By George Mgbeleke
Feared Killing of Soldiers in Borno Exposes Alarming Questions Over Nigeria’s War on Terror
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised the alarm over the reported killing of soldiers in a terrorist attack on a military post in Mairari community, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, warning that the incident raises grave questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy.
HURIWA in statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko says the reported attack is a red flag that the military high command must not ignore, dismiss or bury under routine operational explanations.
When terrorists can attack a military formation for more than two hours and soldiers are feared killed, Nigerians deserve urgent answers about what went wrong, what the military knew beforehand and what is being done to prevent a recurrence.
The association warns that the reported incident exposes potentially serious operational vulnerabilities that demand immediate scrutiny by the Chief of Army Staff and other heads of security agencies.
HURIWA insists that Nigeria cannot afford a counter-terrorism campaign in which troops continue to face deadly threats without the nation receiving credible explanations of major operational setbacks and assurances that identified weaknesses will be addressed.
The association says the time has come for the military leadership to subject its battlefield strategies, intelligence gathering, surveillance systems, troop deployment and protection measures to rigorous examination.
The central question is unavoidable: are Nigeria’s current operational approaches delivering the protection and battlefield advantage that soldiers need to confront terrorists effectively?
HURIWA says the Chief of Army Staff and other security chiefs must urgently answer that question through action, not rhetoric.
The reported assault in Mairari, which local sources said lasted more than two hours, demands a comprehensive assessment of how the attackers reached the military position, sustained the attack and whether any intelligence or tactical failures contributed to the outcome.
The association stresses that it is not prejudging the military’s conduct or the circumstances of the attack. However, the gravity of the reported casualties makes a credible investigation and an honest operational assessment imperative.
HURIWA notes that the Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, Umar Sheriff, reportedly said troops repelled the attackers and that no civilian was killed. However, the actual number of soldiers killed or injured remains unconfirmed.
The association therefore demands a verified account of the incident, including the casualty figures, the circumstances surrounding the attack and the immediate measures being taken to protect troops and nearby communities.
HURIWA will not accept silence as a substitute for accountability on an incident of this magnitude.
The association calls on the military high command to identify and correct any weaknesses uncovered by the incident, strengthen intelligence-led operations, improve force protection and ensure that personnel deployed against terrorists receive the equipment, intelligence and operational support required to perform their duties.
HURIWA also warns that every loss of a soldier represents a devastating human cost to the affected family and the country. Soldiers serving on the front lines deserve more than patriotic tributes after tragedy; they deserve effective planning, responsible command decisions and practical measures that reduce avoidable exposure to danger.
The association says the consequences of failing to learn from battlefield setbacks could extend beyond military casualties, potentially exposing surrounding communities to renewed attacks and undermining public confidence in the national security response.

HURIWA demands an urgent response from the military leadership to the serious operational concerns raised by the reported attack.
The association expects the Chief of Army Staff and relevant security authorities to demonstrate that the incident is receiving urgent attention and that appropriate steps are being taken to establish the facts, assess operational weaknesses and prevent further losses.
HURIWA stresses that this demand is not an attempt to undermine the morale of serving troops. Rather, it is a call to protect the men and women risking their lives to defend Nigeria and to ensure that the institutions responsible for their safety confront difficult questions with the seriousness they deserve.
Nigeria’s war against terrorism cannot be won through slogans, public assurances or the routine announcement that attackers have been repelled. It requires effective intelligence, sound battlefield strategy, operational discipline and the willingness to correct failures wherever they occur.
HURIWA’s position is unequivocal: the nation must not normalise the killing of its soldiers, and no serious operational setback should pass without scrutiny, lessons and corrective action.
The Chief of Army Staff and other security chiefs must act with urgency. The lives of Nigerian soldiers, the safety of vulnerable communities and the credibility of the counter-terrorism campaign demand nothing less.

By Ignatius Okorocha
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged opposition political figures to acknowledge what he considers the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, arguing that political differences should not prevent an objective assessment of government policies and performance.

Wike made the remarks during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, where he addressed party leaders, governors and other political stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Wike described himself as a leader of the PDP while explaining his support for President Tinubu. He maintained that political affiliation should not prevent politicians from acknowledging decisions they consider beneficial to the country.

The former Rivers State Governor disagreed with opposition narratives portraying the administration as lacking direction, arguing that Tinubu had demonstrated the willingness to confront difficult national problems that previous governments had recognised but had not adequately addressed.

On national security, Wike expressed confidence in the administration’s capacity to confront insecurity and highlighted the proposed establishment of state police as a reform he believes could strengthen security management.

