A northern-based peace advocacy group, the Northern Alliance for Peace and Security (NAPS), has said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Nigerian Armed Forces have demonstrated renewed commitment to tackling insecurity through sustained successes in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
The group said the recent rescue of hundreds of abducted victims and the neutralisation of scores of terrorists and other armed criminals underscore the military’s renewed offensive against violent groups operating in different parts of Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the National President of NAPS, Mallam Danladi Abutu, said the recent operational gains reflect the Armed Forces’ commitment, under the leadership of the CDS, to improving national security and restoring public confidence.
According to him, the successes recorded in recent weeks demonstrate the military’s determination and operational readiness to defeat criminal elements threatening the country’s peace.
“The recent gains mirror the commitment of the CDS and his men to making Nigeria safe for all. What we have witnessed in the past few weeks is an indication of the battle readiness of our gallant troops to make life difficult for these terrorist elements,” Abutu said.
He noted that the achievements come amid intensified military operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where insecurity has continued to claim lives, displace communities and disrupt socio-economic activities.
Abutu highlighted several recent operations carried out by the Armed Forces, including the rescue of 14 of the 15 worshippers abducted during a night vigil at a church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on April 28, 2026. The victims regained their freedom after spending more than 67 days in captivity and were taken to the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
He also cited the rescue of 416 residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who had been abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists before being freed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
The group further referenced the rescue of 11 women kidnapped while fishing in Dille community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, describing the operation as further evidence of the military’s resolve to protect vulnerable communities.
Abutu urged Nigerians to support the Armed Forces by providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community participation remains crucial to defeating terrorism and other violent crimes.
“The security situation is of great concern to every well-meaning Nigerian. We must join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that the war against banditry is successfully prosecuted,” he said.
He added that the ongoing military operations send a clear message that terrorists would not prevail.
“What the Federal Government has done through the gallant troops is a message to the terrorists that they can never win this war. They will lose because every Nigerian deserves to live and work in peace anywhere across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” he stated.
Abutu also condemned the increasing attacks on schools and the abduction of students, describing such acts as a direct assault on the nation’s future.
“Why are they attacking schools and abducting our children? Education is the bedrock of every society desirous of growth and progress. We must not allow the enemies of our beloved country to continue their evil enterprise.
We may not be armed, but volunteering information to security agencies is a sign of patriotism,” he added.
Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security threats, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, and rising cases of kidnapping across several parts of the country.
In response, the Armed Forces have sustained coordinated land and air offensives against terrorist enclaves, rescue operations for kidnapped victims, and clearance missions aimed at restoring peace in affected communities.
Recent operations have also led to the recovery of weapons and the destruction of several criminal hideouts, although security experts maintain that sustained intelligence gathering and stronger community collaboration remain essential to consolidating the gains.
