Nigeria disputes terrorists’ defeat — Premium Times Nigeria

The editorial board of Premium Times Nigeria questioned Nigerian Defence Minister Christopher Musa’s claim that terrorists in the country had allegedly been defeated. The publication called this assessment premature, citing a series of attacks, killings and mass abductions.

Abductions and attacks

According to the editorial, about 500 people were abducted on August 21 during an attack on mosques and villages in the Borgu area of Niger State. The publication says that five communities were burned during the attack: Yagba, Mayanga, Dekara, Kapubara and Gbagbaji.

After the abduction, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the military and other security agencies to deploy to the area to rescue those abducted. According to Premium Times, even before the attack, security forces had warned residents of the affected areas that they needed to relocate because of the presence of armed groups.

The publication also reported that shortly after the minister’s statement, Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in Adamawa State and killed 11 people. In early September, the attackers, according to the editorial, attempted to seize an Operation Hadin Kai military base in Pulka, in the Gwarzo local government area of Borno State.

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The authors separately mentioned a four-day attack in March in Ngoshe. According to a statement by Joint Task Force spokesperson Sani Uba, the attacks also resulted in casualties among military personnel.

The editorial board’s arguments

Premium Times recalled the May abduction of 46 students and teachers from a school in Orire, Oyo State. According to the editorial board, two abducted teachers were killed, including mathematics teacher Matthew Oyedokun.

The authors referred to the Global Terrorism Index for May 2026, in which Nigeria ranked fourth among 153 countries. They also noted that within Nigeria’s counterterrorism system, abductions are regarded as an act of terrorism, while ransoms, in the publication’s view, may be used to purchase weapons and ammunition.

The editorial board notes that the military has intensified its fight against insurgents and begun killing more militants than before. At the same time, in its view, these results do not indicate that terrorism has been fully overcome. The article also states that at least 500,000 people affected by armed attacks are staying in camps for internally displaced persons in Benue State.