The Nigerian Armed Forces have made significant strides in the fight against terrorism and banditry, with the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, commending the military for their sustained successes. Agbese stated that the military has moved beyond rhetoric to become a serious threat to terrorist groups operating across the country. He praised the Minister of State Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for their effective leadership.
According to Agbese, the recent operational gains recorded in the North-East and North-West show that the Armed Forces are increasingly taking the battle to terrorist and criminal networks. The military has conducted thousands of operations across the country, neutralizing 1,487 terrorists and insurgents and rescuing 777 kidnapped victims in July and August alone. The operations also led to the arrest of 354 suspects and the recovery of 91 firearms, 1,331 rounds of ammunition, and 44 improvised explosive devices.
The Defence Headquarters reported that troops under Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 114 terrorists, arrested 146 suspects, and rescued 60 kidnapped victims during operations in August. In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma have sustained operations against terrorist groups, particularly across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. During operations between August 31 and September 3, troops raided terrorist hideouts in Katsina State, killing suspected terrorist kingpins.
Agbese attributed the progress to a change in the character of military operations, noting that the Armed Forces are increasingly combining intelligence, air power, ground operations, and inter-agency cooperation to disrupt terrorist networks. He commended Matawalle for his contribution to the coordination of the Armed Forces and the Federal Government's broader response to insecurity.
Agbese also praised Oluyede for strengthening coordination among the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other security agencies, saying the cooperation has enhanced the effectiveness of operations across the country. The CDS has attributed recent operational gains to sustained collaboration among the military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, local security groups, and other stakeholders.
Agbese lauded Shaibu for the renewed operational focus within the Nigerian Army, particularly in the North-East where troops have continued to mount pressure on terrorist formations. The COAS recently reported that operations under Operation Hadin Kai had recorded measurable gains, including the neutralization of 1,993 terrorists, arrest of 2,645 suspects, and rescue of 1,778 civilians.
Agbese emphasized that the significance of the current military campaign goes beyond the number of terrorists neutralized or arrested, arguing that the weakening of terrorist logistics and command structures is critical to restoring normal life in affected communities. He called for sustained support for the Armed Forces, saying the gains recorded on the battlefield should not lead to complacency.
Key points
- The Nigerian Armed Forces have intensified their fight against terrorism and banditry, recording significant successes in recent operations.
- The military has neutralized 1,487 terrorists and insurgents and rescued 777 kidnapped victims in July and August alone.
- The Armed Forces are increasingly combining intelligence, air power, ground operations, and inter-agency cooperation to disrupt terrorist networks.