The debate over state policing has continued to generate national discussion, particularly around constitutional safeguards, funding, accountability and the relationship between federal and state authorities.

The FCT Minister also challenged members of the Presidential Campaign Council to demonstrate their political influence through measurable results within their respective areas of responsibility, rather than relying solely on their appointments or positions.

In the review of the proceedings prepared by the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA), Wike’s intervention was identified as one of the significant moments of the inauguration.

His remarks formed part of an inauguration that brought together political figures from different parties, including Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

For the FORCEPA Media and Publicity Team, the inauguration presented an opportunity to document the positions articulated by political stakeholders on governance, public accountability, security reform and the relationship between political competition and national development.

The Forum maintains that public discussion of government performance should be informed by verifiable policies, measurable outcomes and the experiences of Nigerians across different sectors.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to sustain the prevailing peace and protect critical national assets in the state.

Governor Diri stated this on Monday in Government House, Yenagoa, when he received the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Nigerian Army 6 Division, Major General Everest Okoro and other senior military officers who paid him a courtesy visit after their official posting to the state.

Other military officers that visited the governor included the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, and the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Mobility Command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal Michael Onyebashi.

The governor applauded the military for their collaboration with the state government, noting that the synergy had contributed to the existing peace and stability in Bayelsa.

His words: “We appreciate you and commend the synergy you have established with other security agencies. The presence of personnel from various paramilitary and security agencies, alongside the military, demonstrates the importance of collaboration. By working together, you can provide sound advice to both the Federal Government and state governments on security matters.”

The Bayelsa governor, however, appealed to the military authorities to reconsider Bayelsa State’s alignment from the 6th Division, headquartered in Port Harcourt, to the 83 Division, which now has Delta and Bayelsa headquartered in Benin, Edo State.

He stressed that the state’s proximity to Port Harcourt would make coordination and logistics easier.

He welcomed the proposed establishment of additional Army formations in Oporoma, (Southern Ijaw Local Government Area), Ekeremor (Ekeremor LGA) and Nembe (Nembe LGA) as well as an artillery regiment and a Forward Operating Base in Sampou (Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA), describing the development as a boost to security across the state’s three senatorial districts.

While addressing the FOC CNC, Rear Admiral Ibrahim, the Bayelsa governor noted that the presence of the Navy in Brass would not only enhance security in the state but also in the country given the strategic importance of Bayelsa in oil and gas and maritime activities.

According to Diri, Bayelsa is one of the safest states in Nigeria, with no reported cases of sea piracy in several security council meetings, a feat attributed largely to the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Navy.

Responding to the FOC’s requests, Diri directed the Ministry of Lands and Survey to provide land in Brass for the construction of a naval jetty, to enable relocation of five warships to Bayelsa, as the move would assist in protecting offshore resources and ensure prompt response to security threats.

Also, the governor directed the same ministry to immediately make land available for the construction of the Nigerian Navy Referral Hospital at Elebele.

While reacting to remarks of the Commander, OPDS, Rear Admiral Oladipo, he described the JTF as a stabilising task force that has helped to achieve lasting security and increased oil production in the Niger Delta region.

“The history of the Joint Task Force is well known to us. For us in Bayelsa, it was a stabilising task force that came in when security and oil production were under threat. Today, the story is different. Oil production, which was declining, has started increasing, and you are doing well by working with the people and the government.

“Bayelsa is the nerve centre of the oil and gas industry, where oil was first struck in commercial quantity and made Nigeria an oil-producing country. It is no coincidence that the JTF headquarters is located here.”

Also, responding to the NAF AOC Mobility Command, AVM Michael Onyebashi, Diri promised to look into the command’s requests for more operational vehicles, furnishing of its primary schools among others with a view to addressing them.

In separate remarks, Major Gen. Everest Okoro thanked the governor for supporting the Army, particularly the 16 Brigade, and attributed its operational successes to cooperation among the military, other security agencies, the state government and local communities.

The GOC pledged to sustain the existing partnership with the government, traditional institutions, community leaders, and other stakeholders to maintain peace and protect critical national assets.

Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, commended the governor for the monumental development achieved under his administration.

The Naval Chief, who disclosed that he had 11 warships under his command, said the ships were currently stationed in Delta and Rivers states because Bayelsa does not have a port to host them.

Also, the JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, attributed increased oil production in the Niger Delta to improved security, noting that Nigeria exceeded its OPEC quota for the first time in over five years.

He also revealed that the command’s mediation centre resolved over 300 cases in the preceding month, urging oil operators and host communities to seek peaceful resolutions rather than disrupt production.

Oladipo projected that national oil production could surpass three million barrels per day by next year.