The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria eliminated over 3,000 terrorists and bandits, facilitated the surrender of more than 120,000 insurgents, and rescued over 2,000 kidnap victims across Northern Nigeria in the last two years.
The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, following General Musa’s presentation at a two-day Government-Citizens Engagement forum organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.
“In the last two years, we have neutralised over 3,000 terrorists and bandits, rescued more than 2,000 kidnapped victims, and recovered over 2,300 arms and 72,000 rounds of ammunition across theatres of operations in the North,” General Musa stated. He further noted that the military recorded “over 120,000 surrenders by insurgents” during this period.
The CDS highlighted strategic military reforms under his leadership, including the establishment of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre in Abuja and the creation of a dedicated Department of Training at Defence Headquarters.
“These initiatives have enhanced joint operations and strengthened personnel preparedness to counter asymmetric threats,” he said.
Over 800 special forces operatives have graduated, with hundreds more undergoing training in Jaji and Nasarawa State to bolster counterinsurgency efforts. The North-West theatre was restructured into Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a unified joint task force, while new Defence Special Forces Brigades were established in Kaduna and Niger States, supported by expanded Forward Operating Bases.
Beyond kinetic operations, General Musa emphasized the military’s non-kinetic efforts, including community sports competitions, public sensitization campaigns, and engagements with traditional rulers and civil society groups.
“These programmes are designed to foster trust, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and promote national unity,” he explained.
The Armed Forces also contributed to economic empowerment through initiatives like ranches, schools, and ICT training centers in the North-East and North-West. General Musa acknowledged the role of local defense institutions, including the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and the Air Force Institute of Technology, in enhancing logistics and innovation.
On regional security, the CDS referenced his 2024 bilateral talks with Niger Republic counterparts on cross-border threats and announced Nigeria’s hosting of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference from August 25–27, 2025, in Abuja. “The conference aims to strengthen continental dialogue and enhance cooperation on common security challenges,” he said.
Reaffirming the AFN’s commitment to national security, General Musa stated, “The two-day forum in Kaduna was convened to foster dialogue between government institutions and the citizens, with a particular focus on assessing security-related performance under the current administration.”