"The Real Reason Mercenaries Aren't Battling Terrorists - Government Insight"

The president directs an investigation into army deaths.
Foreign Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar declared Wednesday that the Federal Government would not use mercenaries to combat banditry and terrorism in the North.

He clarified that using private armies, or mercenaries, to combat insecurity is not a viable solution.

Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has said that the country's military is capable of fighting and winning the war, ruling out the use of mercenaries.

Tuggar and Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart, held a joint news conference at the State House in Abuja where Tuggar provided the clarification.

The purpose of the Chinese foreign minister's visit to Nigeria is to deepen bilateral relations.
The minister acknowledged the drawbacks of using private military firms for security-related duties and asserted that Nigerian security services with the necessary equipment could handle the situation.
In order to avoid the delays that come with international acquisition, he urged for cooperation with China in domesticating the manufacturing of military hardware.

"Regardless of their origins, private military firms are not the answer to the nation's security issues," Tuggar stated.
Foreign mercenaries, which were previously used by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, have been called for in response to the recent resurgence of intermittent terrorist strikes in the North.
Lakurawa is one of the new terror groups that have emerged and are wreaking havoc on towns and villages in the Northeast and Northwest.

The Army Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Damboa, Borno State, was attacked on January 4 by a group of alleged terrorists. At least forty-six terrorists were killed by the retaliatory soldiers.

Yesterday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences to the fallen soldiers' families and the military.
He commanded that the attack be looked into.

Tuggar claimed that if nations work together, the fight on terror may be won.

He emphasized Nigeria's pivotal role in promoting peace and security both on the continent and in the region.

According to Tuggar, Nigeria has continuously demonstrated its ability to guide other nations in our region—and, I would even venture to say, the entire continent—in tackling issues related to peace and security.

The minister described China as a trustworthy ally and emphasized the value of collaborations that directly include Nigeria.

"This is why we collaborate well with nations like China," he continued. Our issue arises everytime Nigeria is excluded from these agreements.

In order to guarantee effectiveness, Tuggar further emphasized the necessity of giving local manufacturing of military hardware top priority.

"We want to collaborate with nations like China to bring the manufacturing of kinetic and non-kinetic military equipment domestic," he stated. We want this in order to avoid having to go out and find what we need due to the lengthy process and numerous rules and regulations. We must be capable of producing locally.

Nigeria is a responsible nation that operates within its constitutional framework, according to the minister, who also said that other countries have come to trust Nigeria because of its dedication to maintaining law and order.
The success of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's most recent state visit to China would be built upon by the Chinese minister's visit, Tuggar noted.

He clarified that talks with the Chinese team centered on shared political and economic interests as well as agreements made in a number of industries, such as petrochemicals, energy, communications, agriculture, finance, transportation, and infrastructure.

"We will keep working with nations like China to address these issues and rely on them to help ensure that private military companies and outside interference stay outside," Tuggar continued.
Tinubu directs an investigation into the deaths of soldiers.

Six soldiers were killed in the attack on the Sabon Gida military installation in Damboa, Borno State, yesterday, and President Tinubu ordered an investigation into the incident.

The president has also instructed security services to step up military operations by taking the war to the terrorists, according to a statement from Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.
According to him, the President expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the slain servicemen, calling their sacrifice a vital component of the security effort.

He declared, "Their sacrifice in protecting our country will always be honored and remembered."

President Tinubu praised the military's air component for its decisive retaliatory strikes, which neutralized numerous terrorists and destroyed their assets as they tried to flee, while also praising the Armed Forces for their prompt response.

"The Army's decisive action demonstrates our military's ability and readiness to confront and defeat threats to our nation's security," he said. Their deeds demonstrate our will to end terrorism and banditry and open the door to a future in which all Nigerians live in peace and security.


"We are fully behind you in this continuous battle to eradicate these threats, and your sacrifices and dedication are not in vain."