Terror war not over despite gains, Shettima warns

Vice President Kashim Shettima has cautioned that while significant progress has been recorded in the fight against insurgency, such gains must not be mistaken for final victory.

Shettima, who was represented by the Special Adviser on General Duties, Dr Aliyu Modibbo, made the remark on Thursday during the unveiling of a two-volume book titled ‘Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency Operations in North East Nigeria’, authored by Maj Gen Ibrahim Yusuf (retd.).

He said Nigeria’s security challenges in recent years should be viewed not as evidence of a weakened nation, but as a test of the resilience and determination of its people.

“What Nigeria has endured in recent years is not evidence of a nation overwhelmed by danger, but rather a reflection of the resilience and courage of Nigerians who continue to stand firm in defence of a shared destiny.

“While significant progress has been made in degrading terrorist capabilities, progress must not be mistaken for final victory.

“Terrorism requires sustained vigilance, continuous adaptation, and strengthened collaboration among all stakeholders,” he stated.

Shettima stressed that terrorism and insurgency could not be defeated through military action alone, adding that a comprehensive approach involving intelligence, technology, diplomacy, community engagement, and development was necessary for lasting peace.

He commended the sacrifices of the Armed Forces, intelligence services, humanitarian workers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and citizens who continue to contribute to stabilising affected regions across the country.

The Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu to strengthening the operational readiness, welfare, and morale of the Armed Forces.

He further called for deeper investment in military capacity, intelligence gathering, technology, and civil-military cooperation to sustain gains already recorded in the counterterrorism effort.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, described the publication as a major intellectual contribution to military scholarship and operational learning.

Oluyede said the author, a former Commander of 21 Brigade, General Officer Commanding 7 Division, and Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, brought extensive field experience into the two volumes.

He noted that the work effectively bridges theory and practice in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, particularly in intelligence-led warfare, inter-agency coordination, and strategic planning.

“Knowledge preservation is essential to institutional growth, and works such as this ensure that valuable lessons from the field are not lost but passed on to future generations,” he said.

The author, Maj Gen Yusuf (retd), said the publication took about eight years to complete, adding that it was driven by the need to contribute to professional military knowledge and guide younger officers engaged in counterinsurgency operations.

He said he deliberately avoided sensitive operational details that could compromise ongoing missions, stressing that the book focuses on lessons learned and strategic reflections from over a decade of field experience in the North-East and Lake Chad Basin.

The government has repeatedly stated that security forces have made significant progress in degrading terrorist groups across parts of the country, particularly in the North-East.

However, these claims have come under public scrutiny amid reports of continued and, in some areas, increasing attacks and abductions by armed groups.

The contrasting narratives have sustained debate among citizens over the true state of the insurgency and the durability of recent security gains.