Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has identified informants as a key obstacle to military operations against insurgents and bandits in the country’s north, warning their activities are undermining battlefield gains.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi during an engagement with journalists, traditional rulers and community leaders, DHQ Director of Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Ismail Gusau, said the outreach followed directives from the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, to deepen civil–military cooperation and prevent security conditions in the Northwest from drifting toward the scale of violence seen in parts of the Northeast.
“We decided to come here to interface with you journalists to support us achieve our set goals,” Gusau said, urging the media to publish reports that bolster troop morale rather than discourage soldiers on the front lines. He added that while a new military base has been established in Kebbi State, plans are underway to stand up an Army brigade to strengthen response and protection for civilians.
Gusau stressed that defeating insurgency is a shared responsibility, estimating the military’s role at 30% and the wider society’s contribution at 70%, given the importance of timely information, community vigilance and refusal to aid criminal networks. He described informants as “everywhere,” noting their tips and logistical help enable ambushes, kidnappings and supply of arms.
On the handling of militants who lay down arms, Gusau said about 120 fighters have recently surrendered via recognized “safe corridors.” He emphasized the Army does not negotiate peace deals: “What we do is, when they reach truce with the authorities concerned, they surrender to us.”
The DHQ appealed for continued public cooperation—reporting suspicious activity, resisting intimidation by criminal groups, and supporting lawful security measures—to consolidate gains against terrorism and banditry.
