Reps Back Defence Headquarters as Troops Kill Insurgents, Rescue 777 in Two Months

The House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the Defence Headquarters and its chief, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, applauding the determination of soldiers at the front lines to stamp out terrorism across Nigeria's northern states and other regions.

The lawmakers' endorsement coincided with heightened combat activity by troops serving in several operational theatres, among them Operations Hadin Kai, Fansan Yamma, Whirlstroke and Safe Haven.

In states including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Borno, as well as other locations, soldiers have kept up the killing of terrorists, the rescue of people taken captive and the dismantling of criminal gangs, according to the reports.

Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesman of the House, who represents a Benue State constituency on the Labour Party platform, spoke for his colleagues, stating that the Nigerian Armed Forces had gone past mere talk in the campaign against terrorism and banditry.

He characterised the latest military actions as proof that terrorist networks nationwide are under increasing strain.

Killings of terrorists, the release of kidnapped victims, the seizure of arms and the apprehension of suspects in different parts of the country, he said, demonstrated that troops are now carrying the fight to the criminals instead of only reacting when attacks occur.

Agbese made the remarks in a statement released in Abuja and obtained on Monday, in which he said, "Nigeria's Armed Forces have gone beyond rhetoric. We are now a nightmare to terrorists."

Data provided by the Defence Headquarters showed that, between July and August, military operations across the country resulted in the killing of 1,487 terrorists and insurgents, the freeing of 777 people who had been kidnapped, and the arrest of 354 suspects.

Additionally, the operations yielded 91 firearms, 1,331 rounds of ammunition and 44 improvised explosive devices.

In the North-East, troops under Operation Hadin Kai kept up their push against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters.

Major-General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said the August operations alone led to 114 terrorists being killed, 146 suspects being taken into custody and 60 kidnapped victims being rescued.

In the North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma troops stepped up their campaign against terrorist groups and bandits active in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff, recently disclosed that Operation Hadin Kai had killed 1,993 terrorists, arrested 2,645 suspects and rescued 1,778 civilians during the period covered by the Army's operational assessment.

He also spoke of weapons and ammunition recovered, and noted that better security had allowed displaced communities, among them Mallam Fatori, Kukawa and Ngoshe, to start returning to their homes.

On the record under General Oluyede, Agbese said the Chief of Defence Staff merited praise for fostering closer ties among the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies.

The CDS has repeatedly underlined the value of joint efforts involving the armed forces, the police, the Department of State Services, local security groups and communities in tackling terrorism and other threats.

Turning to the statistics, the lawmaker said the numbers showed mounting operational pressure on terrorist groups in the North-East and North-West, where the military has maintained offensives against insurgents and armed groups.

According to Agbese, the nature of the operations is evolving, with intelligence work, air strikes, ground assaults and coordination between agencies increasingly combined to break up terrorist command structures, logistics and supply routes.

He argued that the worth of the operations should not be gauged only by how many terrorists are killed or captured, but also by the harm inflicted on their logistics, command structures and capacity to hold communities hostage.

"The rescue of hundreds of innocent Nigerians, many of them women and children who had spent months in captivity, speaks volumes about the commitment and professionalism of our troops," he said.

"These brave men and women continue to risk their lives every day so that ordinary Nigerians can live in peace, and as a nation, we owe them our gratitude and unwavering support," Agbese said.

He pointed to the growing surrender of insurgents as another noteworthy development, saying it shrinks the manpower available to terrorist organisations while opening windows for security agencies to gather intelligence on their networks and operations.

He nonetheless warned against complacency, saying the recent gains should be locked in through sustained investment in military equipment, intelligence, surveillance, logistics and the welfare of personnel.

In his view, the reported successes stemmed not only from battlefield action but also from coordination between political leaders and military commanders.

"The sacrifices being made by personnel on the front lines must be matched by effective leadership, coordination and the provision of the equipment and intelligence required to sustain operations," he added.

Agbese also appealed to Nigerians to pass credible information to security agencies, noting that community intelligence remains crucial for locating terrorist hideouts, logistics suppliers and collaborators.

He said closer cooperation among security agencies, and between federal, state and local authorities, was also needed because terrorist and bandit networks frequently operate across administrative boundaries.

While conceding that serious security challenges persist, Agbese said the recent operational successes signalled a significant shift in the fight against terrorism. "We must sustain the momentum and deny terrorists the opportunity to regroup," he said.

He expressed confidence that continued military pressure, better intelligence, stronger inter-agency cooperation and adequate support for troops would further weaken terrorist networks and create conditions for normal life to return to affected communities.

Meanwhile, checks showed that troops attached to Operations Hadin Kai, Fasan Yamma, Savannah Shield and Whirl Stroke have continued to dominate the North.

Major-General Onoja said the operations were conducted to counter terrorism, kidnappings and oil theft in order to create a safe and secure environment.

In the North-East, Operation Hadin Kai troops sustained operations against terrorism in Borno and Yobe states to limit terrorist freedom of action and rescue abducted civilians.

On September 17th, 2026, troops at Gajiram in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State, supported by a helicopter gunship of the Air Component, repelled a large-scale terrorist advance, forcing the attackers to withdraw into Gajiram town and nearby bushes.

The next day, troops ambushed terrorists near Benisheikh, forcing them to flee.

On September 21st, 2026, troops ambushed a group of terrorists in Azare village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, arresting four terrorists found with ammunition and bicycles.

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