“This means it is not available and we are mopping them up,
we are taking them out, we are destroying them. We do not just take but we
destroy.
“A lot of this work is ongoing, but people don’t really see;
we salute our armed forces, our security forces, our governors who are doing
extremely well.”
Ribadu also said terrorism-related deaths have reduced in
Nigeria from about 2,600 monthly to less than 200 currently.
The NSA said the government chose to pursue these efforts
silently to achieve results.
‘ANTI-TERRORISM LEGISLATION YIELDING RESULTS’
The NSA cited foreign terrorist fighters, organised crime,
prolonged conflicts, drug trafficking, illicit arms strength, high youth
unemployment, porous borders, and inadequate policies, as factors that threaten
the stability of regions on the continent.
Ribadu said political instability, governance challenges,
ethnic and religious tensions, economic inequality and poverty, also
significantly contribute to these issues, necessitating security strategies
that combine military, economic, and regional efforts.
“Effective strategies
require comprehensive approaches that addresses these drivers, promote
socio-economic development, enhance governance, resolve conflicts, and
strengthen regional and international cooperation,” he said.
Speaking on Nigeria’s 15-year battle with Boko Haram and the
Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), Ribadu said armed groups have
evolved, presenting emerging security challenges for the country.
The NSA said efforts such as the implementation of the
national counter-terrorism strategy, and legislation such as the Terrorism
Prevention and Prohibition Act and the Money Laundering Prevention and
Prohibiting Act, have yielded results.
Ribadu also said the establishment of the National
Counter-terrorism Centre, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and
Light Weapons, and the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, have helped
to anticipate and neutralise threats before they manifest.
The NSA added that government is enhancing its judicial
capabilities in order to effectively prosecute terrorist offenders.
“Additionally, I am taking this opportunity to inform the
world that we have resumed the prosecution of the Boko Haram and affiliated
suspects detained in Kainji and other locations across the country,” he said.
