Minister of Defence Mohammed Abubakar has pushed back against claims by the House of Representatives that terrorists possess more advanced weapons than the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Speaking during a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, May 7, Abubakar described the lawmakers’ claims as unfounded.
“Yesterday, the House of Representatives said that terrorists have better weapons than we do. That is absolutely not true. We have much more sophisticated equipment and drones,” he said.
He explained that the fight against insurgents was not a conventional war, but a form of guerrilla warfare where militants rely on informants and surprise attacks.
“This war is not a conventional one; it’s more like guerrilla warfare. They monitor us, they have informants within the communities we are trying to protect, and they strike unexpectedly.
“Our surveillance cannot cover every area at once, but that doesn’t mean they are better armed. We are more advanced in terms of equipment, and that’s why we’ve recorded successes,” he said.
The House had raised alarm on Tuesday over growing insecurity, particularly in the North-East, pointing to a recent ambush on a military base in Giwa, Borno State, as evidence that insurgents might be better armed.
Lawmakers also expressed concern over the rising threat from Boko Haram and ISWAP in Borno and Yobe States.
Responding to suggestions that terrorists may now possess armed drones, the minister dismissed the idea.
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“From what we’ve gathered so far, they don’t have armed drones. What we’ve seen are basic, commercial drones modified by tying explosives to them, improvised devices.
“These are not sophisticated or military-grade drones with strategic targeting capabilities,” he clarified.
Abubakar said the government was stepping up intelligence efforts and had arrested several arms traffickers in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“We are beefing up our intelligence both nationally and internationally. We are also working closely with global partners to trace sources of illicit arms and shut them down. This includes monitoring the use of civilian drones more closely,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Senate has resolved to hold a two-day national security summit involving key stakeholders, including federal and state governments, local councils, and traditional rulers.
Though some senators questioned the effectiveness of another summit, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed an ad hoc committee to begin preparations.
The summit will focus on tackling emerging threats, improving intelligence sharing, and producing a National Security Action Document.
Reacting to the planned summits, the defence minister said: “Summits are helpful, but what’s more important is the implementation of strategies that address the root causes and changing dynamics of insecurity.”