The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as sustained successes in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
Agbese, a member of the Labour Party from Benue State, said in an interview on Monday that the military had moved beyond rhetoric and was increasingly taking the battle to terrorist and criminal networks across the country.
‘Nigeria’s Armed Forces have gone beyond rhetorics. We are now deadly threats to terrorists,’ he said.
He particularly commended the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for providing strategic and operational leadership in the ongoing campaign against insurgency, terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
Agbese said recent operational gains in the North-East and North-West showed that troops were increasingly disrupting terrorist networks rather than merely responding to attacks.
According to figures released by the Defence Headquarters, 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 resulted in 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 considered alongside ongoing offensive operations in the North-East and North-West.
In the North-East, troops under Operation Hadin Kai have continued operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements. The Defence Headquarters said troops under the operation 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 sustained operations against terrorist groups in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Agbese said the operations reflected an increasingly intelligence-driven approach combining air power, ground operations and inter-agency cooperation.
He commended Matawalle for his role in coordinating the Armed Forces and supporting the Federal Government’s broader response to insecurity.
According to him, the sacrifices of troops in the field were being complemented by coordination and leadership at the political and defence levels.
Agbese also praised Oluyede for strengthening cooperation among the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies.
He said improved coordination among the services and other security institutions had enhanced the effectiveness of operations across the country.
The lawmaker similarly commended Shaibu for what he described as renewed operational focus within the Nigerian Army, particularly in the North-East.
He cited the Chief of Army Staff’s recent operational assessment, which indicated that Operation Hadin Kai had recorded the neutralisation of 1,993 terrorists, the arrest of 2,645 suspects and the rescue of 1,778 civilians during the period covered by the assessment.
Shaibu also reported the recovery of weapons and ammunition and said improved security had enabled some displaced communities, including Mallam Fatori, Kukawa and Ngoshe, to gradually return.
Agbese said the significance of the military campaign went beyond the number of terrorists neutralised or arrested, arguing that the disruption of terrorist logistics and command structures was critical to restoring normal life in affected communities.
He also highlighted the rescue of civilians, particularly women and children who had spent extended periods in captivity, as an important measure of the effectiveness of military operations.
‘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 said.
‘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.’
The lawmaker said the increasing surrender of insurgents was another development that could weaken terrorist groups by reducing their manpower and providing security agencies with intelligence on their networks and operations.
He, however, urged the authorities not to become complacent, saying the gains recorded on the battlefield should be matched with continued investment in modern equipment, intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics and the welfare of personnel.
Agbese also urged Nigerians to provide credible information to security agencies, stressing that community-based intelligence remained important in identifying terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and collaborators.
He called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, state governments and local authorities, particularly in areas where terrorists and bandits operate across administrative boundaries.
While acknowledging that security challenges remained, Agbese said recent operational successes represented a shift in the campaign against terrorism.
He urged the authorities to sustain the momentum and prevent terrorist groups from regrouping.
According to him, stronger military leadership, improved inter-service coordination, intelligence-driven operations and sustained pressure on terrorist networks could further degrade the groups and improve security in affected communities.