Theatre Commander Traces Terrorists’ Weapons to Post-Libya Arms Proliferation, Says Nigeria Strengthens Border Security
By Zagazola Makama
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY), Major General W.B. Idris, has attributed the proliferation of sophisticated weapons in the hands of terrorists and bandits across Nigeria to the collapse of Libya, saying the resulting flow of illicit arms across the Maghreb and Sahel continues to fuel insecurity in the region.
The commander made the remarks on Thursday during an interactive session with defence correspondents at the Headquarters of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Gusau, Zamfara State, while responding to questions following a comprehensive operational briefing on the command’s activities.
Addressing the question of how terrorists continue to acquire sophisticated weapons despite ongoing military operations, Major General Idris said the collapse of Libya created one of the largest illicit arms trafficking networks in Africa, with weapons finding their way into the hands of terrorist organisations, transnational criminal groups and other violent actors operating across the Sahel.
“It is a well-known fact that the proliferation of arms in the Maghreb region became much worse after the fall of Libya. Most of these weapons eventually found their way into the hands of terrorists and criminal elements that are determined to destabilise countries across the region, including Nigeria,” he said.
The Theatre Commander explained that the challenge extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, stressing that the country’s security architecture has increasingly adopted a regional approach to counter the transnational nature of terrorism.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have strengthened operational collaboration with neighbouring countries through intelligence sharing, coordinated border patrols and joint security initiatives aimed at preventing the movement of terrorists, weapons and logistics into Nigerian territory.
He disclosed that troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA work closely with security forces from the Republic of Niger along the extensive Nigeria-Niger border stretching through Sokoto and adjoining operational sectors.
Similarly, he noted that troops under Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD maintain active security collaboration with forces of the Republic of Benin to secure Nigeria’s western border and deny criminal elements freedom of movement across international boundaries.
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“These collaborations are not limited to routine patrols. We constantly exchange intelligence with our counterparts in neighbouring countries so that movements of terrorists, arms and logistics can be detected and disrupted before they reach Nigerian territory,” he said.
Major General Idris explained that beyond intelligence sharing, the Nigerian military closely monitors terrorist activities and emerging security trends across the Sahel to anticipate potential threats before they spill into the country.
He cited recent terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries as developments that are carefully studied by Nigerian security agencies in order to strengthen domestic preparedness and prevent similar incidents.
The commander revealed that after monitoring recent large-scale terrorist attacks outside Nigeria through intelligence and open-source surveillance, the military immediately reviewed its own defensive posture and strengthened the protection of strategic national assets.
He pointed specifically to measures taken to improve security around critical infrastructure, including airports and other sensitive installations, following attacks on similar facilities elsewhere in the region.
According to him, troops remain actively engaged in ongoing operations against terrorist groups across the North-West while border surveillance has been intensified to prevent infiltration.
“As we are speaking today, our troops are in contact with terrorists. Operations are ongoing, while we continue to strengthen border security and intelligence gathering to prevent illegal movement of weapons and terrorists into Nigeria,” he said.
The Theatre Commander acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, securing Nigeria’s vast land borders remains a continuous undertaking that requires sustained collaboration among security agencies and neighbouring countries.
“We are not there yet, but we are making every effort to ensure that our borders are secure and free from infiltration as well as the illegal movement of weapons into Nigeria,” he added.
Major General Idris stressed that intelligence remains the cornerstone of the military’s counter-terrorism strategy, noting that every operational success depends on timely information, regional cooperation and proactive security measures designed to stop threats before they materialise.
He reiterated that Operation FANSAN YAMMA would continue working with sister security agencies, neighbouring countries and local communities to dismantle terrorist logistics networks, deny criminal groups access to illicit weapons and strengthen security across the North-West.
The commander assured Nigerians that despite the evolving nature of the threat, the Armed Forces remain committed to protecting the country’s territorial integrity and preventing external terrorist influences from taking root within Nigeria.