Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd.), on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting with the nation’s Service Chiefs following a series of deadly attacks on military formations in the North-East.
The high-level security meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja, brought together top military commanders to review the country’s counter-terrorism strategy amid escalating violence in the region.
Among those in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass. Representatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were also present.
The emergency meeting follows recent attacks by terrorists on military bases in Borno State, which reportedly claimed the lives of several senior officers and soldiers.
According to reports, no fewer than three Commanding Officers holding the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel were killed during the attacks. Several soldiers were also killed, while hundreds of civilians abducted during the assaults remain in captivity.
Speaking briefly before the meeting proceeded behind closed doors, the Defence Minister acknowledged the losses recorded by the military but insisted that terrorists had suffered heavier casualties.
“We know we have recorded some casualties, but it is more on the side of the terrorists,” the retired four-star General said during the brief interaction.
The meeting is expected to review existing military strategies and explore new measures aimed at strengthening ongoing operations against terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
Further details of the deliberations were yet to be disclosed as the meeting continued in a closed-door session.
