The Nigerian military has arrested four Pakistani nationals over alleged ties to terrorism.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, revealed this during a briefing with defence correspondents who visited the operational headquarters in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Abubakar said preliminary investigations indicate that the foreign nationals were involved in arms trafficking and in providing training to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East.
He noted that the involvement of foreign mercenaries has significantly enhanced the lethality and tactical capabilities of terrorist elements in the region.
He said, “The infiltration of foreign mercenaries in the joint operations area has significantly escalated the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISWAP and JAS.
“The recent arrest of four Pakistani nationals, whose initial investigation suggests that they deal in arms running with terrorists, is instructive.”
Abubakar further stated that the involvement of the foreign operatives has enabled terrorist groups to adopt more advanced tactics, including the use of drones.
The Commander noted that these foreign operatives have brought more sophisticated tactics to the terrorist groups, including the deployment of drones for surveillance and attacks.
He noted the contribution of such foreigners in the “deployment of drones for surveillance and attacks, the fabrication of advanced improvised explosive devices, and the setting of traps targeting military personnel”.
The Commander called for a coordinated international response to counter the growing threat.
He emphasized that the alarming trend requires an urgent and coordinated response, involving enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts, alongside robust collaboration between Nigeria and neighbouring countries to dismantle cross-border support networks.
He added that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists are at war with the Nigerian state and not the Armed Forces.