President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that Nigeria is in discussions with the United Kingdom and France to strengthen security cooperation and acquire military equipment to combat rising insecurity.

Chairman NGF

The president made this known on Sunday while receiving state governors during a Sallah visit at his residence in Bourdillon, Lagos.

President Tinubu with NGF

According to him, engagements during his recent visit to the UK focused on sourcing critical security hardware, while separate talks with French President Emmanuel Macron explored areas of partnership in tackling terrorism.

The meeting was attended by 24 state governors, including those from Abia, Benue, Katsina, Edo and Rivers states. Vice President Kashim Shettima and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, were also present.

Tinubu stressed that insecurity remains a major impediment to Nigeria’s development, noting that global uncertainties could further complicate the country’s economic outlook.

He specifically pointed to tensions in the Middle East as a potential trigger for increased inflation and reduced purchasing power, warning that such pressures could lead to renewed demands from labour unions for government intervention.

The Defence Headquarters has announced that troops operating in the North-East have recovered 74 bodies of suspected terrorists following a series of coordinated offensives, including the disruption of a drone-assisted attack.

The military said the operations, conducted between March 13 and March 19 under Operation Hadin Kai, underscore a shift in tactics by insurgent groups in the region.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, disclosed that troops successfully foiled what he described as a “complex drone-assisted attack,” before launching follow-up missions that led to the recovery of weapons and the bodies of the নিহত fighters.

Recovered items include 38 AK-47 rifles, three PKT machine guns, and a rocket-propelled grenade tube.

In Borno State, troops reportedly repelled a major assault in Mallam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, killing several insurgents, including top commanders. Additional attempts by fighters to infiltrate communities in Bama, Gujba, and Kaga local government areas were also thwarted.

The military added that coordinated air and ground strikes in Baga, Damboa, Buratai, and Njimtilo weakened the operational strength of Islamic State West Africa Province.

Outside the North-East, security operations extended to other regions. In Taraba State, suspected gunrunners were intercepted with ammunition, cash, and motorcycles recovered.

Troops also rescued kidnapped victims in Plateau and Benue states, while illegal mining activities were disrupted within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas.

In the Niger Delta, personnel under Operation Delta Safe uncovered illegal bunkering sites and seized over 3,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Arrests were made in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states over alleged involvement in oil theft, kidnapping, and drug-related offences.

Meanwhile, in the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka neutralised suspected terrorists in Imo State and recovered improvised explosive devices. Further arrests were recorded in Ebonyi and Cross River states during clearance operations.

The Defence Headquarters said the nationwide operations demonstrate the Armed Forces’ commitment to curbing insecurity and restricting the movement of criminal elements.

However, despite the reported gains, security concerns persist in several parts of the country, with stakeholders calling for sustained and improved strategies to address ongoing threats.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, arrived in Maiduguri on an operational assessment visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), barely 24 hours after recent suicide bomb incidents within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

Addressing officers and troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, the CDS commended personnel for their resilience, sacrifice, and sustained operational pressure against terrorist elements across the theatre. He urged them to remain resolute and fully committed to the discharge of their duties.

This was contained in a press release signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.

In a move to consolidate recent gains and prevent a recurrence of attacks, General Oluyede directed commanders to intensify offensive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering mechanisms, and adopt innovative, proactive strategies to dominate the battlespace.

He emphasised the need to maintain operational momentum and assured troops of continued strategic support from Defence Headquarters towards the decisive defeat of terrorism.

In his remarks, the COAS also praised the troops for their dedication, resilience, and sustained pressure on insurgents. He charged field commanders to escalate ongoing offensives and institutionalise a firm “never again” posture to deny terrorists any operational space, particularly during critical periods such as Ramadan and beyond.

Lieutenant General Shaibu further assured the Theatre Command of additional support and critical resources to enhance operational effectiveness, improve force protection, and reinforce ongoing military operations in the region.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander presented a detailed operational briefing on activities within the Joint Operations Area, outlining recent successes, ongoing engagements, and operational challenges. He noted that despite isolated setbacks, troops have continued to dominate the battlespace through sustained offensives carried out with professionalism and commitment.

According to him, over 200 terrorist elements were neutralised in recent operations, with several others sustaining severe injuries, significantly weakening their combat capability and limiting their ability to return to the battlefield.

The Theatre Commander reaffirmed that troops of Operation HADIN KAI remain determined, undeterred, and fully committed to sustaining intensified operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and restoring lasting peace and economic stability across the North East.