By Pauline Podka
THE Nigerian Armed Forces, in partnership with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), has made significant strides in the nation’s fight against insurgency, terrorism, and criminality, neutralising 13,543 terrorists and criminals and rescuing nearly 10,000 hostages between May, 2023 and February, 2025.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, announced the outcomes yesterday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, describing the achievements as evidence of the military’s evolving strategy combining both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
“These strategies have been instrumental in dismantling terrorist networks, reclaiming occupied territories, and enabling thousands of displaced Nigerians to return to their ancestral homes,” Abubakar said.
The minister highlighted key successes, including the killing of notorious terrorist leaders such as Damina, Kachanda, and Ali Kawaji, alongside the capture of over 17,000 suspects and the surrender of more than 124,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP combatants and their families.
Abubakar added: “As the president noted during the last Independence Day broadcast, over 300 terrorist commanders have been eliminated.”
According to official figures, troops recovered 11,118 weapons and 252,596 assorted rounds of ammunition, and restored peace to hundreds of communities previously under threat.
Major improvements have been reported along key transport corridors, such as the Kaduna-Abuja highway, and across markets in Birnin-Gwari, Kasuandaji, Jibia, and other regions.
Despite these achievements, Abubakar acknowledged that Nigeria still faces significant security challenges.
However, he announced a landmark development: Nigeria is set to begin exporting locally manufactured military equipment before the end of 2025. This move, he explained, will not only enhance the country’s defence capabilities but also generate foreign exchange.
“We are working to sustain a section in Ajaokuta that will support the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to become more vibrant,” the minister stated.
“Currently, 10 out of the 53 companies in the Defence Industrial Complex have commenced production, including drones, aircraft parts, helmets, and other military hardware. By December, we expect at least 20 companies to be in full production, setting the stage for Nigeria’s first-ever military exports next year.”
Responding to lawmakers’ concerns following a recent explosion at Giwa Barracks in Borno State, the minister dismissed claims that terrorists possess superior weaponry.
He said: “That is absolutely not true. We have far more sophisticated weapons and advanced drones. However, this is not a conventional war; it’s a guerrilla war. They use informants and strike unexpectedly. But we are doubling our intelligence efforts both locally and internationally to cut off their supply sources.”
On the increasing use of drones by insurgents, Abubakar clarified that terrorists currently deploy only improvised civilian-grade drones, not armed drones with advanced targeting capabilities.
Addressing questions on the relevance of proposed security summits, the minister stressed that while summits can generate valuable input, they cannot replace the importance of a well-crafted, dynamic military strategy. “The summit can help, but the strategy is much more important,” he said.
Separately, the Chief of Army Staff reassured citizens that Boko Haram’s days are numbered. During a courtesy visit to Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government House in Damaturu, the army chief pledged to deploy additional troops, enablers, and mechanisms to end the prolonged insurgency in the Northeast.
“I served as a brigade commander and sector commander in Yobe for over two years. Now, as the Chief of Army Staff, I assure you we will not return to the dark days of 2015.
“We will do everything possible to bring peace. Nigerians must come together now to confront these security challenges; if we fail, we risk losing the country we call home.”
Governor Buni, in response, called for stronger synergy between the Nigerian Army and Air Force to ensure lasting success in the fight against terrorism.
Buni affirmed: “Security is a collective responsibility, and we will do everything possible to support the military and all security agencies.”
As Nigeria prepares to enter the global defence market, officials hope the combination of local production, refined strategies, and strengthened military operations will chart a new chapter in the nation’s long-running battle against terrorism and insecurity.