Nigeria’s Armed Forces Have Gone Beyond Rhetorics, We Are Now Nightmares To Terrorists – Reps Deputy Spokesperson

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for the sustained successes recorded in the fight against terrorism and banditry, saying the military has moved beyond rhetoric to become a serious threat to terrorist groups operating across the country.

Agbese, a member of the Labour Party from Benue State who spoke in an interview on Monday, particularly commended 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 providing what he described as effective strategic and operational leadership in the ongoing campaign against insurgency, terrorism and other forms of insecurity.

He said the recent operational gains recorded in the North-East and North-West showed that the Armed Forces were increasingly taking the battle to terrorist and criminal networks instead of merely reacting to attacks.

“Nigeria’s Armed Forces have gone beyond rhetorics. We are now deadly threats to terrorists,” Agbese said.

According to him, the sustained pressure being mounted by troops across different theatres had significantly disrupted the activities of terrorist groups, while the rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of weapons and ammunition, arrests of suspects and surrender of insurgents demonstrated growing operational effectiveness.

Recent figures released by the Defence Headquarters showed that troops conducted thousands of operations across the country in July and August, neutralising 1,487 terrorists and insurgents and rescuing 777 kidnapped victims. 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.

Agbese said the figures should be viewed alongside the increasingly aggressive operations being conducted by troops in the North-East and North-West.

In the North-East, troops under Operation Hadin Kai have continued offensive operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements, with the military reporting the neutralisation of terrorists, arrests, rescue of victims and surrender of insurgents.

The Defence Headquarters said troops under Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 114 terrorists, arrested 146 suspects and rescued 60 kidnapped victims during operations in August.

In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma have also sustained operations against terrorist groups, particularly across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

During operations between August 31 and September 3, troops reportedly raided terrorist hideouts in Katsina State, killing suspected terrorist kingpins, while operations across the wider North-West targeted terrorist camps, logistics networks and other support structures.

Agbese said the progress reflected a change in the character of military operations, noting that the Armed Forces were increasingly combining intelligence, air power, ground operations and inter-agency cooperation to disrupt terrorist networks.

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Agbese commended the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for what he described as his contribution to the coordination of the Armed Forces and the Federal Government’s broader response to insecurity.

He said the ministry’s role in ensuring that the military services operate with a common strategic direction had contributed to the gains being recorded in the various theatres of operation.

He particularly praised Matawalle for maintaining close engagement with the military leadership and supporting efforts to strengthen coordination among the services in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other security threats.

According to him, the successes recorded by troops across the North-East and North-West reflected not only the sacrifices of personnel in the field but also the coordination and leadership provided at the political and defence levels.

In similar vein, Agbese lauded Oluyede for strengthening coordination among the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies, saying the cooperation had enhanced the effectiveness of operations across the country.

The CDS has himself 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 also praised Shaibu for what he described as 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 said operations under Operation Hadin Kai had recorded measurable gains, including the neutralisation of 1,993 terrorists, arrest of 2,645 suspects and rescue of 1,778 civilians during the period covered by the Army’s operational assessment. He also said the Army had recovered large quantities of weapons and ammunition and that improved security had enabled some displaced communities to gradually return to locations including Mallam Fatori, Kukawa and Ngoshe.

Agbese said the significance of the current military campaign went beyond the number of terrorists neutralised or arrested, arguing that the weakening of terrorist logistics and command structures was critical to restoring normal life in affected communities.

He noted that the rescue of civilians, particularly women and children who had spent extended periods in captivity, was an important measure of the military’s effectiveness.

“The rescue of hundreds of innocent Nigerians, many of them women and children who had spent months in captivity, speaks volumes about the commitment and professionalism of our troops,” he had said in an earlier interview on the security situation.

“These brave men and women continue to risk their lives every day so that ordinary Nigerians can live in peace, and as a nation, we owe them our gratitude and unwavering support.”

He said the military’s growing capacity to force terrorist fighters and their families out of their enclaves was another indication that the pressure being mounted on the groups was producing results.

According to Agbese, the increasing surrender of insurgents should be encouraged because it reduces the manpower available to terrorist groups while providing an opportunity for authorities to obtain useful intelligence on their networks and operations.

He also called for sustained support for the Armed Forces, saying the gains recorded on the battlefield should not lead to complacency.

Agbese said the military needed continued investment in modern equipment, intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics and the welfare of personnel to sustain the momentum against terrorists.

He further urged Nigerians to support the security agencies with credible information, stressing that intelligence from communities remained critical to identifying terrorist hideouts, logistics suppliers and collaborators.

Agbese said the progress recorded by the military also required stronger cooperation between security agencies and state and local authorities, particularly in areas where terrorists and bandits operate across administrative boundaries.

He commended troops serving in difficult and remote operational areas, saying their sacrifices should be recognised by Nigerians.

The lawmaker maintained that while security challenges remained, the operational successes recorded in recent months represented a significant shift in the fight against terrorism.

He said the country should therefore sustain the current momentum rather than allowing terrorists to regroup.

Agbese said the combination of stronger military leadership, improved inter-service coordination, intelligence-driven operations and sustained pressure on terrorist networks was gradually changing the security landscape.

He expressed confidence that with continued support for the Armed Forces, the country could further degrade terrorist groups and restore greater security to affected communities.