ABUJA — Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has underscored the immense geographic challenges confronting anti-terrorism operations in the North-East, comparing the total expanse of the Sambisa Forest to the size of European nations like Belgium.
Speaking on the operational realities facing troops in the frontline theater, the Defence Minister explained that the sheer landmass of the forest complex—stretching across thousands of square kilometers—strains military troop density and surveillance coverage. He noted that while security forces remain committed to clearing insurgent enclaves, the expansive and rugged terrain provides natural cover for splinter terrorist groups, making sustained perimeter containment and intelligence gathering exceptionally difficult.
Musa emphasized that addressing the vast operational footprint requires accelerated deployment of advanced technology, including long-range aerial surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), real-time satellite intelligence, and deep community-level intelligence networks to effectively deny non-state armed groups safe havens across the expanse.
