President Bola Tinubu on Monday held a closed-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and a visiting French military general at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as Nigeria grapples with a worsening security situation marked by fresh attacks, civilian casualties, and rising international concern.
Sources within the Presidency said the meeting formed part of intensified efforts by the administration to strengthen international military collaboration, particularly in the face of escalating insurgency in the North-East and growing violence across other regions of the country.
The engagement, which began around 2 p.m., was Tinubu’s first official meeting since returning from Bayelsa on Friday. It also came just weeks after the President disclosed that France had agreed to support Nigeria with military equipment and training following discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Presidential sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the meeting focused on security cooperation and Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to source external support to confront internal threats. However, the identity of the French general involved was not disclosed, and no official photographs or statements were released from the session.
Shortly after the bilateral engagement, the President convened an emergency security meeting with the country’s top military and intelligence leadership. In attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, the service chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the head of the National Intelligence Agency, and the Inspector-General of Police.
The back-to-back meetings come amid a surge in deadly incidents, including the killing of a senior military officer and six soldiers in Borno State. The troops were reportedly struck by an improvised explosive device planted by insurgents during an operation in the North-East, underscoring the persistent threat faced by security forces in the region.
In a statement, the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, confirmed that the attack occurred in Monguno, where troops of Sector 3 came under what was described as an isolated terrorist assault. While the insurgents were eventually repelled, the commanding officer and six personnel lost their lives after encountering the explosive device.
The military described the fallen officer’s actions as emblematic of courage and leadership, noting that he had moved toward the frontline to personally assess the situation when the fatal incident occurred. The development marks yet another blow to ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in the North-East, where attacks on military formations have continued despite sustained operations.
The deteriorating security climate has also been compounded by controversy surrounding a recent airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force. The strike, which targeted what military authorities described as a terrorist logistics hub at Jilli market near the Yobe–Borno border, reportedly resulted in the deaths of both suspected insurgents and civilians.
While the military defended the operation as precise and intelligence-driven, the incident drew sharp criticism from Amnesty International, which condemned what it termed the reckless use of force and called for an independent investigation into the civilian casualties.
Survivors of the strike have since recounted harrowing experiences, describing multiple aerial bombardments that caught traders and residents off guard. Some claimed the market served as a vital economic centre, denying knowledge of its alleged use by insurgent groups, thereby raising further questions about the accuracy of intelligence that informed the operation.
The Presidency, however, maintained that the location constituted a legitimate military target. In a media briefing, presidential spokesman Temitope Ajayi stated that the market had been repurposed by extremist groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, as a logistics and trading hub.
Adding to the mounting pressure, the United States Department of State recently authorised the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and their families from its embassy in Abuja, citing a deteriorating security environment. The advisory placed 23 Nigerian states under its highest risk category, “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” pointing to threats from insurgents, armed gangs, and communal violence across multiple regions.
The move led to the suspension of visa services at the Abuja embassy, although operations continue at the Lagos consulate. Nigerian authorities, however, downplayed the advisory, with Information Minister Mohammed Idris insisting that while security challenges persist in certain areas, there is no nationwide breakdown of law and order.
Beyond the North-East, violence has also intensified in parts of Benue State, where coordinated attacks by suspected armed herders left several residents dead across multiple communities, including Edikwu-Ankpali, Ikobi, Adija, and Upu. Local officials confirmed casualties and ongoing search efforts, with many residents reportedly fleeing their homes amid fears of further attacks.
In one of the incidents, a Mobile Police officer was killed while responding to a distress call, highlighting the growing risks faced by security personnel nationwide. Authorities say additional forces have since been deployed to the affected areas as part of efforts to restore calm.
The wave of violence across regions has reinforced concerns about Nigeria’s overstretched security architecture and the urgent need for both domestic reforms and international support. Tinubu’s latest engagements with military leaders and foreign partners suggest a strategy increasingly focused on collaboration, resource mobilisation, and tactical reinforcement.
However, with insurgent attacks persisting, civilian casualties rising, and global partners issuing warnings, the coming weeks are likely to test both the effectiveness of these measures and the government’s ability to stabilise an increasingly volatile security landscape.
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