More than 8,000 terrorists and armed bandits have been killed in military operations across Nigeria since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has announced.
Speaking during a sectoral ministerial briefing to mark the administration’s one-year anniversary, the defence minister disclosed that at least 8,034 terrorists were neutralized during counterinsurgency and anti-banditry operations conducted nationwide. The operations were said to have been carried out through enhanced coordination among the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, in collaboration with other security agencies including the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the office of the National Security Adviser.
According to the minister, more than 11,000 suspected criminals were arrested during the same period, while over 4,600 kidnap victims were successfully rescued. In addition, military forces were reported to have recovered nearly 5,000 assorted weapons and over 83,000 rounds of ammunition from criminal elements.
The Defence Minister credited these achievements to the improved synergy between security agencies and the renewed commitment of the armed forces. It was emphasized that support from the Tinubu administration—through increased funding, logistical support, and the acquisition of modern equipment—had played a critical role in the operational success of the military.
Badaru commended the leadership of the armed forces for their strategic planning and effective coordination, stating that the armed forces had remained resilient and focused in their mission to restore peace and security across troubled regions.
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The figures released by the ministry were described as evidence of the federal government’s sustained efforts to tackle insecurity and enhance national stability. Officials noted that ongoing operations would continue to target terrorist cells and criminal groups in all parts of the country.
