukawa, the defence chief said troops discovered wounded insurgents hiding within the community during clearance operations, underscoring the difficulty in distinguishing civilians from collaborators.
He emphasised that the success of counterinsurgency efforts depends not only on military action but also on the cooperation of residents, urging communities to take collective responsibility in confronting the threat.
The CDS also highlighted the changing tactics of insurgents, including the use of drones, noting that the military is enhancing its capabilities with advanced technology to improve surveillance and operational effectiveness.
