Following a series of daring insurgent raids in Borno State, Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that the Federal Government remains resolute in the face of terror, promising that the Nigerian State will respond with “overwhelming force” to secure collective peace.
In a statement issued on Saturday, he condemned the recent wave of violence as “despicable acts of cowardice” intended to destabilise the nation’s progress.
The statement comes after President Bola Tinubu briefed the security architecture and reached out to the Borno State government to express solidarity.
The latest security breach involved a multi-pronged offensive by insurgents across several strategic locations in Borno State.
According to Shettima, the incidents included a tragic raid on the Ngoshe community, where insurgents abducted scores of residents, including women and children.
The attackers also launched coordinated assaults on military formations and forward operating bases in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok within the state.
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NRTC gathered that while the military repelled several of the attacks, some positions were briefly breached, and several soldiers paid the supreme price in the line of duty.
Shettima emphasised that the administration has already moved beyond rhetoric, directing a “swift and total mobilisation” of the nation’s security resources.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace our people or occupy an inch of Nigerian soil,” he stated.
To combat the resurgence, the government is deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected corridors, particularly the vital Maiduguri–Damaturu highway.
Addressing the ideological nature of the conflict, Shettima noted that the administration is fighting more than a physical war; it is defending the “soul of our humanity” against a “toxic rhetoric of hate.”
He lauded the gallantry of the troops on the frontlines and the resilience of the Borno people under Governor Babagana Zulum.
He further assured the families of those kidnapped in Ngoshe that the administration “will not rest” until every abducted citizen is safely reunited with their loved ones.
Reiterating the “Renewed Hope” agenda’s commitment to safety, he concluded with a stern warning to the perpetrators: “This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State. We choose light over shadow, and hope over despair.”
