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…as CDS reaffirms Military’s commitment to restore peace in Northern Nigeria
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that over 3,000 terrorists and bandits were neutralized, more than 120,000 insurgents surrendered, and at least 2,000 kidnapped victims rescued in the past two years.
This was just as Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), restated the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to restoring peace and strengthening security across Northern Nigeria.
He made this known on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at a two-day interactive session on Government–Citizens Engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.
According to a statement by Tukur Gusau Director, Defence Information, Musa described the forum as a timely platform for assessing the Federal Government’s performance, particularly in tackling insecurity in the region.
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He noted that the Armed Forces had made substantial strides since he assumed office in 2023, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national security vision.
Musa outlined a series of institutional reforms and operational successes that have shaped the military’s strategy over the last two years.
He cited the establishment of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre in Abuja and the Department of Training at Defence Headquarters as major reforms aimed at enhancing joint operations and preparing personnel for modern warfare.
He also announced the graduation of over 800 Special Forces operatives, with hundreds more undergoing advanced training at Jaji and Nasarawa.
These elite troops, he said, are being trained specifically to confront asymmetric threats such as terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
Musa revealed that military operations in the North-West have been restructured into Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a unified joint task force designed to boost coordination and combat effectiveness.
“This, alongside the establishment of Defence Special Forces Brigades in Kaduna and Niger States, and the expansion of Operations HADIN KAI and FANSAN YAMMA, has enabled the military to regain control of key flashpoints in the region”, he said.
Highlighting the outcomes of intensified military campaigns, the Defence Chief disclosed that over 3,000 terrorists and bandits have been neutralized, more than 120,000 insurgents have surrendered, and over 2,000 kidnapped victims have been rescued within the last two years.
Additionally, troops have recovered over 2,300 illegal firearms and 72,000 rounds of ammunition across various theatres of operation in the North.
Musa stressed the importance of civil-military engagement and peacebuilding, revealing that the Armed Forces had introduced community-focused initiatives such as sports competitions, public reorientation campaigns, and stakeholder engagement with traditional leaders and civil society.
These, he said, have been instrumental in rebuilding trust and facilitating the return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
He further highlighted the military’s role in promoting economic empowerment, pointing to the establishment of ranches, schools, and ICT centres in the North-East and North-West as part of the Armed Forces’ alignment with the Federal Government’s local content policy.
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Institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) were also praised for bolstering military logistics and domestic defence production.
Musa recalled his official visit to Niger Republic in August 2024, where he held talks with his counterpart on strengthening cross-border security and addressing regional threats.
He also announced that Nigeria will host the African Chiefs of Defence Conference from August 25–27, 2025, in Abuja, a summit aimed at advancing military cooperation and dialogue across the continent.
The CDS assured citizens that the Armed Forces remain committed to defending the country and restoring lasting peace, particularly in the troubled northern region.
