VP Shettima vows Nigeria will not be cowed by insurgents

By: Zagazola Makama

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will not be intimidated by recent insurgent attacks in Borno, saying the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains resolute in safeguarding lives and property.

Shettima gave the assurance in a statement on Saturday following recent insurgency attacks, including abductions in Ngoshe and coordinated assaults on military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok in Borno.

The Vice President said the Federal Government had already begun deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected areas.

According to him, the recent incidents serve as a reminder of the security challenges confronting the nation but reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace and stability.

“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.

He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had been fully briefed on the situation and had directed a swift and comprehensive mobilisation of the country’s 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 said.

Shettima assured that the perpetrators of the attacks would face the full weight of the law, stressing that the government remained committed to defending the nation and its citizens.

“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,” he said.

The Vice President expressed sympathy to families affected by the attacks and paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“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,” he added.

Shettima also commended the resilience of the Borno government and people under Gov. Babagana Zulum and praised the gallantry of troops fighting insurgents in the North-East.

He reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to take decisive measures to end insurgency and restore lasting peace in the region.

“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,” he said.