Nigerian security forces have arrested four Pakistani nationals for aiding and abetting terrorist organisations Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). These Pakistani operatives, reportedly acting as hired mercenaries, were caught red-handed training jihadist militants in guerrilla warfare, drone reconnaissance, and the use of advanced explosive devices—marking a grave escalation in Africa’s already bloody war against terrorism.
According to a report by The Cable, the Pakistani nationals played a pivotal role in transforming Boko Haram and ISWAP from ragtag militias into highly coordinated, tech-savvy militant outfits. These foreign fighters are believed to have smuggled sophisticated weapons and introduced battlefield tactics drawn from Pakistan’s long history of asymmetric warfare.
Under their training, Boko Haram and ISWAP have significantly ramped up their combat capabilities. Nigerian military sources confirm that terrorists are now deploying surveillance drones, IEDs, and booby traps with alarming precision—leading to increased casualties among Nigerian soldiers and severe damage to military hardware. The Pakistani mercenaries, it is believed, provided key strategic and tactical inputs, turning Nigeria’s terror problem into a transnational security threat.
“This is no longer a war between soldiers and terrorists. This is a war for the soul of Nigeria,” said Brigadier General Abubakar, spokesperson for the Nigerian military. He urged swift and united action across African nations to curb the flow of foreign jihadist trainers and weapons into the region.
The development has sparked concerns not just within Nigeria but across the global counter-terrorism community. Experts point to this incident as further proof of Pakistan’s notorious reputation as an exporter of jihadist ideology and paramilitary expertise—long accused of supporting terror groups operating in India, Afghanistan, and now, evidently, Africa.
Brigadier General Abubakar also issued a clarion call for better intelligence coordination, surveillance technologies, and regional partnerships to dismantle these foreign-funded terror factories. “We must shut down the pipelines—financial, ideological, and logistical—that allow this machinery to run,” he said.
He saluted the bravery of Nigerian troops fighting under extreme conditions—from blistering heat during the day to freezing cold at night—and called upon citizens and the media to support the military in its life-and-death mission to protect the country.
