‘We have to work with Niger, Chad, Cameroon’, the Nigerian government calls for the front together against insecurity

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for a coordinated regional approach to fighting insecure in Nigeria, emphasizing that the country cannot fight terrorism separately.

“Against insecurity must be holistic,” Idris said during the appearance at Politics Today, a television program channel on Wednesday. “We must be in the same yard as neighboring countries, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.”

His comments came in the midst of new violence in several parts of the country, especially in the state of Benue, where this new attack in Yelwata killed at least 59 people. This tragedy has turned on public concerns over the handling of government security.

Idris, however, stated that the Tinubu soccer government responded to the crisis with an unprecedented sense of urgency and commitment. According to him, more than 35 military aircraft, including helicopters and fighter jets, have been obtained since Tinubu served in May 2023.

“In addition to air power, we also invest in the strength of the navy, around four ships, and a large number of ammunition,” he said.

Idris revealed that more than 13,500 terrorists and criminal elements were neutralized last year, while around 120,000 had surrendered. Of that number, he added, 17,000 people had been reunited with their families through a rehabilitation and reintegration program.

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“These figures reflect the scope of challenges, but also the scale of government responses,” he said. “We do not underestimate the threat, and the President is fully aware of the reality faced by Nigerians every day.”

The Minister described President Tinubu as a person who was very involved and personally moved by the country’s security situation. “He is not a long leader,” Idris said. “He saw, he listened, and he acted. He continued to discuss these things with his ministers and heads of security.”

Referring to the new President’s visit to the state of Benue, Idris described the journey as “never happened before.” Tinubu met with survivors at the hospital, prepared with a grieving family, and led the conversation of the City Hall with local leaders.

“Our hearts are on those who lose their lives. This is not just statistics, this is a family, community,” he said. “The presence of the president in Benue is not symbolic. That is a clear message that the government is inseparable from the pain of its people.”

While recognizing the in -depth nature of Nigeria’s unsafe, rooted in several poor decades of coordination, porous borders, and transnational criminal networks, Idris stated optimism that the current administrative strategy produces results.

“Now there is a real synergy in security architecture. The military, intelligence department, and law enforcement work in a way that reflects the president’s mandate for collaboration and impact,” he said.

He stressed that while progress has been made, eternal peace depends on regional cooperation. “This threat across the border. Bandit does not carry a passport. That is why Niger, Chad, and Cameroon must be part of this fight,” he added.