Over 13,000 Terrorists Neutralised, 124,000 Surrendered – NSA Ribadu
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that the Federal Government and Nigeria’s security agencies have significantly reduced the complex security threats inherited by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
Speaking on Thursday at the APC National Policy Summit in Abuja to commemorate the second anniversary of the Tinubu-led government, Ribadu revealed that coordinated efforts by security forces have curtailed mass killings, abductions, attacks on infrastructure, and widespread destruction.
Ribadu disclosed that the administration inherited five major, interlocking security crises: Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, armed banditry in the North West, secessionist agitations by IPOB/ESN in the South East, unrest in the Niger Delta, and communal as well as herder-farmer conflicts in the North Central.
“For us to appreciate where we are today, it’s important to reflect on where we were before the coming of this administration on May 29, 2023,” Ribadu stated.
He recalled high-profile terrorist attacks in 2022, including the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, the Kuje prison break, the Owo church massacre, and the assault on an army battalion in Bwari, all of which underscored the dire security situation before Tinubu assumed office.
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Citing official data, the NSA said more than 35,000 lives were lost to the Boko Haram insurgency and 12,000 to banditry before 2023, with millions displaced across conflict zones.
“Today, thanks to enhanced collaboration among our armed forces, police, and intelligence services, we have made significant progress,” Ribadu said. “Incidents such as the sit-at-home enforcement in the South East and sabotage of oil installations in the Niger Delta have largely been curtailed.”
He revealed that over 13,543 Boko Haram insurgents have been neutralised in the past two years, while more than 11,000 illegal arms were recovered and destroyed. Additionally, 124,408 fighters and their family members have surrendered to the military since Tinubu took office.
Despite the gains, Ribadu noted that military operations continue in insurgent strongholds such as the Tumbuktu Triangle and the Tumbu Islands to root out remaining threats.
Also speaking at the summit, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended President Tinubu for stabilising internal security. “There are no longer cases of terrorists taking over territories or hoisting alien flags,” he said.
Delivering a vote of confidence in the President, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, speaking on behalf of the 22 APC governors, called for Tinubu’s adoption as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 election.
“In spite of the complexity of the security challenges, progress is evident,” Uzodimma declared.
By PRNigeria
