Why Tinubu Cannot Probe Military; ISWAP Militants Resort To Combat Drones For Attacks

 By Suleiman Umaru

Those who thinks that the Nigerian military and the Joint Security Task Force, JTF, comprising of soldiers from the neighbouring West African countries of Benin public, Niger, Chad and the Central African Country of Cameroun, which also include Nigerian Troops, are not putting in their best-known military strategies to crush the Islamic Fundamentalist Group, BokoHaram, the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, Bandits and Lakurawa Groups may have to do a rethink.

This  is because the Nigerian military and JTF, personnel, fighting, the Nigerian based Bandits Groups and  other terrorist groups based in the country  but engaged in checkmating the excesses of the renegade militants from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and the   Central African country of Cameroun  other militants Group  from the Sahel region, who had infiltrated the ranks  of the terrorists Organizations operating in different parts  of the country believed to be acting out the script of the  deceased Col. Mumar Quadafi, a former President of Libya.  

Late Col. Quadafi says Nigeria is too big to be a country and should be split into several countries along ethnic lines

Until his death in2011, the Libyan Leader was said to have repeatedly said that Nigeria should be divided into several states along ethnic lines. He was particular, that Nigeria should be divided into two countries, comparing it to the partition of India and Pakistan, which was said to have led to the death of thousands of people due to communal clashes. He was said to have also suggested that Nigeria should follow the footsteps of Yugoslavia, to avoid another bloody war   that had occurred n the country and Bosnia because it was a multi-ethnic state.

Perhaps to actualize his mission, he was said armed various Groups   in the Sahel region which was said to have spread out to Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cameroun in order to cause disaffection   Nigeria.  He had his way.

Between 2009 and now, past and present Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who incidentally was a former governor of Lagos state, have intensified the battle to crush the armed criminal elements.  Former President Muhammadu Buhari, may not have given the Nigerian military the needed backing to use the required military strength to deal decisively with the terrorists as he was said to have treated them with kid’s globe which may have emboldened them to dare the Nigeria troops and JETF, operatives.

 From the north eastern states of Borno and Yobe, where the insurgents who had become toughened to extended their operations to the north western states of Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and north central states of Niger, the story is the same:  violent attacks and kidnappings for ransom.

Given the extensive forest in the north eastern and north western geopolitical regions, may have resulted in the penetration into the country from Niger and Burkina Faso of the Lakurawa Group into Kebbi, home state of Atiku Bagudu, minister of Budget and National Planning under the present Tinubu’s Administration.

With the efforts that had been put in  by the Nigerian military and the JTF, between May , 2023 and now, to finally crush the insurgents  operating in the north eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Taraba, and the Bandits  Group operating in the north western states of Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and the north central state of Niger may  have resulted in the killing of several  of the  terrorists Group’s gang leaders  and fighters.

 This may have informed why the Nigerian President has refused to bow to pressure’’ to probe the military on the use of budgetary allocations to purchase arms and ammunitions to prosecute country’s counter-terrorism war to avoid sabotage.

The Nigerian President may have dampened the enthusiasm of those who wants him to probe the military   on Monday, Dec.16, 2024, when he sounded it loud and clear that ‘’there was no reason to probe the military operations across the country’’.

 The former Lagos state governor had said that there might be leakages in the prosecution of the counter terrorism war but gave kudos to the military hierarchy for judiciously utilizing the funds allocated to it.  The Nigerian President may have made people to understand that if the counter terrorism war is only being fought in the north eastern states of Borno and Yobe, and the north western geo-political region or the north central states of Niger, the war is as good as having ended before now.

The Nigerian President who could not hide his feelings had said that the country’s soldiers are currently deployed to over 30 of the 36 states of the Federation to curb one form of insecurity or the other. ‘’I am not probing any service Chief’’, the Lagos state born Nigerian President had said.

The ruling All Progressive Congress of Nigeria, APC, President of Nigeria, may have shocked many when he said ‘’you cannot disrespect the military institution because of probe’’, stressing that ‘’the country military personnel are living and operating in a very serious condition’’. He had said that the counter terrorism war had exposed a lot of ungoverned spaces including forest reserves that had been taken over the years by the Criminal elements which had been recovered. 

An elated President Tinubu, who had continuously praised the Nigerian military personnel may have gladdened their heart to encourage them to intensify efforts to put an end to terrorism and banditry in the different parts of the country when he declared: I am proud of what the Nigeria military personnel are doing today. The Nigerian President could say that because he has absolute confidence on the country’s security architecture currently being Coordinated by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA.

The Nigerian Leader may have been impressed with what Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, CDS and the service Chiefs are doing to end Insurgency and Banditry in the 30 states of the Federation.

Gen. Musa: CDS

 This is evident with the capture of some of    the notorious Bandits Group gang leaders and allies of the notorious Bello Turji, like Bako Wurji, known in the criminal gag circles as Barka Garba, who was said to have killed  Isa Mohammed Bawa, the Emir of Gobir, in Sokoto state , over alleged delay in payment of ransom demanded  to facilitate the release of the Traditional Ruler.

Another notorious Bandits Group gang Leader who was said killed by the military in the intensified operation in Zamfara in the recent time was Al-jan. The Bandits Group gang leader was said to have been killed in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara , thus bringing much relief to the people of the local community of the state..

  Believed to  an indigene of Niger Republic, he was said to have instilled fear among residents of Communities in Tsafe LGA, for years and involved in various kidnapping incidents in the north western geopolitical  region.

