by The Ajasa News | December 31, 2025 4:30 pm
The Nigerian military has confirmed the presence of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP/ISIS-linked elements) in parts of the country’s northwest, including areas close to Sokoto, while assuring the public that intensified intelligence and operational measures are underway to prevent suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday during the bi-weekly press conference at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, while responding to questions from journalists on recent security developments.
Addressing concerns over why information about ISIS presence in Sokoto was not earlier publicised, Major General Onoja explained that terrorists are not confined to a single location and often exploit porous borders and regional proximity.
“Terrorists are ubiquitous. Intelligence reports confirmed their presence in areas close to the Sahel, and due to the proximity of the Sahel to Sokoto, intelligence also confirmed their presence in those locations before the strikes were conducted against them,” he said.
He noted that the decision not to publicise such intelligence was largely due to operational security considerations, stressing that military actions are guided strictly by verified intelligence.
“I can tell you that the intelligence that was given was correct. Sometimes information is not publicised for operational security reasons,” Onoja added.
On the issue of rising suicide bombing threats, the defence spokesman described the recent arrest of a suspected suicide bomber as a major breakthrough, saying it had already led to the disruption of terrorist logistics and networks.
“Such arrests are significant because they enable us to track the activities of other suicide bombers. From such suspects, we extract vital information on their models, their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs),” he said.
According to him, the military is deploying every available measure to monitor, track and prevent suicide attacks, despite the challenges posed by the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“They improvise a lot of things. Short of banning normal activities in a democratic society, which is almost impossible, we are relying heavily on intelligence networks to identify and neutralise threats,” he explained, adding that the recent arrest had already led to the disruption of several terrorist supply chains.
Major General Onoja also assured that the Armed Forces are closely monitoring the movement of terrorists relocating from targeted areas, noting that threat locations have been identified and communicated to relevant force commanders to prevent infiltration into civilian communities.
“We continue to carry out operational planning to ensure that anywhere they relocate to, we are monitoring them. As time goes on, you will hear about the activities we are undertaking,” he said, emphasising the need for confidentiality while operations are ongoing.
He further called for increased civilian cooperation, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and share timely information with security agencies.
“Security can only be achieved through the cooperation of every member of society. It is a whole-of-society approach,” he stated, adding that the call for public vigilance aligns with the thinking of the Chief of Defence Staff.
On inter-agency collaboration, the defence spokesman stressed that there is strong synergy between the military and the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in counterterrorism operations.
“Most times, once the military makes an arrest, suspects are handed over to the police for prosecution. The most important thing is that a suicide bomber who would have caused damage has been arrested. We should de-emphasise the issue of glory,” he said.
Clarifying concerns about vigilantes and hybrid forces, Onoja said they are not non-state actors but operate under strict control mechanisms and in collaboration with the military or other security agencies.
“We conduct needs analysis before approvals are given and ensure there are adequate control measures. We also urge citizens and journalists to report any excesses so they can be promptly addressed,” he added.
He concluded by dismissing fears that military actions could fuel jihadist narratives, insisting that the separation of criminal acts from religious beliefs is key and that due process will always be followed.
“All those arrested will pass through the normal court processes. Rather than increasing extremism, firm action by the state will discourage it,” Major General Onoja said.
Source URL: https://theajasanews.com/military-confirms-isis-presence-near-sokoto-steps-up-intelligence-to-curb-suicide-bombings/
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