Nigerias Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede has issued a stark warning that local residents in Borno and Yobe states who provide support assistance or collaboration to terrorists are directly fueling ongoing insecurity and prolonging the insurgency in the northeast region. Speaking during a strategic review of military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP the CDS emphasized that the conflict now spanning over 15 years cannot be decisively ended without the active ownership and cooperation of the affected communities.

He pointed out that intelligence reports reveal many perpetrators of attacks originate from within these same states and communities often embedded among civilians which complicates military efforts and sustains the violence. General Oluyede urged residents of Borno and Yobe to take full responsibility for addressing the insecurity challenges stressing that local complicity including providing information logistics or shelter to insurgents hinders progress and extends suffering for innocent people.

He highlighted that the bulk of those carrying out terrorist acts are locals themselves making community involvement essential to breaking the cycle. The CDS called for residents to support security forces by withholding aid from terrorists sharing credible intelligence and rejecting any form of collaboration declaring that without such collective action the fight against terrorism will remain protracted. This statement comes amid persistent attacks in the region despite military operations and underscores the militarys view that defeating insurgency requires not just force but also strong civilian partnership and rejection of internal support for extremists.

The warning aligns with broader efforts to enhance community engagement intelligence sharing and local vigilance to restore peace and stability in the northeast.