The Defence Headquarters has said 6,260 terrorists have been killed, with another 14,138 terrorists and criminals apprehended in joint military operations across the country over the past two years.
The Deputy Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig Gen Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, revealed this while presenting an overview and scorecard of military operations, at the expanded parley with media executives in Abuja, on Thursday.
The event was to mark the two years in office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, and other service chiefs.
Abu-Mawashi said troops of the armed forces also rescued 5,365 kidnap victims and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in different operations within the period.
Giving a breakdown of military operations across Nigeria’s six regions, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta recovered N83bn worth of stolen crude oil.
Abu-Mawashi said the troops also killed 103 criminals, apprehended 2,760 others, and rescued 266 civilians from the kidnappers’ den.
In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai intensified operations, resulting in the killing of 1,246 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists, while 2,467 of them were arrested within the period.
According to him, the troops rescued 1,920 civilians and recovered 982 arms, and 2,153 ammunition in the Northeast.
In the North West, Abu-Mawashi said the troops of Operation Fasan Yamma killed 1,374 bandits, including their top commanders in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
“They also arrested 2,160 bandits and rescued 3,288 hostages from bandit enclaves. The arms and ammunition recovered are 947 weapons and 25,802 rounds, respectively,” he added.
The defence spokesman said troops on operations in the North-Central killed 730 terrorists, bandits, and violent extremists, and arrested 7,153 violent extremists.
He said a total of 1,510 civilians were rescued, while 1,065 weapons and 19,709 rounds were recovered.
In the South East, Abu-Mawashi said the troops of Operation Udo Ka had in the past two years eliminated 440 terrorists while 1,677 criminals were arrested.
According to him, the troops also rescued 294 civilians and recovered 683 weapons and 21,300 rounds of ammunition.
“Finally, the Joint Task Force South West killed 80 criminals and arrested 1,763 others, while they rescued 89 kidnap victims. Troops recovered 143 weapons and 177,904 rounds of ammunition,” he added.
In his remarks, the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the event marked a significant milestone in the armed forces’ collective efforts to address and mitigate the complex security challenges confronting the nation.
Gusau said the programme was conceived in alignment with one of the leadership philosophies of the CDS, which is “leading a people-centric armed forces.”
He pledged the commitment of the military to ensure that the Nigerian public remained accurately and adequately informed about the activities, achievements, and sacrifices of the armed forces.
In his address, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, disclosed that Nigeria had “reached new heights” in its operational capabilities, having received 15 new aircraft in the last two years, with an additional 49 platforms expected before the end of 2026.
“In the last two years, the Nigerian Air Force has reached new heights in operational capabilities.
“Fifteen brand new aircraft were received by the Nigerian Air Force, including six T-129 attack helicopters in Tokyo, two Akusta Westline 109 checker helicopters from Italy, three Pitchfork Kish aircraft, and four Diamond aircraft.
“An additional 49 platforms are expected before the end of 2026. They include three CASA 295 aircraft, 10 Agusta Westline 109 checker aircraft, four KH-122 helicopters, and four M-346 fighter aircraft.
“These new acquisitions reinforce readiness because the Nigerian Air Force effectively meets the airpower demands of Nigeria,” he said.
Giving details of the Air Force’s operations in the last two years, Abubakar said “The new platforms have enhanced the Nigerian Air Force operational effectiveness, enabling the service to fly over 4,500 hours in 2,304 sorties, or 1,974 concurrent operations within the last one year. Similarly, the Nigerian Air Force flew over 4,670 hours in 2,714 sorties, or 2,610 anti-planetary missions, as well as 1,450 hours in 400 complete sorties, or 360 concurrent co-coordinated missions between last year and the year before.
“Between January to May this year, the Nigerian Air Force has already flown over 811, that’s two hours in 469 sorties, or concurrent operations, 2,000 hours in 919 sorties, or anti-planetary missions, as well as 781 hours in 340 sorties, or concurrent co-coordinated operations.”
He also stated that over 3,496 terrorists were neutralised, while 775 structures, logistics, and 218 combat vehicles were destroyed by air companies for operational aid in the logistics sector, since June 2023.
Abubakar also said over 2,104 terrorists have been neutralised, while 669 structures were destroyed by the air company for operational containment, in the last year.
In his report, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm Emmanuel Ogalla, said the Navy seized 79 vessels and deactivated 808 illegal oil refining sites, denying oil thieves 27.3 million barrels of crude oil in its operation Delta Sanity.
“The Nigerian Navy’s operational responses in the last two years have been in the form of anti-piracy, anti-espionage operations, anti-oil theft operations, anti-smuggling operations, and joint operations.
“Others include asset recapitalisation, establishment of new bases, hydrographic operations, regional and international cooperation, as well as regional and international collaboration.
“For anti-oil theft operations, the Nigerian Navy has been at the forefront of operations to curb oil theft through Operation Delta Sanity,” he said.
This, he said, led to arrests of 76 vessels and 242 suspects, well over 808 illegal refining sites, with 2,411 docker pits and 5,421 storage facilities deactivated. Additionally, several items used in perpetrating oil theft-related crimes were seized, such as speedboats, as well as arms and ammunition, among others.
“Furthermore, oil fields were denied about 27.3 million litres of crude oil, 4.1 million litres of illegally refined AGO, 117,525 litres of PDK, and 369,155 litres of EMS. At current market rates, this amounts to about N29.5bn,” he said.
In its anti-smuggling operation, Ogalla said the Navy had seized 4,610 bags of foreign rice, and 1,467 bags of cannabis sativa and other drugs, worth over N5bn smuggled in loading boats.
“The Nigerian Navy anti-smuggling operations have recorded significant achievements. Specifically, petroleum products and 4,610 bags of foreign or foreign price, as well as 1,467 bags of cannabis sativa, and other psychoactive substances, smuggled in loading boats, worth over N5bn were intercepted in the last two years,” the CNS said.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, said the Nigerian security landscape remained dynamic and complex, requiring a multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional approach that synergised the military, government institutions and the people.
In his address at the maiden Defence Headquarters Civil-Military Relations Conference 2025, Musa noted that Nigeria was faced with “an array of adaptive and conventional threats from non-state actors” that included terrorism, banditry and insurgency, requiring the formation of a “trinity” between the government, the military and the people to fight insecurity.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the security landscape of our dear country remains dynamic and complex.
“We are contending with an array of adaptive and conventional threats from non-state actors, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, secessionist violence, and other forms of organised crime.
“These multi-faceted threats underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, and multidisciplinary approach.
“In response, the Armed Forces have fully embraced a whole-of-society approach that emphasises the synergy among the military, government, institutions, and the people, as a unified trinity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.
He described the media as a central player in the “non-kinetic theatre” that thrived on misinformation and disinformation, urging them to ensure proper reportage of operations to instil confidence in the people.
“In this non-kinetic theatre, the media is a powerful force. The perception battle, which entails conforming the narrative and countering misinformation, and disinformation, is essential.
“How the media reports on our operations has a significant impact on public perception and morale, both locally and internationally.
“Let me reaffirm that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country,” he added.(Punch)
