Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, says Nigerian troops are recording measurable gains against terrorism, banditry, and related crimes, pointing to stronger coordination, improved intelligence, and renewed morale among frontline forces.
Buratai, who also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic between 2021 and 2023, emphasized that battlefield morale remains decisive. According to him, soldiers must not be demoralised “even for a second,” describing military service as both an honour and a sacrifice. He credited recent progress to what he called “better intelligence gathering, improved coordination, and the courage of ordinary soldiers,” while cautioning that insurgent groups remain dangerous despite setbacks.
Detailing operations in the North-East under Operation Hadin Kai, Buratai cited a recent engagement in Borno State where troops repelled a large-scale terrorist assault, killing 24 fighters and recovering weapons including rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Follow-up sweeps reportedly uncovered additional casualties, including freshly dug graves. In Yobe State, he noted the killing of a senior ISWAP commander, describing it as a strategic blow.
He also highlighted the growing effectiveness of joint operations between the Nigerian Army and Air Force, especially in the Lake Chad axis, where coordinated airstrikes and ground offensives have limited insurgent mobility.
In the North-West, under Operation Fansan Yamma, Buratai said troops have intensified forest offensives against bandits. He referenced a Katsina operation that led to the recovery of over 200 rustled cattle, alongside similar missions in Zamfara and Kaduna involving camp destruction, arrests, and hostage rescues. In Plateau State, he added, troops have intervened in communal violence, recovering stolen livestock and detaining militia suspects.
Elsewhere, operations in the South-South and South-East reportedly led to the discovery of illegal oil bunkering facilities in Rivers State and the arrest of a suspected militant commander linked to attacks on security personnel.
Buratai called for stronger civilian backing, urging Nigerians to avoid spreading unverified or negative narratives that could undermine troop morale. He argued that “balanced reporting” should include recognition of military gains.
