The Olufemi Oluyede has urged residents of Borno and Yobe to support efforts against terrorism.
Oluyede made the call after a high-level security meeting held in Maiduguri.
He warned that insurgents sometimes operate from within local communities affected by the violence.
The CDS said intelligence reports indicate that some attackers originate from communities impacted by insurgency.
Nigeria has battled insurgent groups such as Boko Haram for more than fifteen years.
Another active group in the region is Islamic State West Africa Province.
Oluyede said community support is critical for defeating terrorism in the North-East region.
He explained that military operations alone cannot completely eliminate the insurgency.
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According to him, civilians must cooperate with security forces by sharing credible information.
He cited a recent incident in Kukawa where wounded insurgents were discovered hiding inside the community.
The CDS said such situations make it difficult for troops to distinguish civilians from collaborators.
The security meeting lasted about four hours and involved senior military commanders.
Among them were Waidi Shuaibu and Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Oluyede also acknowledged that insurgents are increasingly using drones and other technologies.
He said the military is deploying advanced drone systems to strengthen surveillance and operational coordination.
