Borno, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has said that residents of Borno and Yobe States must take ownership of the ongoing terrorism crisis in the Northeast, alleging that many of those involved in attacks are from the affected communities.
Oluyede made the remarks on Wednesday during a visit to Borno State following a series of bombings in the region that left several people dead and others injured. Speaking to journalists upon arrival, he said the recent surge in attacks was not unusual, noting that such incidents often increase during the Ramadan period.
The CDS stressed that ending terrorism in the region would require the active participation of local communities.
“For us to end this act of terrorism, the people of Borno State and Yobe State must take ownership of this problem,” he said. “Because the bulk of the people perpetrating these heinous acts are from these states, they are our brothers and sisters.”
He cited an incident in which suspected attackers of Kukuwa were reportedly identified as locals, suggesting possible community complicity in the violence.
“Basically, two of the people who came to attack Kukuwa, the wounded ones, were inside the village; that means the people are complicit,” he added.
Oluyede called for stronger community vigilance and cooperation with security agencies, insisting that sustained local involvement is critical to ending the violence.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima visited victims of the Maiduguri bombings, which reportedly killed 23 people and left more than 100 others injured, according to police authorities.
In response to the worsening security situation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed Nigeria’s service chiefs to relocate to Borno State to coordinate efforts aimed at curbing the attacks and restoring peace in the region.
