Boko Haram now standing on its last leg, says information minister

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says Boko Haram has been significantly degraded and is “standing on its last leg”.

Idris spoke in an interview with France24 aired Tuesday.

For over a decade, Boko Haram’s insurgency has devastated Nigeria’s northeast, marked by brutal attacks, mass kidnappings, and the displacement of thousands.

The militant group, notorious for its aim to establish an Islamic state, has also seized control of some LGAs.

Following years of military operations, there were indications that the Nigerian army had made substantial progress in containing the insurgency, creating a sense of cautious optimism.

However, that perception was recently challenged in a rare admission after Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, said the recent dislodgment of military formations in some LGAs was a “significant setback” in the country’s fight against insurgency.

Zulum expressed concerns over the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings across the state and called for more concerted efforts in tackling the terrorists.

Despite the governor’s concerns, Idris’s comments on the matter painted a contrasting picture.

“I think they’re on their last legs,” the minister told France 24.

“Hitherto, they were holding territories especially in the north eastern past of Nigeria—local governments, towns, cities—now its no longer the case.

“They’ve largely dissipated; they’ve ran into the bushes and coming to take some soft targets.

“We’re not saying we have 100 percent exterminated Boko Haram, but I think that we have degraded Boko Haram significantly for them to pose any significant challenge for us as a country.”

The minister also roped the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) among terrorist organisations that are standing “on their last legs” while adding that security agencies would soon “crush” the Lakurawa group.