Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar promises stronger school attacks protection, deploying intelligence and security personnel across high-risk areas

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that the federal government will strengthen efforts to prevent future attacks on schools across the country.

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He spoke in Dutse on Thursday during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

Badaru said intelligence operatives have been deployed to high-risk regions to forestall further incidents and that security agencies are on heightened alert.

“Our intelligence personnel are everywhere—especially in places with high threat levels—gathering information for lasting solutions,” he said.

The minister stressed that recent attacks should not be seen as a collapse of security. “It is not a total security breakdown, but some breaches which, by God’s grace, will be temporary,” he added.

Reflecting on assaults in Borno State, Badaru noted that deep investigations had led to corrective actions.

“In the last two months, there were attacks on some military camps. We conducted thorough investigations, identified the problems, and took necessary action. Communities around those areas can testify that there have been no further attacks on our barracks—only a few ambushes, and even those have drastically reduced.”

Badaru further highlighted a significant decline in insecurity in the Northwest over the past two years.

“There has been no record of school attacks or student kidnappings in the Northwest in two years. Movement between Abuja and Kaduna and from Zaria to Zamfara was free until the two cases recorded recently,” he said.

Describing the recent wave of abductions from schools and worship centres as “unexpected,” the minister confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine causes and prevent recurrence.

He emphasised that the government has maintained continuous security arrangements for schools, which accounted for the two-year lapse in incidents. “What they did recently was guerrilla-style. They took security operatives unaware just to show their presence,” he said.

Badaru also dismissed claims that insurgent groups such as Ansaru and the Lakurawa have regained strongholds, describing them as scattered elements exploiting isolated opportunities to extort rural communities.

“Insurgents hide among the public to avoid harming innocent people during operations. We are monitoring them closely and updating the nation regularly. We will finish them,” he said.

Addressing reports that soldiers withdrew from a Kebbi school shortly before an attack, the minister assured that disciplinary action would be taken against any culpable personnel.

He acknowledged international attention on Nigeria’s security strategy, noting that the United States understands the complexities of guerrilla warfare.

Badaru expressed optimism about ongoing discussions with American counterparts, emphasising that Nigeria’s efforts deserve recognition given regional security challenges.

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The Defence Minister concluded by affirming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains deeply concerned about abducted students still in captivity and has ordered their immediate and safe rescue.