Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has vowed that the federal government of Nigeria will intensify military action to defeat insurgent groups responsible for recent attacks in the country’s north-east.
The renewed pledge follows a series of assaults in Borno State, a region in north-eastern Nigeria that has been the centre of a long-running insurgency led by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. The latest attacks resulted in casualties among both civilians and members of the Nigerian security forces.
In a statement issued on Saturday, March 7, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said the Nigerian government would respond with decisive force and would not be intimidated by the violence. The attacks reportedly included abductions of residents in Ngoshe and coordinated assaults on several military bases in the state.
“We remain one nation, tied to a common destiny. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable.
“This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State,” Shettima stated.
According to the Vice President, the federal government has already begun deploying additional military resources and intelligence-led reinforcements to communities affected by the attacks.
He acknowledged that the violence in recent days had reminded Nigerians of the continuing threat posed by insurgent groups in the region.
“The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the shadow that persists, but let it be known: we choose light over shadow, and hope over despair.
“Our difference as a nation is the distance between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order,” Shettima said.
The Vice President also disclosed that Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had been briefed about the incidents and had ordered an immediate mobilisation of the country’s security institutions.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already directed a swift and total mobilisation of our security architecture.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace our people or occupy an inch of Nigerian soil,” he stated.
Okay News reports that the latest attacks targeted military formations in several locations across Borno State, including Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok. Insurgents were reported to have briefly overrun some military positions before Nigerian troops regained control after reinforcements arrived.
In Ngoshe, a community located in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, several residents were abducted during the attacks. Communities in the area have repeatedly faced raids by insurgent fighters, who often carry out kidnappings for ransom or force civilians into labour.
“We are not just fighting a war. We are defending the very soul of our humanity against those who preach a toxic rhetoric of hate, and we will not be cowed by their gory acts,” Shettima declared.
The Vice President expressed sympathy to families of victims and members of the armed forces who lost their lives during the attacks. He also assured Nigerians that the government would continue efforts to secure the release of abducted residents.
“Our hearts bleed for the families and the brave soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.
“This administration will not rest until abducted citizens safely reunite with their families,” the Vice President said.
Shettima further praised the resilience of the people of Borno State and the efforts of the state government led by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. He also commended Nigerian troops serving on the frontlines in the fight against insurgency.
President Tinubu had earlier contacted Governor Zulum to express sympathy and solidarity with residents following the attacks.
During an interfaith breaking of fast event with senior military leaders on Friday, March 6, 2026, the President reassured members of the armed forces that Nigeria would ultimately overcome terrorism and banditry.
“I appreciate all the people facing the challenges of terrorism and banditry. We will win. Nigeria will prevail,” Tinubu said.
Borno State has remained the epicentre of the insurgency that began in 2009, despite years of military operations aimed at weakening extremist groups operating in the Lake Chad region of West Africa.
Although some parts of the state experienced relative calm in recent months, the latest attacks highlight the continuing security challenges facing communities across the region.
