Under the decisive leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s armed forces have recorded major victories in the war against insecurity and oil theft. According to a statement by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), over 6,260 terrorists, bandits, and criminal elements were neutralised across the country between May 2023 and May 2025. This is a direct outcome of President Tinubu’s renewed focus on military capacity and inter-agency coordination.
The DHQ also confirmed the arrest of 14,138 suspects and the rescue of 5,365 civilians from the hands of criminal groups in various regions. These achievements are part of the administration’s broader commitment to restoring peace and stability nationwide under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In the Niger Delta region, troops dismantled numerous illegal oil refining operations, arrested 2,760 suspects, and recovered crude oil and petroleum products worth over ₦83 billion, while also rescuing 266 kidnapped victims. The military neutralised 103 militants operating in the creeks, significantly degrading the oil theft and pipeline vandalism ecosystem.
In the Northwest, 1,374 armed bandits were eliminated, 2,160 suspects arrested, and 3,288 hostages rescued. These operations have disrupted several notorious kidnapping syndicates and criminal networks in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, and Sokoto states.
In the Northeast, troops neutralised 1,246 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, arrested 2,467 others, and rescued 1,920 civilians. The military also recovered nearly 1,000 assorted weapons and 2,153 rounds of ammunition, significantly weakening insurgent capabilities in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Operations in the North-Central, Southeast, and Southwest regions have also led to the arrest of hundreds of suspects, seizure of illegal arms, and the rescue of kidnapped civilians. The military remains on high alert across the country, working to eliminate emerging threats before they escalate.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to peace and national security, adding that the successes achieved are a testament to the strategic direction and political will provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
