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A northern-based peace advocacy organisation, the Northern Alliance for Peace and Security (NAPS), has commended the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what it described as sustained progress in ongoing military operations against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
The group said recent rescue missions and offensive operations carried out by troops demonstrate renewed momentum in the military’s campaign to degrade criminal networks and restore security in communities affected by violent attacks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the National President of the group, Mallam Danladi Abutu, said the achievements recorded by the Armed Forces under the leadership of the CDS had strengthened public confidence in the country’s security architecture.
According to him, the military’s recent operations, particularly in parts of the North-East and North-West, have reflected a determined effort to confront insurgent groups, armed bandits and kidnappers whose activities have continued to threaten lives, livelihoods and socio-economic development.
Among the operations highlighted by the group was the rescue of 14 of the 15 worshippers abducted during a night vigil at a church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on April 28, 2026. The victims regained their freedom after spending more than 67 days in captivity and were subsequently taken to the state teaching hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
The group also referenced the rescue of 416 residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who were abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists before they were freed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
It further cited the rescue of 11 women kidnapped while fishing in Dille community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, describing the operation as another indication of the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from terrorist attacks.
Abutu said the recent military successes should reassure Nigerians that the country’s security forces remain focused on dismantling criminal groups and reclaiming areas previously threatened by insurgents and bandits.
“These gains mirror the commitment of the CDS and his men to make Nigeria safe for all. What we have witnessed in the past few weeks is an indication of the battle readiness of our gallant troops to make life difficult for these terrorist elements.
“The security situation is of huge concern to every well-meaning Nigerian. We must join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that the war against banditry is successfully prosecuted.
“What the Federal Government has done through the gallant troops is a message to the terrorists that they can never win this war. They will lose because every Nigerian deserves to live and work in peace everywhere he or she chooses to live in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
The NAPS president also urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence, noting that effective community collaboration remains a critical component of the country’s counter-insurgency and anti-banditry strategy.
He condemned attacks on schools and the abduction of students, describing such acts as a direct assault on Nigeria’s future and national development.
“Why do you think they are attacking schools and abducting our children? Education is the bedrock of every society desirous of growth and progress. We must not allow the enemies of our beloved country to continue their evil enterprise. We may not be armed but volunteering information to security agencies is a sign of patriotism,” Abutu added.
Nigeria has continued to contend with complex security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency and ISWAP activities in the North-East, widespread banditry across parts of the North-West and North-Central, and a growing incidence of kidnapping for ransom in several states.
In response, the Armed Forces have sustained coordinated land and air offensives targeting terrorist enclaves and criminal hideouts, while intensifying rescue operations for abducted victims. Military authorities have repeatedly maintained that ongoing operations are being supported by improved intelligence, inter-agency collaboration and enhanced deployment of personnel and equipment.
Security analysts, however, have consistently argued that while military successes remain encouraging, long-term stability will depend on sustained intelligence gathering, stronger community engagement and complementary socio-economic measures aimed at addressing the underlying drivers of insecurity.