Many believe that Al-jan criminal activities in the Zamfara and had started when he relocated from Niger Republic to Tsafe LGA, where heave was said to h initially worked as a motorcycle operator and but got connected to some Fulani Herdsmen who were said to have led him into the life of Banditry.  He was said to have  been one connected to a Bandit Group gang leader in the state  led by one Hassan Bamamu.

His knowledge of Tsafe and its surroundings as a motorcycle operator   was said to have made him a vital guide for the criminal gang, spearheading various violent operations in Communities in the Tsafe LGA.  He was said to have been involved in several high-profile killings in the north western state including the murders of Anas Umar Dan Kanti, Alhaji Musa Ille, and unnamed Naval officer.

He may have played into the hands of Lt. Gen. Olufemi Ooyede, Chief of Army Staff, CoAS’, men, some three weeks ago during a Joint operation between Mada and Yandoton   Daji where the security officers, in collaboration with the local vigilantes, had ambushed him and his gang. He was said to have been killed during the joint operation.

Indeed, the capture of  of Wurgi, who was said to have died of bullet wounds and other close Associates of Turji, like Abubakar Muhammed and Hamisu Sale,    and the elimination of Al’jan, in Zamfara state, according security experts marks a significant achievement for Lt. Gen. Oloyede led Nigerian Army in the ongoing fight against Banditry and other criminal activities in the north western geopolitical region.

 The success that had been achieved by the Nigerian military in the ongoing counter-terrorism war, across the 30 states of the Federation may have   sent  a signal to Turji, the  Bandits Group unacclaimed Leader that his days are numbered, giving a ray of hope to residents of Communities that have long suffered under the threat of the violent gangs led by the dual, Wurgi and Al’jan at different times in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

.  Angered by the Capture of some of his lieutenants by the Nigerian military, the agitated Turji , who appears to be talking tough was said to have vowed of’’ violent reprisals’’, warning that 2025 would be marked  by increased attacks in the form of kidnappings and the destruction of property  in Zamfara, Sokoto and other parts of the Niger Delta  unless his  demands are met. He was said to made a chilling declaration that any defiant Community that would want ‘’to challenge his Authority would be turned to rubble’’, described as an empty threat by security experts.   

Given what is happening in the north western states of Zamfara, Sokoto andKatsina, particular, where the Nigeria military appears to be gaining the upper hand as the Bandits Group gang Leaders are being eliminated with ease is a pointer to the fact  that the end of the road has come  for Bandits Group, Boko Haram and ISWAP, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and the Eastern Security Network in Nigeria.

This may have encouraged the ISWAP, fighters, who had attacked Troops of the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Wajiroko in Damboa LGA of Borno state but successfully repelled forcing them to withdraw in disarray to have resorted to the use of drones in their renewed Coordinated attacks against the troops.

There are indications that the Borno based insurgents may have obtained the drone support from an unnamed armed Group in Burkina Faso to sustain the terrorism war in the north eastern Borno state. The Burkinabe armed terrorist group may not have found it convenient to use the drones, equipped with locally fabricated grenades because they could not match the Government acquired Akinci long – range combat drones.

Drone used by ISWAP to launch attack a gainst a military base in Yobe state

The two Akinci combat drones that was said to have purchased by the West African country, where Gen. Ibrahim Traore, the Head of State was said to have severed relationship with the Authority of Heads of States and Government  of the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, alongside with Niger and Mali, ruled by the Military Leaders are said to be part of a larger overhaul of the country’s military which includes five Bayraktar TB2s as well as an assorted guided  and unguided ammunitions.

The Burkinabe Government newly acquired drones, which had helped it to effectively police the country’s borders with neighbouring countries undetected    appears to have helped the country’s military to have an edge over the Islamic militants who were said to have been wreaking havoc in the country like BokoHaram, ISWAP, Bandits Group and Lakurawa militants in Nigeria to give some of their multiple drones to the Borno based militants in Nigeria.   

Security analysts had described the situation as a troubling development and a shift in strategy by ISWAP fighters   in the assault against the Nigerian military, increasing their sophistication and adaptability in the battlefield as they used mortars and small arms, posing a new level threat to Nigeria. The Insurgents were said to have used the drones on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, to attack the 27 Task Force Brigade Base in Buni   Gari in Yobe, another state in north eastern geopolitical region.

The Defense Headquarters may not have seen the drones fitted with locally fabricated grenades used by the ISWAP  insurgents  to match the military grade drones and therefore do not pose a significant threat in the country’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Edward Buba, an Army Major General and Director, Defense Media Operations, had said that the drones used by the ISWAP insurgents ‘’lack the sophistication to impact military operations effectively’’. The Defense Headquarters spokesperson had assured Nigerians that there was no cause to worry   as the ISWAP employed drones to launch attacks   are not professional or military grade equipment, stating that they are essentially toys that have been modified to carry out basic tasks.

He noted that while the ISWAP employed drones to launch attacks against a military base   may look disturbing, but they are neither effective nor a threat to the country’s counter-terrorism operations. He had said that the military cannot dismiss the use of the armed drones to launch attacks by the insurgents operating in the north eastern states of Borno and Yobe this time around with a wave of hand but are’’ addressing the development’’.  Maj. Gen Buba, had alluded to the fact the use of drones in conflict situations the world over is not a new thing, noting that they come in various classes and capabilities.   

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