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By Joseph Olu Atoyebi
The tide in Nigeria’s long and difficult battle against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes appeared to have turned in a quiet and sustained manner as the Armed Forces of Nigeria, working in close collaboration with other security agencies under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), intensified jaw dropping operations across the country with remarkable success.
In the past few weeks, security forces have recorded a series of operational successes in the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East, dismantling terrorist camps, neutralising notorious criminal leaders, rescuing scores of kidnapped victims, disrupting logistics networks and arresting suspected collaborators. The coordinated offensive has reinforced growing confidence that the Federal Government is determined and uncompromising in its resolve to deal decisively with criminal groups threatening national security not minding whose ox is gored.
At the centre of the renewed security drive is the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, whose office has continued to coordinate intelligence gathering and joint operations involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other sister security agencies.
Perhaps the clearest demonstration of the latest resolve and the effectiveness of this new coordinated strategy was the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday after 56 days in captivity. Their release marked the end of one of the country’s most closely watched and talked about kidnapping incidents in recent time.
The rescue followed a painstaking intelligence-driven operation reportedly involving more than ten security agencies led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army. Working under the coordination of ONSA and the National Counter Terrorism Centre, troops combed forests around the Old Oyo National Park, dismantled the kidnappers’ hideouts, arrested several members of the criminal network, including informants and logistics suppliers, and eventually secured the safe release of all the victims without collateral damage.
Expectedly, an elated President Bola Tinubu hailed the operation as a major victory for the nation, commending the military, DSS, police and intelligence agencies for their professionalism. Also, eight suspects were arrested while several terrorists involved in the kidnapping were neutralised.
Beyond the Oriire operation, military pressure on terrorist groups has intensified in various theatres of operation across the country. During its weekly operational briefing, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops conducted coordinated operations between July 3 and July 9, rescuing 129 kidnapped victims, destroying terrorist camps, recovering weapons and neutralising numerous terrorists and criminal elements.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, troops maintained sustained offensive operations that disrupted terrorist logistics, destroyed criminal infrastructure, intercepted arms traffickers and safeguarded critical national assets across the federation.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai continued to deny terrorists freedom of movement. Six abducted farmers were rescued in Borno State while several ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) logistics bases and life-support structures were destroyed in Ngala Local Government Area.
The troops also arrested a suspected terrorist informant accused of identifying wealthy residents for kidnapping, while several logistics suppliers conveying construction materials, motorcycle tyres, solar panels and other items intended for terrorist enclaves were intercepted. Family members of suspected terrorists also surrendered to troops in separate operations, further weakening insurgent networks.
One of the most significant breakthroughs came with the interception of a suspected foreign terrorist logistics courier. Troops arrested a 48-year-old Chadian national conveying cannabis, toxic chemicals, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances believed to be destined for terrorist camps in the Lake Chad region. Military authorities noted that such substances are frequently used by terrorists to embolden fighters and sustain violent operations, making the interception another major disruption of terrorist supply chains.
Operations in the North-West have been equally aggressive. Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma sustained pressure on terrorists across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi states through fighting patrols, ambushes and intelligence-led raids. Large quantities of arms, ammunition, motorcycles and materials suspected to be used in the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were recovered, while several suspected informants and logistics suppliers were arrested.
The military also announced the disruption of what it described as a major planned terrorist offensive after Nigerian Air Force aircraft tracked a convoy of nearly 300 heavily armed terrorists moving on motorcycles towards communities in Zamfara and Katsina States. Precision air strikes scattered the convoy and inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists.
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In another operation, troops neutralised Alhaji Tukur, identified as a notorious bandit commander and younger brother of wanted kingpin Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye. This is a further degradation of the operational capabilities of criminal gangs operating in the North-West.
In the North-Central, troops recorded significant gains under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke. A notorious terrorist leader known as Puuga was neutralised in Benue State while troops dismantled arms trafficking networks, arrested suspected kidnappers and rescued several victims.
Among those rescued were 72-year-old Mrs Lydia Odegba, mother-in-law of the Chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. A pregnant woman who escaped from captivity following sustained military pressure, and two farmers who regained their freedom after fleeing from their abductors. Troops also recovered 249 rustled cattle from the camp of a neutralised terrorist leader.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe rescued 37 traders and boat crew abducted by sea pirates along the Oron-Ibaka waterways in Akwa Ibom State after engaging the criminals in a fierce gun battle. Working jointly with the DSS, security operatives also arrested notorious kidnap kingpin Saidu Mohammed and another gang member in Edo State.
The military simultaneously in its sustained crackdown on economic saboteurs by dismantling several illegal refining sites in Rivers State and recovering over 205,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka raided criminal hideouts in Imo and Enugu States, recovering firearms, military camouflage uniforms and other items allegedly used by criminals to impersonate security personnel. A massive illegal oil bunkering site containing about 70 refining pits was also destroyed in Abia State.
Security agencies have equally intensified operations against kidnapping syndicates outside conventional conflict zones. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command recently dismantled a notorious kidnapping and “one chance” robbery syndicate responsible for abducting a young woman in Maitama and collecting ₦8.8 million ransom. The suspects, including the alleged gang leader, Ifeoma Nnamchi, were traced and arrested in Suleja, Niger State, highlighting growing collaboration between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Although security authorities have not officially confirmed reports circulating on social media regarding the arrest of relatives of some terrorist suspects, there is little doubt that the military’s sustained disruption of logistics networks, intelligence operations and coordinated assaults have placed enormous pressure on terrorist and bandit groups across the country.
The renewed momentum has equally received strong backing from the nation’s political leadership. President Tinubu recently convened a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa involving the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, intelligence heads and senior security advisers to review operations across various theatres. The meeting came shortly after successful military operations in the North-West and North-East, underscoring the administration’s commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements.
Indeed, Defence Minister, Retired General Christopher Musa, has consistently maintained that terrorists and bandits are suffering increasing casualties while their commanders are being eliminated in successive operations. Recent battlefield successes appear to support that assessment and claims.
While significant security challenges remain and no one is suggesting that the war has been won, recent developments indicate that Nigeria’s security forces are increasingly seizing the initiative. The rescue of the Oriire pupils and teachers, the dismantling of terrorist logistics networks, the neutralisation of notorious criminal commanders, the destruction of terrorist camps and the rescue of over a hundred kidnapped victims within a single week collectively demonstrate a more coordinated and intelligence-driven approach to tackling insecurity.
For millions of Nigerians yearning and praying for peace, these successes offer renewed hope such that one can say that with sustained military pressure, effective intelligence coordination under the Office of the National Security Adviser and continued public support for security agencies, terrorists, kidnappers and bandits will continue to lose both their operational capacity and freedom to threaten lives and communities across the country.
• Atoyebi, a public affairs analyst and Peace and Conflicts Resolution expert, writes from Abuja, FCT
