Boko Haram on Its Last Legs, Says Minister of Information
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that Boko Haram, the notorious insurgent group that has plagued the country for over a decade, has been significantly weakened and is now “on its last legs.”
In an interview aired on France 24 on Tuesday, Idris stated that years of sustained military operations have left the group fractured and on the run.
“Previously, they were holding territories—local governments, towns, and cities in the northeast. That’s no longer the case,” Idris said. “They’ve largely dissipated, fled into the bushes, and are only able to launch occasional attacks on soft targets.”
While acknowledging that the insurgency has not been completely eradicated, the minister emphasized the progress made. “We’re not saying we have 100 percent exterminated Boko Haram, but I think that we have degraded them significantly. They no longer pose a major threat to the country.”
Boko Haram’s violent campaign to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria’s northeast has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. At the height of its power, the group seized control of several local government areas, prompting a massive military response.
Idris’s remarks come amid renewed concerns about a potential resurgence. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum recently described the dislodgement of military formations in certain areas as a “significant setback,” highlighting an uptick in attacks and kidnappings.
Despite these warnings, Idris maintained a confident stance, extending his assertion to other terrorist groups operating in the region. He noted that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is also nearing defeat, and pledged that Nigeria’s security forces are prepared to “crush” remaining threats, including the Lakurawa group.
