FG says Boko Haram degraded, assures of improved security

The federal government has reassured Nigerians that the country’s security situation has improved, noting that the insurgent group Boko Haram has been significantly degraded and reduced to a weakened force.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, gave the assurance when he received members of the Renewed Hope Fulbe Campaign Organisation (RHFCO), a grassroots Fulani mobilisation platform, at his office in Abuja.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, Mr Yomi Odunuga, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, quoted Akume as saying that sustained military operations, coupled with non-kinetic measures, have diminished the capacity of terrorist elements, noting that their attacks have become sporadic and ineffective.

He added that the federal government is strengthening the nation’s defence architecture through the acquisition of more arms and ammunition, alongside improved operational strategies by security agencies, expressing optimism that the country’s current security challenges are temporary.

According to him, “The problems we are having are temporary problems that will certainly go away. Things are already beginning to pick up,” he stated.

In a strong political declaration, the visiting RHFCO pledged total support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 general election.

Led by its National Coordinator, Hon. Abdullahi Ahmad Tibbo, the group said it would mobilise Fulani pastoralist communities across Nigeria to deliver massive votes for the administration.

“We hereby declare that the Fulbe are fully behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for a second term. We will galvanise our people to deliver massive support at the polls,” Tibbo stated.

He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instituted several policies that directly benefit the Fulbe community, including the Student Loan Scheme, super highways, local government autonomy, economic stabilisation, and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, which he said their forefathers had long sought.

The organisation described itself as a non-partisan, grassroots-driven platform committed to integrating Fulbe communities into Nigeria’s democratic and developmental processes, while aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda. It noted that it has established structures across over 20 states to deepen civic participation and voter mobilisation.

Senator Akume commended the group for its foresight and commitment to national unity, describing its mission as consistent with Nigeria’s need for inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence.

He urged the group to intensify grassroots sensitisation, particularly in encouraging citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as a means of participating actively in the democratic process.

He also highlighted key initiatives of the administration, including the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to unlock the economic potential of the sector and improve the livelihoods of pastoral communities, assuring the delegation that their requests, including recognition as a strategic mobilisation partner and provision of logistics support, would be duly considered.

Akume assured the group of continued government engagement, reiterating that all submissions made would receive due attention.

Earlier, the RHFCO appealed for special recognition and inclusion in government policy dialogue platforms, particularly in livestock development programmes, and requested mobility support, including vehicles and motorcycles, to enhance its grassroots outreach across remote pastoral settlements.

The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence, economic empowerment, and active civic engagement among Fulbe communities nationwide, while also announcing plans to inaugurate its national, zonal, and state structures in the coming months to strengthen its operations and expand its reach.