Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has dismissed claims that terrorist groups operating in Nigeria possess more sophisticated weapons than the country’s military.
His comments came in response to a statement by Ahmed Jaha, a member of the House of Representatives, who alleged on Tuesday that terrorists in the North-East were using armed drones — equipment he claimed the Nigerian military lacks. Jaha made the claim while supporting a motion by fellow lawmaker Ahmad Satomi on the rising attacks against military formations in Borno and Yobe states.
Speaking at the ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru firmly rebutted the allegation.
“Yesterday, the House of Representatives said that the terrorists have better weapons than us. That is absolutely not true,” the minister said. “We have much more sophisticated weapons, and we have much more sophisticated drones.”
He clarified that the insurgents are not operating military-grade drones but modified civilian models, and stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces maintain technological and tactical superiority.
Badaru attributed the challenges faced by troops not to inferior firepower but to the guerrilla-style tactics employed by the terrorists, often aided by local informants.
“This war is not a conventional war. It’s like a guerrilla war,” he explained. “They watch us. They have informants around us. They give them information, and they attack us when we are looking elsewhere.”
The minister also revealed that efforts were underway to enhance military intelligence capabilities, both within and outside the country, to track and disrupt the terrorists’ supply chains.
In addition, he disclosed that local defence production is advancing rapidly. “Out of 53 companies operating within the military-industrial complex, 10 have already commenced production of drones, aircraft components, protective gear, and other equipment,” he said.
Badaru reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening domestic defence capabilities and assured Nigerians that the military remains well-equipped to contain and defeat the insurgency.
