Nigeria's Defence Minister, retired Major General Christopher Musa, announced that the war against the terrorist groups ISIS and Boko Haram 'is achieving results on the ground,' noting that 'the security situation in Nigeria is steadily improving... and that angers some parties.'

Musa's remarks came after a meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Palace in the capital Abuja, where he briefed him on the security situation in the West African country, which has been waging a fierce war against terrorism since 2009.

Nigeria's Defence Minister makes statements after leaving President Tinubu's meeting (local media)

In a press statement after leaving the meeting, Musa said: 'The security situation in Nigeria is steadily improving, especially after the increase in citizens' support for the armed forces and other security agencies in the war against terrorism and banditry gangs.'

The Nigerian Defence Minister explained that 'the growing cooperation between citizens and security agencies has begun to yield positive results,' stressing that 'defeating terrorist and criminal elements requires a comprehensive community approach,' as he put it.

The meeting between the Defence Minister and the President comes after widespread rumors about the Defence Minister's resignation due to the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially after the increase in the frequency of terrorist attacks in the far northeast, and the rise in mass kidnappings and ethnic clashes in central and western Nigeria.

The Defence Minister vehemently denied these rumors, saying he would take legal action against anyone who spread the rumor of his resignation. He added: 'I was shocked when I heard and saw those news reports, and I do not know where they came from. But it is expected that there are people who are not happy when things are going well.'

He added: 'The security situation has improved, and things are moving towards the better. That is saddening for them, and they will always try to show the opposite of the truth.' He then affirmed: 'I am not going anywhere, and I have never discussed this matter with anyone. I don't even know who started these rumors, but whoever it is, we will take legal action against them as soon as they are arrested to reveal where they obtained this information.'

Nigerian soldiers pass by tanks ready for deployment in eastern Nigeria (Reuters)

Concluding his statement, the Nigerian Defence Minister said: 'I assure Nigerians that we continue our tasks with a calm heart. As you can see, I have just returned from briefing the President on the current security developments, and he is very satisfied with our performance.'

Despite rumors of his resignation, Musa is described as one of President Tinubu's close associates, who appointed him as Chief of Defence Staff immediately upon taking office in 2023, a position he held until his retirement at the end of 2025.

Immediately after that, specifically in early December 2025, President Tinubu nominated him for the position of Defence Minister, succeeding Muhammad Badaru Abubakar who resigned for health reasons. The Senate indeed confirmed his nomination, and he was sworn in as Defence Minister.

Since assuming the post of Defence Minister, Musa has adopted a new strategy in the war against terrorism, kidnapping, and organized crime, based on a community approach, by enhancing coordination among the armed forces, security agencies, and local communities.

Musa also focused on increasing funding and equipment, investigating security failures, and taking a tougher stance against terrorists. During his tenure, the security and military partnership with the United States was strengthened, especially in the war against ISIS.

Ongoing clashes

Nevertheless, the situation remains unstable, especially in the Lake Chad Basin area, where the army announced on Tuesday that it killed one ISIS member and wounded others during armed clashes in Yobe State, in the far northeast of the country.

Photos published by ISIS of its photographer who was killed in clashes with the army last week (local media)

The army stated that the operation was launched following intelligence reports of movements of ISIS militants on two cars and motorcycles, who were roaming local villages to collect taxes and levies they imposed on residents.

The army spokesman in Yobe State said that during the clashes, one car was disabled and its driver killed, while four other terrorists, suspected of being wounded by gunfire, fled into nearby bushes, leaving the car behind.

He added that the armed forces later conducted sweeping operations along the 'Baya Kafiya - Garin Gada' route, where they recovered the abandoned car and a set of materials believed to be linked to terrorist operations that the group was planning.

Army units also foiled a mass kidnapping attempt and rescued 27 victims who had been abducted, during separate operations carried out in Sokoto and Zamfara states, according to security and military sources.

The Nigerian Air Force carried out airstrikes targeting a suspected terrorist hideout in Borno State, destroying the hideout and eliminating all those inside.

Image of destroyed structures resulting from US airstrikes on unidentified militants linked to ISIS... last December 27 in Nigeria (AFP)

The ISIS West Africa group confirmed the death of its main photographer and field commander 'Abu Salim al-Barnawi' during a failed attack on a Nigerian military base last week.

Reliable sources stated that 'Abu Salim' was one of the most prominent media activists in the group, serving as the main photographer and video producer responsible for documenting combat operations and producing propaganda material used for recruitment and morale boosting.

Before joining the group's media wing, reports indicate he led many cross-border raids with neighboring Cameroon. His death is considered a severe blow to ISIS's propaganda machine, given his pivotal role in recording and publishing field footage and media content of the group's combat operations.

His death was confirmed by the terrorist group after Nigerian forces repelled the attack on the military base, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers and neutralizing a number of prominent leaders.