Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has commended the Federal Government and the Armed Forces for sustaining offensive operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal networks across the country.
Agbese, who spoke in an interview on Monday, said recent military operations showed that the Armed Forces were increasingly taking the fight to terrorist groups rather than merely responding to attacks.
He specifically commended the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for their roles in the ongoing security operations.
“Nigeria’s Armed Forces have gone beyond rhetorics. We are now deadly threats to terrorists,” Agbese said.
He cited figures from the Defence Headquarters showing that troops conducted thousands of operations across the country in July and August, with 1,487 terrorists and insurgents reportedly neutralised, 777 kidnapped victims rescued and 354 suspects arrested.
The operations also led to the recovery of 91 firearms, 1,331 rounds of ammunition and 44 improvised explosive devices, according to the Defence Headquarters figures cited by the lawmaker.
Agbese said the gains reflected increased use of intelligence, air power, ground operations and collaboration among security agencies to disrupt terrorist networks and their logistics.
He noted that troops under Operation Hadin Kai had continued offensive operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements in the North-East, while Operation Fansan Yamma maintained pressure on terrorist groups in the North-West.
The lawmaker said the military campaign should not be measured only by the number of terrorists neutralised or arrested, but also by the rescue of civilians and the disruption of terrorist command, logistics and movement.
He particularly highlighted the rescue of women and children who had spent extended periods in captivity, describing their recovery as an important measure of the impact of military operations.
Agbese, however, warned against complacency, calling for sustained investment in modern military equipment, intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics and the welfare of troops.
He also urged Nigerians to provide credible information to security agencies and called for stronger cooperation among federal, state and local authorities in tackling terrorists and bandits operating across administrative boundaries.
While acknowledging that security challenges remained, Agbese said the recent operational gains should be sustained to prevent terrorist groups from regrouping.
He commended troops serving in difficult and remote areas for their sacrifices, stressing that sustained security gains would require continued institutional support and cooperation from affected communities.
