Vice President Shettima Urges Nigeria Military Commanders to Sustain Pressure on Terrorist Groups
- Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigeria’s military commanders to sustain coordinated pressure on terrorist groups
- Speaking at the National Defence College in Abuja, Shettima cautioned that recent progress against insurgency must not be mistaken for final victory
- He emphasised that Nigeria’s security challenges demand a whole-of-society approach, with resilience and vigilance as key to counterterrorism efforts
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday, May 21, 2026, called on Nigeria’s military commanders to maintain coordinated pressure on terrorist groups while boosting intelligence, technology, and civil-military cooperation.
He stressed that the fight against insurgency requires persistence and adaptation.
Source: Twitter
Speaking at the National Defence College in Abuja during the launch of a book by retired Major-General Ibrahim Yusuf, Shettima cautioned that the progress made so far must not be mistaken for final victory.
Shettima attends launching of book on counterterrorism
The book, titled Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency Operations in North East Nigeria, was written by Maj.-Gen. Yusuf, a former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force and ex-Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy.
Shettima, represented by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, urged commanders to remain vigilant and adaptive in their strategies.
Shettima speaks on Nigeria’s security challenges
The vice president highlighted that Nigeria’s security challenges demand a comprehensive approach involving the military, intelligence services, policymakers, and civilians. He praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their resilience and professionalism in tackling complex asymmetric threats.
“What Nigeria has endured in recent years is not evidence of a nation overwhelmed by danger, but a reflection of the resilience and courage of Nigerians who continue to stand firm in defence of a shared destiny,” he said.
Shettima noted that the North-East crisis is both a security challenge and a humanitarian tragedy, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance against violent extremism. He emphasised that counterterrorism operations must be understood through the lived experiences of frontline personnel, whose testimonies provide critical lessons for future policy and strategy.
Speaking with Legit.ng, AbdulRasheed Hussain, a policy analyst based in Nigeria, analysed Shettima’s statement:
“What Shettima is really saying here is that Nigeria cannot afford to relax just because the military has scored recent wins against insurgents. Progress is fragile, and if commanders ease up, terrorist groups will regroup quickly. His call for intelligence, technology, and civil-military cooperation is a reminder that this fight isn’t just about firepower, it’s also about building trust with communities and staying adaptive.”
Source: Twitter
Shettima submits Tinubu's nomination forms to APC
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a viral video captured Shettima submitting the nomination and expression of interest forms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.
The event took place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, where Shettima arrived on behalf of the president in what party officials described as the formal commencement of Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
