Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, says the country’s security forces are “inches away” from defeating banditry, despite a recent rise in school kidnappings.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the minister acknowledged that attacks by armed groups have persisted, but described the current pattern as typical of guerrilla tactics, sporadic strikes intended to create fear.
“This is how guerrilla warfare operates,” he said. “You may have long periods of calm, then an attack that unsettles the nation. We know many of their hideouts, but some locations are too close to civilian communities, and some forests are difficult for air strikes to penetrate.”
Badaru said troops were working “day and night” to hunt down the groups responsible for the violence and insisted the military had made significant gains.
The minister expressed concern about the return of mass school abductions, particularly the kidnapping of students from a girls’ school in Maga, Kebbi State.
He confirmed that the government had launched an investigation into reports that security personnel were withdrawn before the attack.
“We will get to the root of what happened,” he said. “If anyone is found responsible for negligence, they will face sanctions.”
Badaru added that security measures previously introduced in schools across the country had helped reduce such incidents over the past two years, and authorities were now reviewing what went wrong.
He also addressed rising complaints from rural communities about extortion by bandit groups. Military operations in such areas, he explained, must be carried out carefully to avoid civilian casualties.
“Some of these communities are very close to bandit hideouts,” he said. “We must be cautious.”
Badaru also responded to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently suggested the possibility of military action over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
He said Nigerian officials were already engaging with the U.S. government to address the concerns.
“Our leaders have met them, and discussions are ongoing,” he said. “By God’s grace, there will be understanding.”
The minister added that Nigeria continues to maintain defence partnerships with several countries.
