Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has called for intensified security operations against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), warning that the groups continue to pose significant threats across the sub-region despite military gains against them.
Fintiri made the call on Thursday while declaring open a two-day meeting of federal and state security administrators in Yola. He was represented at the event by his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta.
The governor described the insurgent groups as persistent and adaptable, noting that their continued activities required security agencies to strengthen their strategies rather than assume the conflict had been won.
“While our gallant armed forces have significantly degraded their conventional capabilities, these insurgents continue to exploit vast rural terrains, asymmetric tactics and cross-border vulnerabilities to strike at soft targets,” he said.
He cautioned against what he described as premature declarations of victory, stressing that the continued ability of insurgents to attack vulnerable communities showed that sustained action was still necessary.
Fintiri also argued that addressing insecurity required more than military force. He identified grassroots engagement, social justice and inclusive governance as important components of a lasting response. He cited Adamawa’s creation of seven new emirates and chiefdoms as part of efforts to strengthen local administration and community engagement.
He further warned that digital platforms had become another arena for security challenges, with vulnerable young people exposed to recruitment efforts and misinformation. His remarks highlighted the need for authorities to address online influence alongside conventional security threats.
The governor urged the Federal Government to modernise Nigeria’s international borders through improved surveillance technology, wider drone coverage, joint border patrols and one-stop border posts. He said stronger border management was necessary to address illegal cross-border movement, arms proliferation and smuggling.
Fintiri also called for increased funding for security agencies, saying frontline personnel required improved operational resources, tactical equipment and welfare support to carry out their duties effectively.
He stressed the importance of cooperation among security institutions, warning that rivalry between agencies could undermine operations.
“Victory belongs to unity, not institutional ego,” he said, calling for stronger coordination and information sharing.
As part of support for security operations in Adamawa, the governor donated 300 motorcycles and 16 security vehicles. The equipment is intended to support policing across the state’s 15 chiefdoms and 21 local government areas.
The meeting brought together security administrators from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu was absent from the gathering.
Fintiri’s remarks placed renewed emphasis on combining security operations with stronger local governance, border control and institutional cooperation to confront the continuing threat posed by insurgent groups.
Deborah Adeyefa
