Nigeria’s military recorded a 73.3 per cent decline in attacks across its operational theatres in October, with incidents falling from 367 in September to 98, even as troops continued to confront insurgency, kidnapping and crude oil theft in several parts of the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed the figures in Abuja on Friday, attributing the reduction to sustained military operations. The October total represents 269 fewer attacks within one month.
A breakdown of the figures, however, shows that the security burden was not evenly distributed. Operation Enduring Peace recorded the highest number of attacks with 29, followed by Operation Hadin Kai with 27 and Operation Fansan Yamma with 24.
Operation Whirl Stroke recorded 12 incidents, while Operation Udo Ka reported four. Operations Delta Safe and Savannah Shield recorded one attack each.
The September figures reveal the scale of the decline in some theatres. Operation Enduring Peace fell from 147 attacks to 29, while Operation Fansan Yamma dropped from 115 to 24. Whirl Stroke also recorded a reduction from 55 to 12. Hadin Kai declined from 33 to 27, while Savannah Shield fell from 13 to one. Udo Ka recorded four attacks in both months, and Delta Safe moved from zero to one.
These figures suggest that the overall improvement was driven largely by sharp reductions in some of the most affected theatres. However, the continued attacks show that the threat has not disappeared, particularly in areas where armed groups still have the capacity to strike.
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Onoja said troops neutralised more than 217 terrorists and criminals during October, arrested 333 suspects and rescued 349 kidnap victims. Another 70 insurgents surrendered, while soldiers recovered 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition.
The military also reported progress against crude oil theft. Its operations led to the recovery of 756,837 litres of stolen petroleum products and the destruction of 49 illegal refining sites.
Despite the reported gains, the killing of civilians in Binari, Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, on October 23, remained a grim reminder of the human cost of insecurity.
Onoja conveyed the military’s condolences to the victims’ families and quoted the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, as promising intensified efforts to apprehend those responsible.
Oluyede also called on troops to observe professional standards, respect human rights and avoid complacency as the festive season approaches. He urged security agencies to improve intelligence sharing and asked residents to report suspicious activities through security formations or the military’s toll-free line, 193.
The October figures offer a measurable indication of improved operational performance, but the number of attacks alone cannot establish whether communities are now safer.
The durability of the gains will depend on whether troops can prevent fresh assaults, protect vulnerable settlements and translate battlefield successes into lasting security for residents.
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